Dutton pledges $368,000 from Safer Communities Fund for Palmerston lighting upgrades

The Opposition Leader, visiting the Top End this weekend, has promised to upgrade community safety lighting in Palmerston if elected.

The Federal Opposition has pledged to fast-track public lighting upgrades in Palmerston, with the aim to improve safety and accessibility in key areas of the community.

Coalition leader Peter Dutton will visit the Top End this weekend to attend the Country Liberal Party’s Central Council meeting.

He will also travel to Palmerston alongside CLP candidate for Solomon Lisa Bayliss to commit $368,000 from a revitalised Safer Communities Fund to deliver the lighting upgrades within 12 months of the election.

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“Part of our plan to get Australia back on track is about keeping Australia safe; safe for

families, safe for businesses, and safe for communities,” Mr Dutton said.

“This investment in Palmerston is about delivering practical, commonsense solutions to

improve security in public spaces and ensure residents can move around their community

with confidence.”

Of the total funding, $168,000 will replace failed footpath lighting in the Palmerston CBD; $100,000 will go to upgrading non-compliant street lighting in Noltenius Cct and surrounding streets; $50,000 is to upgrade public space lighting along the Roseberry Park pathway to meet current standards; and $50,000 is for improving public space lighting along paths in Sanctuary Lakes Regional Park.

Lisa Bayliss CLP Solomon candidate.

Ms Bayliss said the funding would ensure Palmerston residents feel safer in public spaces by delivering lighting improvements far sooner than the originally planned four-year rollout.

“This funding is a direct response to concerns raised by our community,” she said.

“I’ve spoken to countless Palmerston residents who feel unsafe due to inadequate lighting in key public spaces.”

The Safer Communities Fund was established by the coalition to help local councils and community organisations to address crime and anti-social behaviour by funding crime prevention initiatives.

It was cut by federal Labor in 2022 as part of a major budget reprioritisation, after the Auditor-General found more than half of the scheme’s funding decisions did not have a clear basis for the decision recorded.

The City of Palmerston has budgeted $556,400 for lighting upgrades and maintenance in its 2024-25 municipal plan.

Mr Dutton was last in the Northern Territory in late January, where he committed “in principle” support for Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro’s seven reform requests to the federal government.

Speaking in Alice Springs at the time he said he would work “hand in glove” with the CLP if elected.