City of Melbourne spends big on lighting and CCTV

The City of Melbourne’s draft Budget 2025–26 has a strong emphasis on street safety, with an extra $4.5 million in new initiatives marking what the Council says is the biggest investment in safety in its history.

This will include $2.1 million to upgrade and expand the Council’s Safe City Camera Program, which will activate more than 100 new CCTV cameras with the aim of increasing pedestrian safety and supporting local traders.

Melbourne’s signature laneways are set to shine more brightly, thanks to $1 million in lighting for the city’s busiest and most dimly lit areas, including Swanston Street, Bourke Hill, Hardware Lane, Rothsay Lane, Collins Street bridge, Plane Tree Way, Matthews Mews and Baulderstone Walk.

In addition to the camera and lighting initiatives, the Council will allocate $2 million to expand its visible safety presence, while continuing to work closely with Victoria Police and local businesses to deliver the best safety response for Melbourne.

“Keeping Melburnians safe is critical — and in particular we want women to be safe and feel safe in our city. That’s why we will expand our security presence, increase lighting and boost our CCTV network — because we want everyone to feel safe in Melbourne, at any time of the day,” said Safety and Cleaning deputy portfolio head Councillor Gladys Liu.

The Council will devote a further $59.8 million to cleaning streets and city infrastructure, picking up litter, removing graffiti, and collecting residential rubbish and recycling.

“Melbourne is a safe city, but our community tells us there’s more we can do to help them feel safer — and we’ve listened,” said Lord Mayor Nick Reece.

“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.

“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.”

Image credit: iStock.com/gionnixxx