Thursday, 22 June 2023

Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, community safety

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (17:22): (310) My adjournment matter this evening is for the attention of the Minister for Education, and it is regarding St Kilda Park Primary School. Stella, who is a parent and has children who attend St Kilda Park Primary School, located in Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, which is in my electorate of Southern Metro, has contacted me and has raised a number of concerns about the proposal by the City of Port Phillip to install a public toilet in Fitzroy Street around 100 metres from the main entrance of the primary school. She is very concerned that this public toilet is so close to the primary school. As Fitzroy Street has been known in recent times to have a large degree of antisocial behaviour and crime, there is real concern from residents and traders around what is happening in Fitzroy Street. I have been down to Fitzroy Street on many occasions, and I have spoken to traders and residents over the last 12 months who are talking about an increase in this antisocial behaviour and crime.

Just a couple of weeks ago I attended a crime forum in the St Kilda town hall, which was put together by the police – the local inspectors down there, the crime inspectors – and a range of people who were talking about the crime issues in and around the area and invited the community to come and provide their feedback. It was very well attended, and I want to place on record my thanks to the police for doing that but also to those traders and residents who also came along and shared their stories. It is very necessary that the local police and, further afield, the crimes unit also understand exactly what is going on. Nevertheless, this issue around this new toilet that is going to be situated 100 metres from this primary school is causing some concern for the school community. Their concern is not that a public toilet is not needed, it is just about its proximity to the school. They think that because of what is going on on the streets around Fitzroy Street it should not be so close to the entrance to the school.

They have approached the City of Port Phillip to seek an alternative location for the toilet, but that has not led to an outcome that Stella believes is satisfactory. Stella has said that the school has been involved and has seen too many antisocial behaviour incidents that have been in close proximity, and she thinks the children need a safe environment. The action I seek is for the minister to address this issue raised by the families at St Kilda Park Primary School and work with them to advocate to Port Phillip council to resolve this matter.