A performing arts centre security risk assessment across the precinct, with follow-on security-in-design advice, gave the centre an evidence-based roadmap for security upgrades and helped embed security in its redevelopment plans.
THE CHALLENGE
A performing arts centre operating as a government statutory authority manages a multi-venue precinct that draws large audiences to a busy tourism area. With the national security threat environment escalating and attacks on public venues overseas, leadership recognised the need to assess and strengthen the centre’s security posture while preserving open public access. The physical infrastructure presented a range of vulnerabilities, including ageing security systems, inadequate CCTV coverage, poor lighting in key areas and a complex building layout that made security and emergency clearance difficult. Security culture among staff and resident partners was mixed, access control was porous, and incident management and emergency response arrangements were spread across multiple documents.
OUR APPROACH
Agilient delivered a multi-staged program, beginning with a security risk assessment of the entire precinct aligned with ISO 31000 and HB 167. The approach was consultative, combining a site visit, interviews with stakeholders from the chief executive down, and an extensive review of operational and governance documents. Consultants assessed critical assets and analysed threats ranging from terrorism and organised crime to trusted insiders. Vulnerabilities were evaluated across physical security, including CCTV, access control and crime prevention through environmental design, personnel security, including vetting and security culture, and security governance. The assessment produced a detailed risk register with prioritised treatment recommendations. Agilient was then re-engaged to provide security-in-design advice on the centre’s redevelopment plans, reviewing conceptual designs so that security principles were embedded from the outset and the new infrastructure would not create new vulnerabilities. The findings were presented to the executive team and the risk and audit committee to support decisions on upgrades.
THE OUTCOME
The centre gained a clear, actionable roadmap for strengthening security while maintaining open public access.
- An independent, evidence-based risk profile for the executive team and the risk and audit committee, highlighting critical exposures including surveillance capability
- A risk register with prioritised treatment recommendations to support informed, cost-effective security upgrades
- Security-in-design input to the redevelopment plans, helping prevent new vulnerabilities in future infrastructure
Related services: security risk assessment consultants, physical security consultant, independent CCTV consultant. Sector experience: public venue and event security and government security consultant. To discuss a similar project, contact Agilient.