- Minister for Police and Emergency Services
Pedestrians now have significant additional protection along the Bourke Street Mall shopping precinct, following the completion of security upgrades.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Lisa Neville today joined the City of Melbourne and Victoria Police to mark the major milestone in the Andrews Labor Government’s $52.5 million CBD security upgrades.
A total of 131 steel bollards have been installed, enabling all temporary concrete blocks to be removed from the mall. The bollards work together with street furniture, planter boxes and other measures to form a protective pedestrian zone on each side of the thoroughfare and shopping strip.
The protective design was developed by security experts, landscape designers and engineers, in consultation with Victoria Police, state and local government agencies and mall traders.
Planter boxes and 20 steel bollards were installed as part of the first stage of works, while the second stage involved the installation of 36 bollards and additional temporary blocks. The final stage of works was completed with the installation of 75 bollards.
This is the third site to be completed as part of the Labor Government’s investment in CBD security, with Princes Bridge and Flinders Street Station works completed earlier this year.
Security upgrades at Federation Square, Southbank Promenade, Southern Cross Station, the State Library, Queen Victoria Market and Olympic Boulevard are ongoing with high priority areas due to be implemented in 2019.
The Victorian Budget 2019/20 included $2.5 million to help maintain and operate the CBD security improvements – including the site upgrades, CCTV camera expansion and a public address system.
The 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 people referred by the centre.
The CBD’s newest police station opened in Bourke Street in June following the government’s $36.4 million commitment for a new home for the Melbourne East Police Station. 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 noted by Minister for Police and Emergency Services Lisa Neville
“The Bourke Street Mall is one of Melbourne’s busiest areas – that’s why we’ve introduced important safety measures to provide even greater protection for everyone.”
“We’ve worked closely with the City of Melbourne, Victoria Police and security experts to ensure everyone can still enjoy the Bourke Street Mall, while also creating important pedestrian protection zones.”
As noted by City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp
“These new steel bollards will make our city safer and improve the streetscape along Bourke Street, creating a more welcoming space for the thousands of people who visit the area each day.
