COMING on top of a pledge to task protective service officer in the Bridge Mall, the Coalition has doubled down on safety and security, promising further funds for an anti-graffiti strike team and better lighting.<\/p>\n
The pledge was made last week at the Little Bridge Street bus interchange.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe acknowledge that there\u2019s a significant problem with anti-social behaviour down here in Little Bridge Street,\u201d said Amy Johnson, Liberal Candidate for Wendouree.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been contacted by so many members of the public who dislike coming to this area of the city because they feel unsafe.<\/p>\n
The suite of crime prevention and anti-social behaviour measures also includes statewide promises to set up mobile CCTV vans, re-establishing the Police in Schools Program and $2 for Neighbourhood Watch.<\/p>\n
Locally, Bridge Mall would get PSOs for eight hours a day, between 11am and 7pm, seven days a week.<\/p>\n
All up, $235,000 has been allocated for newly announced safety improvements in the Bridge Mall area, with $50,000 going towards the graffiti removal team, lighting upgrades worth $100,000 and money for work to make the bus shelters, \u201cTamper proof.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is about improving the amenity of this area,\u201d shadow minister for community safety Edward O\u2019Donohue said.<\/p>\n
\u201c[It\u2019s] an area that\u2019s seen a lot of drug use, a lot of petty crime, some serious crime. We\u2019re going to make it safe again.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was some graffiti in the area where the announcement was made. Clear panels in the bus shelters have been scratched and tags left on street furniture.<\/p>\n
Tracey Hargraves, who runs a yoga studio in the area said here were many aspects to the anti-social behaviour.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe main concern is the behaviour that happens right on our shop frontage,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s often drinking, there\u2019s obvious graffiti that you can see\u2026 there\u2019s some intimidation, there\u2019s begging, there\u2019s kind of fighting. Yeah, awful stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Johnson said that graffiti had been left near Ms Hargraves\u2019 business for over a month.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe funding that we\u2019re providing will ensure that this graffiti can be removed straight away, rather than sitting there and creating a visual eyesore,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for the Liberal Party said crime in Ballarat was up 11.9 per cent and crimes against the person had increased by 16.5 per cent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
COMING on top of a pledge to task protective service officer in the Bridge Mall, the Coalition has doubled down on safety and security, promising further funds for an anti-graffiti strike team and better lighting. The pledge was made last week at the Little Bridge Street bus interchange. \u201cWe acknowledge that there\u2019s a significant problem […]<\/p>\n