West Footscray residents are banding together to help revitalise Barkly Village.
A new piazza, more greenery, CCTV security coverage, small grants for business and a zebra crossing are just some of the ideas that have been floated to help bring life back to the faded strip.
Maidstone and West Footscray Residents Action Group co-facilitators Natalie Lumsden, Wendy Lang and Nina Penheim have surveyed local residents and found broad support for pushing Maribyrnong council to do more to help breathe life back into the village.
Dr Lumsden said it was people who made West Footscray a great place to live.
But there is dissatisfaction with amenity and safety concerns about the area, she said.
“It’s a common theme with people. They’re dissatisfied with Barkly Village and finding it’s not as safe or as welcoming as it could be.”
The action group is keen for a public space on the corner of Clarke and Barkly streets to serve as a meeting place and where regular markets can be held. The group also wants graffiti and crime in the area stemmed through a greater focus on engaging young people.
“The graffiti is getting out of control,” Dr Lumsden said. “We know a lot of crime is by disengaged youth from difficult backgrounds … we want there to be more activities for them.”
Dr Lumsden said the group was looking for more people to join its regular events.
It has had a strong response via Facebook but is hoping to bring more residents into the fold, especially those who are socially isolated and without connections, such as through young children.
The group will hold a food swap and tree planting session at Rogers Reserve, Maidstone, from 10am, Sunday.
