By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
A MONTH after illegal rubbish dumping outside Hampton Park Salvation Army sparked community outrage, the Coalition Government has announced $208,100 to be spent on security at an adjacent site.
After weeks of kerb-side bashings and pedestrian robberies, and months of car thefts in Casey and home invasions, the investment in crime fighting has come as a relief for Casey Mayor Sam Aziz.
A thrilled Cr Aziz said the web of CCTV for the south-east, which includes Greater Dandenong, will serve two important purposes.
“They will be a deterrence to these criminal thugs, knowing that there are cameras filming them and it will help our police when they prosecute as it’s another avenue of gathering evidence,” Cr Aziz said.
Minister for Justice Michael Keenan announced the Coalition’s $870,000 investment to fund closed-circuit television (CCTV) on Thursday 19 May.
Mr Keenan visited the Hampton Park Community Square on Thursday with Liberal candidate for Holt James Mathias.
The $208,100 will be spent on improving security infrastructure at the Hampton Park Community Square and includes new lighting, safer paths, better fencing and the installation of new safety bollards.
The Square includes Arthur Wren Hall, the Hampton Park Library and Community House, a youth and childcare centre and a park.
The funds come under round two of the Safer Street Programme for Victorian suburbs a part of the Coalition’s $1.3 million investment into community safety projects.
The program supports communities at the grass roots to help address crime and anti-social behaviour and boost crime prevention initiatives.
Greater Dandenong – birthplace of the notorious Apex Gang – will receive $496,345 for the installation of 29 CCTV cameras in the Springvale Shopping precinct.
Mr Keenan said the funding was drawn from the Proceeds of Crime Account – that is money taken from criminals and reinvested into prevention of further crime.
“Only safe communities can be strong and prosperous and the best way to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour is to prevent it from happening,” Mr Keenan said.
“The Coalition will continue to reinvest money confiscated from criminals and put them towards projects that make our streets and communities safer.”
Reports detail Hampton Park, Dandenong and Frankston are likely to receive more than half of the 70 new surveillance cameras.
Cr Aziz said he is appalled that Casey homeowners can no longer enjoy themselves inside their own homes without fear of an invasion.
“Casey residents can’t leave their car in their driveway without fear of it being stolen,” he said.
Just last month Casey councillor Damien Rosario said he was “embarrassed for the community” at the rate and amount of dumping at the Hampton Park charity shop.
“The whole store from end to end is covered in rubbish and this is not stuff you can use – it’s not good goods and it’s costing the Salvos fundraising money to have it removed,” Cr Rosario said.
“But this is fantastic news, I think with surveillance around it will help keep people honest.”
Further information on the Safer Streets Programme is available at www.ag.gov.au.
