Community Spruces Up Street

Councillor Francis Maher, wielding his chainsaw, and Community Constable Russ Smith, armed with weed eater, both get stuck into an overgrown hedge on an Elizabeth Street property as part of a community clean-up. The Council, through its Safer Communities arm, is a partner in the project working alongside church and cultural groups and the Police to help residents tidy up their area.

Constable Smith says the project helps build better relationships between the agencies and the residents and, in neighbouring streets, a similar exercise has helped drive down offending.

Councillor Maher says it’s very satisfying to spend time doing something practical that is a direct help to people and it’s also important to show that the Council works closely with other community agencies.

Another half dozen areas are in line for the Safer Communities programme, which includes a neighbourhood barbecue and street improvements as well as rubbish removal.