The City of Melbourne is set to boost community safety with increased investment in patrols, lighting and other safety initiatives.
The City of Melbourne’s draft Budget 2025/26 marks the biggest investment in safety in Council’s history, with an extra $4.5 million toward protecting the community. .
Council will spend $2.1 million to upgrade and expand the Safe City Camera Program – activating more than 100 new CCTV cameras. This will help everyone feel safer on the street, support local traders and give city workers the confidence to do their jobs knowing they’re protected.
An additional $2 million will be allocated to expand Council’s visible safety presence, while continuing to work closely with Victoria Police and local businesses to deliver the best safety response for Melbourne.
Melbourne’s iconic laneways will shine brighter than ever, with $1 million to light up Melbourne’s busiest and most dimly lit areas, including:
- Swanston Street
- Bourke Hill
- Hardware Lane
- Rothsay Lane
- Collins Street bridge
- Plane Tree Way
- Matthews Mews
- Baulderstone Walk
Council has said that keeping the city safe means keeping it clean. $59.8 million will be invested to scrub streets and city infrastructure, pick up litter, remove graffiti, and collect residential rubbish and recycling.
With increased funding, Council has supercharged its Clean Team, which now operates around the clock. In 2025/26, Melbourne aims to remove more than 130,000m² of graffiti – equal to six and a half MCGs, and 10,000m² more than in 2024/25.
City of Melbourne Lord Mayor, Nick Reece, said that Melbourne is a safe city, but the community has said that there’s more Council can do to help them feel safer.
“Our Budget proposes the biggest investment in safety in Council’s history – with more boots on the ground, more CCTV cameras and new lighting for our iconic laneways,” Mayor Reece said.
“We’re working harder than ever to keep our city clean, and we will continue to invest in keeping our streets spotless, bins emptied, pavements pristine and illegal graffiti erased.”
City of Melbourne Safety and Cleaning portfolio head, Councillor Rafael Camillo, said that Council is going above and beyond to make Melbourne cleaner and safer.
“Because we want everyone to feel welcome and protected,” Cr Camillo said.
“We’ll leave no stone unturned to deliver these essential services, and our community will see our crews working around the clock to deliver on this promise. We must keep focusing on doing the basics right.”
