The Andrews Labor Government is increasing lighting along Main Drive in Bundoora to improve safety and help prevent crime.

Minister for Crime Prevention Ben Carroll visited Plenty Road to announce a $184,000 grant to the City of Darebin, as part of the 2019–20 Public Safety Infrastructure Fund grant round to increase lighting along Main Drive in Bundoora.

The project will address concerns raised by residents and students around the lack of lighting along the road, which is a popular thoroughfare connecting the shopping centre, La Trobe University, student accommodation and public transport.

The council will also contribute more than $50,000 to install 23 lights on Main Drive linking Plenty Road and La Trobe University.

The Public Safety Infrastructure Fund provides grants up to $250,000 to Victorian councils to improve community safety, security and confidence in public places.

Since July 2015, the Labor Government has provided almost $13.6 million in Public Safety Infrastructure Fund grants to support 88 projects across Victoria.

In this time, the City of Darebin have received more than $345,000 in funding for three public safety infrastructure projects, including upgrades to Preston Central and TW Andrews Reserve in Reservoir.

The grants are part of the Government’s $25 million investment in the Community Crime Prevention Program, aimed at tackling crime and its root causes. This builds on the $19.4 million invested in the program in 2016–17.