East Melbourne safety forum

The East Melbourne Group (EMG) hosted a safety forum on August 25 to discuss issues in East Melbourne. The Community Safety Meeting was organised to discuss ideas on management of petty crime, road safety, and traffic in the area.

More than 80 concerned residents gathered for the forum held in the East Melbourne library. Residents had the opportunity to ask questions, voice their concerns, make requests, offer thanks, complain and compliment.

In an orderly fashion they voiced their concerns to Victoria Police representatives, the speakers from City of Melbourne, and representatives from Melbourne Cricket Ground (MGC)/Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC).

These concerns included traffic congestion and home access on MCG event days, security cameras in the area, traffic signs, speeding traffic, speed cushions, MCG responsibility to the suburb.

A panel of invited guests informed us of their works in this area. These included,

• Inspector Dale Huntington from Victoria Police
• Hannah Boyle – MCC security precinct officer
• Josh Eltringham – MCC general manager events
• Dean Robertson – City of Melbourne director city safety, security and amenity
• City of Melbourne Cr Rafael Camillo

Inspector Huntington told us of the daily and weekly works of the police in East Melbourne. This was reassuring for residents to know when there is a spate of crime happening. He told us of successful apprehensions from tyre slashings, car theft, house squatting and drug dealings in the suburb.

Cr Camillo explained four community programs to inform and communicate with residents. Cr Camillo showed us how easy it is to contact the City of Melbourne.

Hannah Boyle from MCC covered parking and parking congestion on event days.

Residents were informed of petty crime in East Melbourne, changes to parking rules, installation of signs and speed humps, contact with the City of Melbourne, immediate calls to police, MCG responsibility to residents, traffic congestion on event days.

The EMG actively cares for the needs and concerns of the residents in East Melbourne. In our beautiful suburb of East Melbourne, we do have concerns for our safety and for property development in our area.

If you would like to share more of your feedback, please contact us at [email protected] •