The Regal: councillors slammed for rejecting State Government CCTV offer

NEIGHBOURS to a notorious St Kilda boarding house are “outraged” after the council rejected the State Government’s offer to fund CCTV cameras in surrounding streets.

Neighbours to The Regal in St Kilda, are outraged that councillors have rejected an offer to fund CCTV cameras in surrounding streets. Picture: Penny Stephens.

Neighbours to a notorious St Kilda boarding house are “outraged” after the council rejected the State Government’s offer to fund CCTV cameras in surrounding streets.

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Albert Park state Labor MP Martin Foley earlier this month announced $6 million to transform the Regal into self-contained units for women over 55 years old.

He also pledged to fund extra security cameras in Little Grey and Grey streets.

But councillors last week rejected the proposal.

Friends of St Kilda Hill convener Darren Robinson told the Leader heads should roll over the decision.

“I’m completely outraged,” he said.

“I’d be advocating for a change of leadership at Port Phillip Council over this — they’re rejecting things around safety when their number one priority is to create a safe environment for everyone.”

Cr Marcus Pearl said the residents had been let down by councillors.

“Our residents have a right to be safe in their community and CCTV would have helped to achieve this,” he said.

Mr Foley slammed the council for failing to “back our hardworking police”.

“We have worked tirelessly with Port Phillip Housing Association and the St Kilda community to invest $6 million in a rebuild of (the Regal) boarding house,” he said.

“It’s part of a broader package to improve community safety in the area — which includes extending the Fitzroy St CCTV camera network to Little Grey St.

“If the council wants to blatantly ignore the strong community support for these safety measures, we will have no choice but to back Victoria Police on our own and deliver this project.”

Local residents have reported an increase in crime, drug use, assaults and thefts at the Regal since The Gatwick closed. Picture: Penny Stephens

Meanwhile, guards are now stationed around the clock outside the Regal, following repeated calls from neighbours for security to be beefed up amid a surge in crime and anti-social behaviour.

Port Phillip Housing Association chief executive Haleh Homaei confirmed a private security firm had been hired to man the door 24/7.

The CCTV cameras were rejected in a close vote, with Crs David Brand, Dick Gross, Tim Baxter, Ogy Simic and Katherine Copsey against.

Crs Marcus Pearl, Andrew Bond, Louise Crawford and Bernadene Voss voted in favour of the cameras.