‘Clean Up Dandenong’ campaign: Council awarded cash boost for mobile CCTV to prevent crime
Leader has for months revealed ongoing crime and drug use in Greater Dandenong. Now the council will receive a significant cash boost to make the precinct safer.
South East
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Fearful residents and traders have for months called for authorities to urgently fix Greater Dandenong’s out of control crime and drug crisis.
And in response to the Greater Dandenong Leader’s ‘Clean Up Dandenong’ campaign, launched in February, the council has been awarded $400,000 by the State Government as part of the Public Safety Infrastructure Grant to install mobile CCTV and implement other security measures.
In September, former mayor and current councillor Jim Memeti met with the council’s community services team and Dandenong state Labor MP Gabrielle Williams, calling for a cash boost to make the precinct safer and a crime forum to be set up.
Greater Dandenong Council Community Services director Martin Fidler said with the support of Gabrielle Williams, the council had applied for and was successful in receiving the $400,000 grant.
“The funding will be used for a combination of fixed CCTV and the deployment of mobile CCTV as required in the Hemmings St precinct,” Mr Fidler said.
In the past year, residents and traders in the Hemmings St precinct have called for an increase in public safety measures including additional CCTV, police patrols and permanent security due ongoing crime, drug use and issues with squatters living within a derelict house.
Cr Memeti said he was thrilled the precinct would finally receive a cash splash.
“This all started by the reporting in the Leader newspaper and after that residents approached me by calling me saying what they’ve read is absolutely correct, Cr Memeti said.
“In the Hemmings St laneway behind the shops, there has been ongoing drug use with several syringes found and dumped rubbish.
“This is why mobile CCTV is going to make a big difference … I’m really happy that the council has applied for this grant and the State Government has supported it.”
Greater Dandenong councillor Tim Dark, who has been advocating for a drug and crime forum and an increase in CCTV in the precinct since February, said he was pleased with the cash boost.
“Crime has been out of control for more than 18 months, particularly in the Hemmings St precinct,” Cr Dark said.
“We’ve been seeing a high rise of thefts, hoons, drug use and anti-social behaviour in the area and I’m very proud that the council has secured this funding from the State Government.”
Traders and shoppers in Hemmings St also told the Leader they were “extremely happy” the council was taking crime seriously.
Hemmings St pharmacist Glenn Turner, who has owned his pharmacy for more than 20 years, said he supported all crime prevention methods in the precinct.
“If there’s a crime hotspot, the cameras can be moved to problem areas and it will definitely help to solve the issues,” Mr Turner said.
Dandenong state Labor MP Gabrielle Williams said CCTV and security upgrades in public spaces were an important tool to help get to the root causes of crime.
“That’s why we’re providing a $400,000 grant to install CCTV and other security tools, and support community engagement projects in the Dandenong CBD and at the Springvale Community Hub.”
“This will make a real difference – preventing crime and deterring anti-social behaviour, while also delivering sports, arts and technology programs for young people at the Walker St carpark site and Springvale Community Precinct – helping to get young people engaged and more connected to our local community.”
Leader’s campaign also revealed systemic issues people living with homelessness faced, including government-supplied housing, which they say has been riddled with crime and drug use – forcing them to survive on the streets.
Several people living with homelessness have told the Leader they felt “safer” living on the streets, than in motels being provided by the State Government during the coronavirus pandemic.
In response to this, 13 councils including Greater Dandenong initiated a campaign in September for more housing to address the social and health needs of the region’s most vulnerable community members.
The campaign allows councils to act on working in partnership with federal and state governments including public and private sector partners in a co-ordinated approach to deliver meaningful outcomes to increase the provision of social housing and respond to homelessness in Melbourne’s east and southeast.
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