Thousands hit the streets for Halloween in Tasmania. Is a management plan needed? - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Thousands of trick-or-treaters hit the streets on Saturday night, and the turn out shows Halloween is here to stay in Tasmania. 

More than 500 children were counted on Lenah Valley's Brushy Creek Road.

Organiser Emily Flies speaks to Tasmania Mornings presenter Leon Compton about the event.

She says families had a great time, and doesn't think traffic control is needed.

"I think there's personal responsibility that needs to be considered, people who are participating in it and drivers in the neighbourhood who aren't participating in it," she says.

Halloween festivities in Dodges Ferry on Saturday night.(936 ABC Hobart: Kylie Reardon)

Emily FliesWell, I reckon it's similar to what you're getting in West Hobart. We had lots of families out, lots of kids dressed up, travelling around with their friends or with their parents, having a good time, lots of houses opening their front doors and their porches to, you know, give away things to the kids and support the cause. So yeah, it was a lot of families having a good time. But I do agree with Glenn, you know, I think there's personal responsibility that needs to be considered, I think for all of us, you know, people who are participating in it and drivers in the neighbourhood who aren't participating in it. I think there has to be a balance. And I do feel like Tasmania is coming to that point where we have to find that balance.

Leon ComptonAnd I think we can do it without too many rules and regulations. It'll come potentially at cost to councils. Emily, is it time to talk about a little bit of traffic control in the really big streets? You know, in Brushy Creek Road, in your case, in what was the name of the street in Dodgers Ferry people were telling me about, in Riviera Drive, in Dodgers Ferry, apparently in South Hobart it was going off. I mean, send me more texts in Launceston, where were the big streets, Burnie, Devonport. Is it time to talk maybe about a bit of traffic control or even a road closure or two, Emily?

Emily FliesI mean, I don't feel that way. I think Brushy Creek Road's a nice one because it's a dead-end road. You know, so people, there's not a huge amount of traffic usually. It's really clear, like you see cars parked along the edges. It's pretty clear it's busy and you need to go slow on that night. But of course, like I said, personal responsibility, both on the part of drivers. So they have to be aware that there's kids running up and down the sidewalks. And sometimes a kid might, you know, not be paying attention and could step out into the road. Like, so, you know, drivers being aware and kids and parents being aware, right? So if you think your kid might jump out into the road and isn't quite road aware yet, maybe staying with them the whole time and keeping an eye on them, you know? So I do think there's that personal responsibility needed. You know, I also really take the point that was raised earlier about waste and the problem with that with Halloween. And I've, you know, raised this in our community too. Like, we're promoting this as a fun community event. It's a time for kids to get out and meet their neighbours and, you know, be creative and have fun. But we don't want it to turn into, you know, the consumerist debacle that it is in America, where they spend $14 billion on one day, which is more than four times the national parks budget and creates over 12 million pounds or tons of textile waste. Like, we don't want it to turn into that, where we're throwing away our costumes, where we're throwing away decorations. You know, I would love to see that creativity with costumes and with decorations and even with what you're giving out. Like, you know, we gave out lollies the first year, but after that, we've tried to be a bit more creative with what we hand out. And we give out blood melons, so watermelon slices, you know, shrunken jack-o'-lanterns, which are mandarins painted up and severed witches fingers, which I spend a bit of time making little almond biscuits that look like severed witches fingers, you know. So I think we can, oh, and of course we give out juice, which is sugar-free cordial as eyeball juice with lychee in it, you know. And that's the biggest hit. People just want a little bit of juice to fuel their way along their eating route.

Leon ComptonI love it. Emily, I love the way you're thinking about it. As you say, I'm in tons of plastic wrappers and sealed up products so it doesn't all melt together. But I love the way you're thinking about Halloween. I wonder if others will agree or disagree and have some reflections on how we should deal with it into the future. Thanks, Emily.