A Melbourne city safe and shiny

How can Melbourne regain its “most liveable city in the world” title again?

Residents 3000’s recent Forum 3000 addressed the pressing issues of “safety, street waste and graffiti”. The group heard from the City of Melbourne directors of waste and recycling, clean city, city safety, security and amenity and Victoria Police.

The session was most informative, addressing an area that for a long time has been a concern for city residents. The speakers showed statistics that confirm the city’s growth. In 2023 there were 980,000 daily visitors, 512,000 jobs and a population that had increased from 46,000 20 years ago to 109,000 in 2023.

Our city is growing

That growth is not abating. The city is currently bursting with life. Pavements are full of our diverse population who are part of Melbourne’s vibrant economy. Everyone who lives, works, visits or plays in our city needs to know that they are safe. A large part of that feeling is to see that the city is well looked after. It needs to be clean and inviting.

Knowing that the services provided by City of Melbourne and Victoria Police with the cooperation of other municipalities and the Victorian Government are well-funded and effective, will make a considerable contribution to encouraging the city’s growth and prosperity.

What is the 2050 Vision for Melbourne?

Melbourne is a city with huge potential that clearly came out in the recent M2050 Summit where more than 700 citizens helped the City of Melbourne formulate a vision for the next 25 years. That vision aspires to Melbourne being one of the world’s great cities and especially one of the most liveable.

While the city contributes around 22 per cent to Victoria’s GDP, growing that economy is essential to ensure there are sufficient resources to achieve the dream of a “safe and shiny” city.

In the 2050 vision, Melbourne’s economy was seen as being Australia’s large company corporate HQs as well as comprising many small businesses that provide first class, innovative services. Then there was the need to foster Melbourne’s knowledge economy coming out of our world-class tertiary institutions, the arts and major events for which Melbourne is renowned, along with a modern attractive city scape with beautiful parks and gardens.

But this vision is not going to be possible if there is an undercurrent of crime, uncontrolled graffiti, irresponsible behaviour of a few, pedalling drugs and alcohol on the streets or showing thoughtlessness on the roads with noisy vehicles. A city that is dirty with rubbish bins overflowing, waste not being collected effectively will not attract new industries nor tourists nor the people with talent and ideas. Those elements that boost the city’s economy and the wellbeing of its community.

The recent residents’ event showed us that the City of Melbourne and the Victoria Police are well aware of these imperatives.

Cleaning and graffiti management

They have been working away at making changes. A new program of street cleaning, graffiti management and pressure washing began on April 1, 2024. A new fleet of cleaning vehicles are in operation. Significant increases in all aspects of city cleaning have been achieved but residents are still concerned about overflowing rubbish bins.

Council Budget 2025-26

Residents will be pleased to note that the council has acted to further the aim of a city both “safe and shiny” by investing $2.1 million upgrading and expanding the Safe City Camera Program, activating more than 100 new CCTV cameras in the coming year. The Victorian Government will contribute $3.5 million to the initiative.

About $1 million will go towards lighting up some of Melbourne’s laneways and dimly lit areas, including Hardware Lane and Swanston St. An additional $2 million will also go towards the new Community Services Officers (CSOs).

Included in the budget is a continued emphasis and appropriate funding to maintain a 24/7 street cleaning regime. These budget initiatives support the concept that “safety and a clean city” are linked as shown in the diagram below.

City security and the link to cleanliness

The police contingent at the meeting explained that litter, whether it be in the form of overflowing bins, discarded items or property left behind by others, including the homeless, is a concern for the police as well as the City of Melbourne. The abandoning of property, other litter and overflowing bins may give the impression that a location is not cared for/not attended to or monitored by others, including the appropriate authorities. They commented that such an environment does not contribute in a positive way towards the perception of community safety and crime prevention.

The Victorian Government has introduced tougher bail laws that prioritise community safety, removing the “remand as a last resort” principle for youth offenders, and creating new laws for committing indictable offences while on bail. These changes were passed by parliament in late March 2025.

CCTV – Safe City Camera Network

Although city cameras are owned by the City of Melbourne, police and other private installations, they are all linked allowing trouble to be directed to police, mental health, ambulance, fire or whatever service is needed to mitigate the problem.

Victoria Police are aware, as are residents that businesses do not feel safe. With city disruptions, businesses have had to close their doors. Small businesses need support.

There have been ram raids to up-market shop fronts on Collins St. Such lawlessness needs to be stamped out. The City of Melbourne and police are co-operating, and pavement barriers are to be installed soon, as a temporary measure.

Community Safety Officers (CSOs)

In Melbourne, CSOs play a vital role in promoting community safety, often working with local councils and Victoria Police to address local issues and prevent crime. They facilitate collaboration between various stakeholders, ensuring a coordinated approach to community safety.

They are distinct from traditional police officers and Victoria Police Protective Services Officers, focusing on non-criminal, community-based initiatives. CSOs may be involved in enforcing local laws, providing a visible presence, and participating in community safety programs.

Residents 3000 – to assist

As the city grows, more and more people are choosing to live in the CBD. The City of Melbourne has an active website where complaints and reports can be made with the aim to keep our city Safe and Shiny. Let that vision be achieved in the next 12 months as the first step to the future – Melbourne: the most liveable city in the world.

Please refer to residents3000.org.au and follow us on social media for details of our Forum 3000 events at 6pm on the first Thursday of every month at the Kelvin Club. •