Community Safety Advocacy

Community Safety Advocacy

Working Together for a Safer South Melbourne

Community safety is one of the South Melbourne Business Association’s highest advocacy priorities.

Over recent years, businesses have increasingly raised concerns regarding anti-social behaviour, crime, staff safety and the impact these issues are having on confidence within our precinct.

The Association has been working collaboratively with traders, Victoria Police, the City of Port Phillip, State and Federal Members of Parliament and other stakeholders to advocate for practical, long-term improvements that enhance both actual and perceived safety.

Our Approach

The South Melbourne Business Association recognises that many community safety issues are complex and involve mental health, addiction and homelessness. Our advocacy supports compassionate long-term solutions while also recognising the immediate need for businesses, staff, residents and visitors to feel safe and confident in the precinct.

Our Priorities

The Association’s advocacy focuses on five key areas:

  • Increased visible police presence
  • Long-term responses to underlying social issues
  • Practical improvements to public amenity
  • Better coordination between government agencies
  • Ongoing engagement with local businesses

What We’ve Been Doing

Since 2025 the Association has:

✓ Met with local traders to understand their experiences

✓ Met with Local Police – ongoing

✓ Prepared a Community Safety Summary documenting business concerns

✓ Met with the Federal Police Minister

✓ Met with Federal Member for Macnamara, Josh Burns MP

✓ Worked with State MP Nina Taylor

✓ Continued discussions with the City of Port Phillip

✓ Advocated for practical improvements including CCTV expansion, improved lighting and investigation of the Coventry Street Telstra phone box

CCTV Camera

Current Advocacy

Current priorities include:

• Consistent and visible police presence

• Coordinated responses across all levels of government

• Improvements to public amenity

• Supporting traders experiencing safety concerns

Police Horses

Snap Shot

DateAdvocacy Activity
May 2025Input to Councils’ Community Safety Plan
Jul 2025Trader engagement commenced
Community Safety Summary prepared
 Letters to Council, Mayor, State MP Nina Taylor, Federal Member for Macnamara, Josh Burns MP
 Advocacy regarding Coventry Street phone box (outside Panette)
Sep 2025Reviewed and provided further feedback to draft Community Safety Plan
Oct 2025Presentation/Discussions with Council’s Community Safety Officer
Mar 2026Federal Police Minister meeting
 CCTV expansion investigation with Vic Pol & Council on Clarendon/Coventry Street
May 2026Meeting with Federal Member for Macnamara, Josh Burns MP
Jun 2026Community Safety Follow up Letter, Federal Member for Macnamara, Josh Burns MP
Continued Advocacy regarding Coventry Street phone box (outside Panette)
Ongoing

Meetings with Council and Victoria Police

Reporting Trader Incidents

Resources

Transparency is important to us. The documents below provide insight into the Association’s advocacy, stakeholder engagement and ongoing efforts to improve community safety across the South Melbourne precinct. Addressing these complex issues requires sustained advocacy, collaboration and commitment, and we will continue working with all levels of government and key stakeholders to achieve meaningful, lasting outcomes.