Route 86 tram Preston: upgraded lighting in Oakhill Village, Plenty Rd
Tram route 86, known for the tragic murder of Aiia Maasarwe, will get a second lighting boost after women made their feelings known in an Australian-first initiative.
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The notorious Route 86 tram route will get another safety upgrade thanks to a leading Victorian study in women’s safety.
An extra 23 lights had already been announced for the stretch of road near where Aiia Maasarwe was tragically murdered at a cost of $242,800.
Now Darebin Council and consultancy group Arup will deliver custom lighting to Oakhill Village at Plenty Rd, Preston.
The site was determined as a place women felt unsafe in the State Government’s Gender Equality Map.
Women were asked to pinpoint areas in Darebin where they felt unsafe or unequal, including sexist advertising or poor facilities for women.
In an Australian-first, that data will be used to provide a real upgrade to public safety.
Darebin Mayor Susan Rennie said the council was committed to improving security in the municipality.
“This makes it an excellent site to test how this innovative street lighting, and the user-centred design processes, can be used to improve women’s experiences of safety,” she said.
The council has worked with the community and nearby businesses to design a lighting system which will improve both the amenity and security of the area.
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State Crime Prevention minister Ben Carroll said this was an example of the next step in addressing safety issues for women.
“We’re leading the country in applying this research to our public spaces to drive more informed and evidence-based crime prevention initiatives across the state,” he said.
Since 2015 the State Government has provided more than $637,000 in grants to projects in Darebin as part of its Community Crime Prevention Program.
The design will be finalised this month with installation to begin in May.