Moreland City Council ignored concerns about safety issues at Merri Creek
Fears over safety issues on the Merri Creek trail were brushed off by the Moreland council, which rejected calls to improve lighting in the area. But the council has backflipped after a jogger was brutally raped this week.
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Safety concerns at Merri Creek trail were snubbed weeks before a young female jogger was allegedly savagely raped.
A proposal for lighting along the Coburg track was rejected by Moreland City Council in October because it would impact the “nocturnal habitat”.
However council has now reneged on the decision, with a full safety audit to be ordered following Tuesday’s horror attack.
It comes as hundreds of people plan to rally against sexual violence at Merri Creek on Sunday.
Wills MP Peter Khalil told the Herald Sun he put a request to council for lighting along the track on October 7 due to growing safety concerns by residents.
“People have raised with me safety issues, particularly in respect to women, and the fact the path is not lit in Merri Creek,” he said.
The proposal was rejected.
However the lack of lighting has been described as “unacceptable” by the newly elected mayor, Lambros Tapinos.
He will make an urgent request for lighting and a safety audit of the track at the next council meeting.
“Safety is our number one priority. It is unacceptable not to have lighting along the creek corridor,” he said.
Joel Russo, 25, from Coburg, allegedly tried to drown and strangle his victim, who was repeatedly raped during an evening run sometime after 6.30pm on Tuesday.
Her nightmare came to an end when another woman dragged her to safety inside a McDonald’s store in Brunswick East before 11pm.
It is alleged Mr Russo made her walk hand-in-hand with him to the outlet, located two kilometres from the trail.
Mr Russo is facing 17 charges, including 10 counts of rape, attempted rape and three sexual assault charges.
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He has been remanded in custody and will reappear in court on March 12.
The alleged horrific sex attack has rocked the inner northern suburbs community, where numerous high-profile rapes and murders of women have taken place over recent years.
An event, Reclaim our Merri Creek, will take place on Sunday, with hundreds expected to march against sexual violence.
It will start at 6pm at Mayer Park, Thornbury, where another woman was raped at knifepoint in October, and finish at Merri Creek.
“We all deserve the basic right to access the creek safely, especially at dawn and dusk,” an event organiser wrote on Facebook.