By Tate Papworth
Three Brimbank sites will undergo security upgrades following a funding win from the state government’s Community Safety Fund.
Installation of under awning lighting will take place in Elaine Street, St Albans to improve perceptions of safety and security following a successful bid from the council.
The $9,090 project follows previous safety initiatives in the area, which includes the installation of CCTV cameras.
The council also had a successful bid in Sunshine, where security lighting will be installed in the Watt Street carpark to prevent and deter crime and anti-social behaviour.
The $4,490 project could be the start of a number of security measures for the suburb.
In November, Sunshine traders told Star Weekly they would lobby the Department of Justice and Brimbank council to install CCTV cameras throughout the suburb.
Sunshine Business Association president Carson Luk said an application for cameras would be lodged when submissions open this year.
“For a while we thought other things like improved lighting needed to happen before cameras went in, but now our backyard is in order, we’ll be putting in an application for cameras when the Department of Justice grants open next year,” he said.
The Brimbank Little Athletics Centre is also set for some upgrades.
The centre was awarded $10,000 to install vandal-proof security lighting and security gates to prevent further beak-ins and improve the security of equipment stored on site.
The initiatives are a handful of 63 which are being rolled out across the state.
Acting Minister for Crime Prevention Jill Hennessy said the grants were vital for keeping the community safe.
“We’re supporting 63 local organisations to run community safety projects at the grassroots – each of these groups are working hard to develop solutions to combat local crime,” she said.
