- Minister for Police and Emergency Services
Upgrades at Melbourne’s iconic Princes Bridge and Flinders Street Station are now finished, boosting the safety and security of Melburnians and visitors around the busy pedestrian hub.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Lisa Neville today joined the City of Melbourne and Victoria Police to mark the completion of works and announce the next stage of the CBD security upgrades.
The temporary concrete blocks along the Princes Bridge footpaths have been replaced with stainless-steel bollards, while water-filled barriers have been replaced by 88 reinforced barriers.
The works were designed by security experts in consultation with Heritage Victoria, and heritage architects.
The Andrews Labor Government’s significant $53 million investment in CBD security is also continuing at the other priority sites identified by Victoria Police including Federation Square, Southbank Boulevard, Southern Cross Station, State Library of Victoria, Queen Victoria Market and Olympic Boulevard.
Additional security measures are being installed in Bourke Street Mall from July, with further steel bollards to be installed, combined with existing street furniture, planter boxes and other items to form protective pedestrian zones on each side of the mall.
The Victorian Budget 2019/20 included $2.5 million to help maintain and operate the CBD security improvements – including site upgrades, CCTV camera expansion and the public address system – as part of a major investment to keep Victorians safe
The Labor Government also provided $21.8 million to maintain the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre, support mental health clinicians at the centre, and deliver extra specialised services to meet the needs of people who have been referred by the centre.
The Melbourne East Police Station officially opened in the CBD last week, thanks to a $36.4 million commitment from the Government. The new 24-hour police station provides a larger, more central policing hub to boost the police response and support police operations across the city.
As stated by Minister for Police and Emergency Services Lisa Neville
“We’re working closely with the City of Melbourne and Victoria Police to improve safety for all Victorians – including the tens of thousands of visitors who visit Melbourne every day.”
“As we continue to roll out 3,135 new police officers, we’re making the investments needed to keep driving down crime and protecting Victorians from the ongoing threat of terrorism.”
As noted by Acting Lord Mayor Arron Wood
“These measures at Princes Bridge improve safety for the thousands of pedestrians using the bridge each day, as well as restoring its heritage look and feel by replacing the temporary measures.”
