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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2024
Local News Glen Eira CEO blasts State Govt.
MORE POLICE NEEDED IN CAULFIELD: MP
● Rebecca McKenzie ■ Rebecca McKenzie, Glen Eira Council CEO, has issued a statement expressing concern about the State Government’s planning announcements. “We have worked closely with our community over the last six years to bring a pragmatic and balanced approach to planning for growth in our activity centres and beyond,” Ms McKenzie said. “The announcements we’ve seen will substantially change the character and future sustainability of our neighbourhoods – without consultation. “This is the latest in a series of announcements with inadequate or rushed consultation that together stand to disempower local councils and devalue the interests of local communities. “Announcing a major planning decision with long term local impacts during the election caretaker period — and less than a week until election day — raises questions about transparency and due process. “We are yet to see any detail around how these changes will impact our existing structure plans or how residential amenity will be maintained in the context of these new plans for rapid and immediate growth. “A liveable community needs more than just proximity to transport. Plans for rapid population increases in our activity centres must be balanced with more funding for parks, schools, and other amenities. “The Government must explain how these plans will mitigate the impacts on climate and urban heat, while we lose the green, leafy streets our residents have told us they value,” Ms McKenzie said.
■ Caulfield MLA David Southwick has asked in State Parliament for more local Police resources. “The action I seek is that the minister works to provide more police resourcing, particularly active patrol vehicles for the City of Glen Eira, and specifically within the Caulfield area,” Mr Southwick said. “A few weeks ago my wife was contacted by local neighbours that were getting together a WhatsApp group to talk about the escalation of youth crime, particularly around home invasions that had happened around our area. “We have seen a number of incidents that have got to a particular point where a number of our local residents, not just in my street but in neighbouring streets, are putting together funding for private patrols because they do not feel safe. “There was an incident only about three or four weeks back where a family with four young girls had six teenagers break into their home in the middle of the night. “Mum and dad were away, and these girls were sleeping. Thank God they were not woken during that time. There were, I believe, five vehicles – it could have been six vehicles – that were stolen. “All of the four girls’ and mum’s and dad’s vehicles were stolen from this particular house. “What then transpired is police were chasing one of these vehicles and tracked it back to the home, only to initially think that it was one of the kids that was driving recklessly. “They came into the bedroom of the girls that were still sleeping, at about 4 am in the middle of the night, and interrogated these girls, only to find out that it was stolen through a home invasion. “This is not uncommon. This is something that we are hearing time and time again. “Local residents feel so unsafe – I understand there are three active patrol groups in areas just around my area, and a fourth is now
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● David Southwick MLA being set up – and all of these residents are saying to themselves ‘Why don’t we have more active police patrols? Why is it that we have to have a situation where we are paying private security guards to actively patrol our streets?’ “These people pay their taxes like everybody else. Why is it that on top of that they are having to take more money to have patrols of their homes because they and their kids do not feel safe? “I do call on the Minister for Police. I would be happy to introduce him to many of these groups that are calling for this. “Ultimately we have one patrol vehicle for 150,000 residents in Glen Eira. It is not enough. “We have got to get more active police patrols. We have got to ensure that residents feel safe no matter where they are and no matter where they live. “It is simply not good enough that residents have to take things into their own hands because this government is failing them,” Mr Southwick said.
Post box stolen at Brighton
● A post box was stolen from Asling St, Brighton. ■ The theft of a post box from Asling St, Brighton, has implications for the local government elections, particulatly those of Bayside City Council. The post box located at 79 Asling Street, Brighton was stolen between 9 am on Sunday, October 20, and 9.30am on Monday, October 2`1. Thed Victorian Electoral Commission was last week urging voters who lodged their completed election ballot packs at the post box to contact the Commission for a replacement vote. “It is possible that post by residents from this area, and anyone visiting the area, may have been in the post box at the time,” said a VEC representative. Until the poll closed at 6pm last Friday (Oct. 25), affected voters were asked to go to the Bayside election office at Holy Trinity Anglican Church Hall, 14 Thomas St, Hampton, to complete a replacement ballot. “Ensuring that every ballot pack is returned to the VEC safely and securely is critical to the integrity of the election. The VEC is working closely with Australia Post to ensure every ballot pack reaches its destination. “Australia Post and Victoria Police are investigating this incident. If you have any information about the theft, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimestoppersvic.com.au ,” the representative said.
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