Camillo says council delivering on safety and cleaning

Two years into the current council term, City of Melbourne safety and cleaning portfolio lead Cr Rafael Camillo says Town Hall has moved beyond “talking about the problems” and is delivering practical responses to the issues that dominated the 2024 election.

City safety, public amenity and cleanliness were among the headline concerns during the last council campaign, particularly in the CBD, where residents and traders had raised concerns about antisocial behaviour, graffiti, litter, rough sleeping and perceptions of safety.

Cr Camillo, a first-term councillor who is still the current president of CBD residents’ group Residents3000, said those issues had been central to his decision to run for council and continued to shape his work inside Town Hall.

The latest council budget doubled the Community Safety Officer workforce from 11 to 22, committed to adding up to 150 new Safe City cameras, invested $2.3 million in homelessness outreach and complex mental health support, and allocated $34.3 million for cleaning, graffiti removal and broader amenity works.

Cr Camillo said people wanted to feel safe walking through the city and wanted public spaces that were clean, welcoming and well maintained.

“That’s why we’re tackling antisocial behaviour, graffiti, litter and illegal dumping, while also investing in support for people sleeping rough and those experiencing complex mental health challenges,” he said.

The council’s Community Safety Officer program has been one of its most debated safety initiatives, attracting criticism from some advocates over human rights concerns, questions about whether the trial was complete before being expanded, and the role officers play in managing safety.

But Cr Camillo said CSOs were not police.

“Victoria Police are responsible for law enforcement, and we work closely with them to help keep the community safe,” he said.

He said officers provided a visible presence, deescalated situations, conducted welfare checks, supported businesses and visitors, and connected vulnerable people with services.

According to Cr Camillo, the program has recorded more than 7300 interactions and more than 1300 welfare checks.

The council is also expanding its camera network, with Cr Camillo describing Safe City cameras as one of its most effective tools to support investigations, deter offending and improve public safety.

He said the City of Melbourne provided more than 2500 pieces of footage to Victoria Police each year, while maintaining tight controls around access.

On homelessness, Cr Camillo said too many people were not receiving support early enough, particularly those experiencing homelessness, addiction, mental health issues and complex challenges.

The $2.3 million investment includes the Melbourne Outreach Team, delivered by Launch Housing and Ngwala Willumbong, and a new Safe Space Program led by VincentCare at Ozanam House.

“A more effective response means earlier intervention, stronger mental health support, better coordination between agencies and clearer pathways into housing and treatment,” he said.

As recently reported by sibling publication North West City News, Cr Camillo said nitrous oxide canisters had also become a growing amenity challenge, creating health concerns, damaging public spaces and costing ratepayers money to clean up.

He said the council was advocating for a stronger state and federal response while working with other councils on practical solutions.

“These are complex issues and there’s always more work to do,” Cr Camillo said. “But we’ve moved beyond talking about the problems and started delivering practical solutions that are making a real difference across Melbourne.”

His insights come as councillors noted a post-travel report at the July 28 council meeting detailing a series of privately funded overseas engagements Cr Camillo undertook in late 2025 and early 2026 while travelling through North America, South America and Europe.

According to the report, Cr Camillo met with city officials in New York, São Paulo, Campinas, London, Milan and Zurich, and there was no cost to council beyond assistance with program setting.

The safety-related components included briefings with the New York Police Department on the Lower Manhattan Security Initiative and Joint Operations Centre, as well as a visit to Smart Sampa in São Paulo, described in the report as Latin America’s largest urban safety protection system using city and privately owned cameras with real-time AI monitoring.

On cleaning and amenity, the report says Cr Camillo met with Milan officials and waste contractor AMSA Spa – A2A Group to discuss waste management and recycling, including preparations for the Winter Olympics. In Zurich, he met with the city’s Waste Management and Recycling Department and inspected equipment used to keep the city clean, while also discussing “Trash Heroes Zurich”, a volunteer clean-up initiative he expressed interest in adapting for Melbourne. •