City of Melbourne budget promises CCTV cameras and more lighting in safety blitz
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Melbourne's Lord Mayor Nick Reece says more CCTV cameras and safety officers will be introduced on city streets as part of what he says is a record investment in community safety.
The City of Melbourne handed down its 2025-26 draft budget today, with $4.5 million more invested into public safety compared to last year, bringing the total to $14 million.
Cr Reece said the council would spend a total of $70 million on safety and cleaning — a 20 per cent increase on last year.
The council will also invest $2.1 million upgrading and expanding the Safe City Camera Program, activating more than 100 new CCTV cameras.
The Victorian government will contribute $3.5 million to the initiative.
Cr Reece said the initiative would "double" the number of CCTV cameras across the city.
"This budget is a game changer for city safety," he said.
About $1 million will go towards lighting up some of Melbourne's laneways and dimly-lit areas, including Hardware Lane and Swanston Street.
An additional $2 million will also go towards new community safety officers.
"This is the biggest change to safety and policing in Victoria, since the introduction of PSOs [protective services officers] on train stations a decade ago," Cr Reese said.
He said the officers will have the powers to enforce local laws and make citizens arrests.
"They will be well trained in managing hostile situations and dealing with situations where there are people at risk," Cr Reece said.
"They'll also be specialised, trained and have a very visible safety presence about them."
In the first year, the City of Melbourne will deliver around 10 community safety officers, he said.
"This budget will deliver a major new investment in boots on the ground in terms of city safety."
Back-to-back surplus
The $732.4 million draft budget revealed a surplus of $150,000, delivering back-to-back surpluses for the first time in five years.
Last year's budget delivered a surplus of $101,000.
The budget includes a debt repayment program, reducing debt from $212 million in 2025-26 and forecast to drop to $61 million by 2028-29 and to zero in an additional three years.
At the budget unveiling, the lord mayor said keeping the city clean, one of his election promises, remained a "top priority" for the City of Melbourne.
The budget revealed $59.8 million will go towards scrubbing streets and infrastructure, litter and graffiti removal as well as rubbish collection and recycling.
"We are winning the war on taggers and graffiti in this city," Cr Reece said.
Rates and parking fines
This year's budget showed residents will receive a full rebate on the Victorian government's 3 per cent rate rise as well as a 3 per cent saving on waste charges.
On-street parking fees will remain the same for the eighth year in a row, but council is projecting total revenue from parking fines will rise by 8.8 per cent to $40.2 million.
Council will invest $26 million to deliver more than 80 events, and $35 million will go towards the renewal of the Queen Victoria Market to deliver on the completion of trader sheds and some new waste facilities.
"This is a budget which makes major strides forward in things which we know are important to Melburnians," Cr Reece said.
"We've got a very ambitious agenda here at the city of Melbourne and this budget reflects that ambition."
Written by Ruth Brook, ABC News.
The City of Melbourne handed down its 2025-26 draft budget today, with $4.5 million more invested into public safety compared to last year, bringing the total to $14 million.
Cr Reece said the council would spend a total of $70 million on safety and cleaning — a 20 per cent increase on last year.
The number of CCTV cameras across the city is set to double. (ABC News: John Gunn)
The Victorian government will contribute $3.5 million to the initiative.
Cr Reece said the initiative would "double" the number of CCTV cameras across the city.
Lord Mayor Nick Reece says the council will upgrade and expand its Safe City Camera Program. (ABC News: Matthew Holmes)
"This budget is a game changer for city safety," he said.
About $1 million will go towards lighting up some of Melbourne's laneways and dimly-lit areas, including Hardware Lane and Swanston Street.
An additional $2 million will also go towards new community safety officers.
"This is the biggest change to safety and policing in Victoria, since the introduction of PSOs [protective services officers] on train stations a decade ago," Cr Reese said.
He said the officers will have the powers to enforce local laws and make citizens arrests.
"They will be well trained in managing hostile situations and dealing with situations where there are people at risk," Cr Reece said.
"They'll also be specialised, trained and have a very visible safety presence about them."
About $70 million will be spent on safety and cleaning throughout the city. (ABC News: Elias Clure)
In the first year, the City of Melbourne will deliver around 10 community safety officers, he said.
"This budget will deliver a major new investment in boots on the ground in terms of city safety."
Back-to-back surplus
The $732.4 million draft budget revealed a surplus of $150,000, delivering back-to-back surpluses for the first time in five years.
Last year's budget delivered a surplus of $101,000.
The budget includes a debt repayment program, reducing debt from $212 million in 2025-26 and forecast to drop to $61 million by 2028-29 and to zero in an additional three years.
At the budget unveiling, the lord mayor said keeping the city clean, one of his election promises, remained a "top priority" for the City of Melbourne.
Almost $60 million will go towards keeping Melbourne clean, including graffiti removal. (Unsplash: Akshay Chauhan)
The budget revealed $59.8 million will go towards scrubbing streets and infrastructure, litter and graffiti removal as well as rubbish collection and recycling.
"We are winning the war on taggers and graffiti in this city," Cr Reece said.
Rates and parking fines
This year's budget showed residents will receive a full rebate on the Victorian government's 3 per cent rate rise as well as a 3 per cent saving on waste charges.
Parking fees remain the same, while parking fines will increase. (ABC News: Stephanie Chalkley-Rhoden)
On-street parking fees will remain the same for the eighth year in a row, but council is projecting total revenue from parking fines will rise by 8.8 per cent to $40.2 million.
Council will invest $26 million to deliver more than 80 events, and $35 million will go towards the renewal of the Queen Victoria Market to deliver on the completion of trader sheds and some new waste facilities.
The council has earmarked $35 million for the renewal of Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)
"This is a budget which makes major strides forward in things which we know are important to Melburnians," Cr Reece said.
"We've got a very ambitious agenda here at the city of Melbourne and this budget reflects that ambition."
Written by Ruth Brook, ABC News.
