The Victorian Community Safety Fund is offering community groups the opportunity to apply for grants to help fight crime.
The Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Region Melina Bath is urging Gippsland community groups to consider applying for a crime prevention grant to help secure their facilities and make the wider community safer.
“At a time when crime continues to sky rocket in Victoria, it important that Gippslanders protect their personal safety and combat the alarming number of break in’s and thefts being experienced,” said Ms Bath.
The crime statistics released earlier this year show the Latrobe Valley as having the second highest number of recorded criminal incidents in the state, coming second only to Melbourne.
Ms Bath said frustratingly community facilities can be viewed as an easy target for unwarranted criminal activity.
“Our community groups and associations often struggle to find the money to invest in measures to improve their security and protect valuable equipment,” said Ms Bath.
The Community Safety grants are available under two streams.
The first stream offers up to $10,000 for projects that aim to prevent crime relating to community facilities and public spaces. Examples of such projects include installation of security camera or small-scale improvements to streetscapes, parks and reserves.
The second stream offers up to $25,000 for projects that improve education and awareness on home safety, theft from business, personal property theft in public places and theft of or from motor vehicles.
For more information or to lodge an application visit www.crimeprevention.vic.gov.au/safetygrants.
Organisations looking to apply can contact Ms Bath by email at melina.bath@parliament.vic.gov.au or call 03 5174 7066 to arrange a letter of support.
Applications will remain open until 4pm on Friday 18 October 2019.
