The Schrinner Council is making our suburbs safer with $500,000 in grants available for sports and community clubs to deliver security improvements.
The new Lord Mayor’s Safer Suburbs Grants, promised at the recent election, have opened today with at least 50 clubs expected to benefit in the first round.
The grants are open to all council-leased sports and community clubs and will award up to $10,000 per group to enhance security and deter crime.
Grants can be used to deliver:
- Security screens
- CCTV cameras
- New locks
- Improved patrol services
- Alarm systems
Crime in the suburbs is continuing and community facilities are also being targeted with recent incidents of robbery, vandalism and sport fields being damaged by hooning.
In the past 12 months there have been 15 reports of vandalism and crime at Council facilities compared to just two in the 2021/22 financial year.
In February a brazen daylight theft of a cash register occurred at Club Chermside Bowls Club while Mitchelton Football Club had a spate of recent incidents including vandalism, theft and fields with new turf being damaged by cars doing burnouts.
The grant funding will help community clubs boost safety and deter crime so they can focus more on delivering grassroot sports and great community events.
The Lord Mayor’s Safer Suburbs grants offer an initial investment of $500,000 each year for the first two years, with further funding to be considered based on community demand.
The Schrinner Council is also boosting suburban safety with its deployment of mobile and fixed CCTV cameras as part of the new Suburban Safety Cameras program, with the first cameras installed at Mount Coot-tha last month.
Applications for the Lord Mayors Safer Suburbs Grants open Tuesday 6 August 2024 and will close Monday 16 September 2024.
Visit the Council website to learn more and apply today – www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/community-and-safety/grants-awards-and-sponsorships/community-grants/lord-mayors-safer-suburbs-grants
Quotes attributable to Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner:
“Brisbane has the best lifestyle in Australia, but unfortunately crime is a growing problem for everyone, including our sports and community clubs.
“Crime is a State Government issue and they need to step up and do more to address this issue, but we are also doing what we can to make our suburbs safer.
“I will always stand up for Brisbane residents against crime, and this first round of Safer Suburbs Grants will help boost safety at around 50 clubs and help their thousands of members.
“The Safer Suburbs Grants are just one of the ways the Schrinner Council is standing up for Brisbane on crime and making the places where we live, work and play safer.
Quotes attributable to Club Chermside Chairman of the Board Tony Bolf
“Club Chermside is a community club, run by the community for the community, and when we are targeted, it hurts all of us.
“We lost both till floats on the day of the robbery and while it may not seem like a lot, that money is crucial for keeping the club running.
“Thankfully, the incident was discreet, there was no use of weapons or aggression and we are extremely grateful that no one was hurt and only money was taken.
“This incident is still alarming and brazen and unfortunately, crime is a part of the society we live in.
“Technology is evolving so quickly that it is challenging for small clubs like ours to stay updated in all areas.
“This robbery, along with a recent spate of vandalism to members’ cars in the car park, has made addressing security at the club a high priority.
“That’s why we will be applying for the Lord Mayor’s Safer Suburbs grant.”
Quotes attributable to Mitchelton Football Club Vice President Jamie Bowman
“Following the severe weather event in February 2022, we were facing a complete rebuild of our turf fields.
“We were so grateful for the funding we received through the Rebuild and Recover Clubs Partnership program.
“Our players were thrilled when they could take to the fields again, once the new turf was laid, so you can imagine what a blow it was, just two months later, to see the damage caused by hooligans doing burnouts.
“They removed bollards, that were meant to be in place to keep vehicles off the fields, and caused damage to this newly laid turf.
“Thankfully, we were able to repair it fairly quickly but we want to ensure it doesn’t happen again at a greater cost.
“We will definitely be applying for funding from the new Lord Mayor’s Safer Suburbs Grant, which we would use to get more CCTV cameras.”
Quotes attributable to Officer in Charge North Brisbane District, Acting Senior Sergeant Victoria Mildred:
“As well as responding to crime when it happens, Queensland Police Service (QPS) works with communities to prevent crime and make Queensland a safer place to live, work and play.
“From personal safety to business security and home security, our crime prevention policies, strategies and programs are guided by the National Crime Prevention Framework developed by the Australian Institute of Criminology.
“By regularly assessing your security, introducing targeted security measures and making changes to everyday behaviours, you can help keep yourself and your property, safe.”
