Over the past years, concern for better safety measures has been an increasing trend in the community. With multiple cases in the past, involving sexual assault, rape, attempted murder, homicide, stalking and much more, a huge responsibility has been put on councils around Melbourne to improve Melbourne’s public areas for all.
This is a matter concerning almost everyone in one way or another. Director of Community Wellbeing from Brimbank Council, Mr Neil Whiteside, said “improving safety in Brimbank continues to be an ongoing priority for [the] Council, as it is for the Victorian Police”. While the police cannot be on guard constantly, conditions in public parks can be improved to assist in stopping crime.
Councils around Melbourne are all contributing in one way or another. City of Melbourne is putting forward their ‘Beyond the Safe City Strategy’, which is working to improve the lighting in parks, as well as regularly undertaking audits in parks known for criminal activity, having extra security at night and having park rangers patrolling on a daily basis. (John Messfeldt, City of Melbourne).
Wayne Kratsis, from the Melton City Council, works in the parks and gardens area of the council, and has informed us that they too are doing their part by making sure that “key activity areas are generally central to populated areas”. As well as this, “vegetation and infrastructure is designed not to impede passive surveillance into parks from adjacent roadways” and “rotundas, amenities and playgrounds are concentrated in the same areas so that lighting can be concentrated in activity zones”. The Melton City Council also offers a 24 hour emergency hotline to report problems for immediate attention.
Additional information from councils can be found below:
City of Melbourne – Beyond The Safe City Strategy
Melton City Council – Parks, Grounds and Trails
Brimbank Council – General Information
Bayside City Council – Open Space Lighting Policy
Walking in Melbourne 
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