Doveton strip cleans up

By Callan Date
A POPULAR Doveton shopping strip is trying to shake its tag of being a haunt for vandals and drug dealers.
Routine police patrols along with visits by Casey Council by-laws officers are just two of the initiatives occurring along Autumn Place in a bid to clean up the area.
Traders have joined concerned residents in a crime and safety action group to revitalise the area and make it a shopping destination for locals.
Several business owners described the strip as having its worst vandalism in 30 years when the News reported on a string of damage to three shops in June.
On that occasion wooden objects were used to smash glass windows at a solicitor’s office, kindergarten and fish and chip shop.
However, signs of improvement are already starting to show, according to those who know best.
Doveton News and Lotto Centre owner Paul Benbow said Autumn Place had been free of any unruly behaviour for about the last six weeks.
“We are just involved as traders to keep everything positive in the street and try to improve it and keep it a nice place to shop,” Mr Benbow said. He said the area was an ideal community hub with a childcare centre and library operating nearby.
Officials from Doveton-Eumemmerring Neighbourhood Renewal are helping to facilitate the action group along with involvement from Endeavour Hills police and Casey Council.
Sergeant Andrea Winfield said Autumn Place was on a list of target patrol areas in the region.
“We will be running ongoing operations when resources permit,” Sgt Winfield said.
Doveton Baptist Opportunity Shop worker Pauline Warren-Smith said the last two months had been very positive.
“It has been good to have the interaction with residents and traders,” she said.
Ms Warren-Smith admitted that it would take time to implement more change but things were slowly starting to happen.
She said approaches had already been made to the Commonwealth Bank to improve lighting near their ATM.
“We have a lot of people come here from other suburbs and all these things are encouraging for the area.”
The next crime and safety action group meeting will be held on Thursday, 23 August at 6pm at the Doveton Neighbourhood Learning Centre.
For more information about the group contact 9791 4760.