IT is all systems go for this Sunday's Toyota Ironman Australia, but the hammers have been swinging for days down at Westport Park.
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The technical crew spent Monday and Tuesday rigging up the park to accommodate the 2070 athletes’ transition between race legs.
An army of workers has descended on the park and Town Green ahead of this year’s event. Some, like Men at Work’s Stan Chromicz, are from the Mid-North Coast while others have journeyed from further afield.
They are just some of the core people behind the scenes of the jewel in the Australian endurance sports calendar.
For locals, there’s plenty to keep everyone in town bustling about on the weekend.
The Port Iron 5km Fun Run gets underway from Saturday at 7am on the Town Green, with competitors of all ages invited to get involved - the only prerequisites are a smile and sense of adventure.
Spectators are then invited to wander across the new footbridge at Kooloonbung Creek to Westport Park to see some small athletes parade their wares.
IronKids Port Macquarie starts at 9am when girls and boys from seven to 13 years of age complete a swim and run leg.
The crowd can cheer on the champions of tomorrow as they cross the finish line and receive their medal.
Westport Park is again the place to be from 6.30am on Sunday when the mass start gets underway in the swim leg.
See the surge through the Hastings River as more than 2000 competitors take on the 3.8 km challenge, all of whom will be taking on the weir for the first time.
Further south, a free water taxi will operate along the course of the bike leg and will connect the three Ironman Spectator Hot Spots.
The view from Observatory Hill is well known, and there are added bonuses for the sightseer on race day. It is one of the best spots to see the athletes at full steam, which is why all the participating triathlon clubs will base their supporter tents there.
Don’t forget to follow the big race at www.portnews.com.au
Road Closures
Numerous roads, car parks and boat ramps will be closed throughout Port Macquarie and the Camden Haven on race day.
Park Street between Hastings River Drive and Bay Street will be closed from 4am to 7am, as will Buller Street between Park and Short streets, and Short Street between William and Clarence streets.
Clarence Street between Stewart and Short streets will be closed from 6.30am until 7.30am on Saturday, and again 4am until 7pm on Sunday.
Stewart Street between Clarence and William streets will be closed from 6.30am to 7.30pm on Saturday, and will have changed conditions in place from 6.15am until 11.15pm on Sunday.
William Street will be closed between Stewart Street and Pacific Drive from 6.15am until 6pm on Sunday.
Pacific Drive between Lighthouse Road and William Street will be closed from 6.30am until 6pm. The same hours of closure will apply to Lighthouse Road, Davis Crescent and Matthew Flinders Drive between Ocean Drive and Lighthouse Road.
Clarence Street between Stewart and Murray streets is closed from 7pm until 11.45pm, with Sunset Parade partially closed at the same time.
Settlement Point Road will be local access only from 10.15am to 11.45pm.
Ocean Drive will be closed between Pacific Drive and Abel Tasman Drive in Lake Cathie from 7.15am until 5.15pm.
In Laurieton the following streets will be closed from 7.30am until 4.30pm:
Lake Street between Ocean Drive and Laurie Street, Laurie Street between Lake and Bold streets, Bold Street between Laurie and Reid streets, Reid Street between Bold Street and The Boulevard, The Boulevard between Reid Street and Camden Head Road, Camden Head Road between The Boulevard and Bergalia Crescent.
Car park closures
The following car parks will be closed from 4am on Sunday May 4
Short Street - Food for Less, Sea Plane and Camden Haven Marine Rescue
Clarence Street - Horton Street horse shoe
Fisherman’s Co-op car park
Stewart Street - opposite Lord Street
Goal Point
Allman’s Hill
Town Beach (North and South)
Flynns Beach
Shelly Beach (North and South)
Nobbys Beach
Rocky Beach
John Downes Park
Settlement Point Road (North)
Sea Acres Rainforest Centre
North Haven Boat Ramp car park
Westport Park - Volunteer Marine Rescue and Westport Park boat parking.
Boat ramp closures
Laurieton
Seymour Street - LUSC Boat ramp
Short Street - Camden Haven Marine Rescue
Port Macquarie
Wesport Park - Volunteer Marine Rescue
Short Street - Food for Less car park boat ramp and Sea Plane
Buller Street - Marine Rescue boat ramp
Lake Cathie
Evans Street