The northern end of Horton Street (Town Square) will be closed to all traffic from 6am until 5.30pm to cater for Australia Day celebrations.

All vehicles are required to be removed from this area prior to 6am, and any vehicles parked in the area after this time will not be accessible until after 5.30pm and could be subject to a fine. The road closure will be sign posted.

Alcohol is prohibited in all Port Macquarie-Hastings parks, beaches and beach reserves from sunset on Thursday, January 25, until sunrise on Saturday, January 27.

Police will be actively enforcing the ban. The restriction overrides all existing park and beach signage during this period.

This restriction is in place to assist in minimising alcohol related harm and anti-social behaviour throughout parks and beaches, and to ensure our public spaces are safe and can be enjoyed by all this Australia Day.

Police are urging patrons to plan ahead as Operation Australia rolls into action.

Up to half-a-million people are expected to join in the national holiday celebrations on Friday 26, and Operation Australia, a high-visibility policing operation, will see general duties officers from multiple local area commands, assisted by specialist police, ensuring a safe and secure environment for attendees.

There will be additional police on for Operation Australia to ensure families can celebrate everything that is great about being Australian.

For anyone heading out onto the water, exclusion zones and movement times apply. 

Assistant Commissioner Karen Webb said it is important to plan your trip ahead of time.

“We say it time and time again, don’t drink or take drugs and drive. Officers from the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command will be on our roads and you will be caught,” she said.