By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
THE ever-rising reputation of the crime-afflicted Menzies Reserve in Dandenong North has been given a $250,000 state funding injection.
South-eastern metropolitan MP Inga Peulich announced the public safety grant to Greater Dandenong council last week towards a project that will install new toilets, paths, signage, seating, lighting, shade sails and community garden beds at the reserve.
“With the strong support of council, this project will help to make our community safer and deliver better outcomes for everyone in the area,” Mrs Peulich said.
One of the ideas behind the beautification is the more people attracted to the reserve, the safer people feel.
New landscaping will improve sightlines – or the “natural surveillance” of the reserve.
The precinct had been identified by police two years ago as one of four high-risk public areas in Greater Dandenong.
The others are Hemmings Park, Dandenong railway station and Dandenong Plaza.
Inspector Bruce Kitchen said crime at the Menzies Avenue precinct had reduced after CCTV cameras were installed at the reserve’s senior citizens club and other recent improvements to the reserve.
As a new sign of the times, the senior citizens club’s once graffiti-marred walls were last week free of tags.
“With this extra money, the council is going to work with police to come up with better environmental design to build on this reduction in crime.”
Mayor Jim Memeti said the council had invested about $1 million into transforming the reserve and shopping precinct in recent times.
It had improved the playground, and basketball court area, installed a barbecue shelter, landscaping, CCTV and a “strong graffiti management program”, Cr Memeti said.
“I remember there used to be graffiti on a lot of shops and halls around here. Now you can hardly see any.”
The result was a boost in local pride and perceived safety, he said.
