Security guards will continue to patrol the Footscray CBD until June after Maribyrnong council voted in favour of extending the controversial program at its meeting on 17 February.
Cries of ‘shame’ rang out in the chamber as a packed public gallery reacted angrily to the decision to approve a four month bridging extension for the patrols before transitioning to a ‘civic led’ approach that would include enhanced cleaning, rapid response maintenance, lighting upgrades, CCTV renewal, wayfinding and streetscape improvements.
The move was recommended by a mid-term review of the Footscray CBD security plan commissioned by council which found that since beginning last September, the patrols had provided short term safety improvements without dealing with the underlying causes of violence and anti-social behaviour in the area.
The review recommended continuing the trial until a council led civic presence team was ready to take over by the middle of the year.
The findings were at odds with a study from Footscray Community Response (FCR), a local organisation opposed to the trial, which found it had made Footscray less safe.
Prior to the vote, FCR members rallied outside the Footscray Town Hall, calling for an immediate end to the patrols and for supports such as emergency housing and healthcare to be offered instead.
Attending the rally were Greens councillors who voted in favour of the security guard trial last year, including Cr Bernadette Thomas, who as deputy mayor, moved the original motion.
Inside, Cr Thomas said she regretted doing so.
“To those who may feel let down but my vote, I’m sorry,” Cr Thomas said to cheers from the gallery while announcing she would vote no.
Her colleague, Cr Elena Pereyra, also announced her opposition, while a third Greens representative, deputy mayor Samantha Meredith, said she would abstain, arguing the state government needed to help more rather than leaving council on its own.
Mayor Mohamed Semra struggled to be heard over shouting gallery members as he spoke in support.
“What I’ve heard consistently is that people do want to feel safe,” Cr Semra said of the feedback he’d received.
Cr Pradeep Tiwari, who was mayor when the trials was introduced, said stopping them immediately would be counterproductive.
The final vote was 4-2 in favour with one abstention.
