Stonnington Council unveils $2m plan to upgrade Chapel St
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Chapel St is set for a much-needed spruce up as part of a $2m package from Stonnington City Council to improve safety and attract more shoppers to the struggling shopping and dining strip.
The plan includes more cleaning, graffiti removal, cracking down on public drinking, investigating better lighting and upgrading benches and other infrastructure.
A Community Safety and Chapel Street Taskforce will also be established to work with Victoria Police and state agencies involved in housing and health to improve safety in the precinct.
It comes after years of the street becoming increasingly run down and an increasing number of crime in the area including the killing of Ruka Carlson on Chapel St over Easter.
House of Reverence owner Jason Redlich said the council's plan was 'a great start' but it would take time to turn around Chapel Street's image.
'What's being proposed is exactly what needs to happen,' he said.
'We need to make sure Chapel Street looks clean and feels safe because until that happens shoppers will stay away.
'Unfortunately Chapel Street has really declined. It's gone from Melbourne's shopping mecca to a bit of hell hole.'
Mr Redlich said further work was needed to address homelessness and drug use in the area.
'There are really severe problems here on Chapel Street and the people who are sleeping rough and addicted to drugs need proper help and support,' he said.
'Having them sleeping in shop doorways and purchasing drugs out in the open isn't good for them and it isn't good for any of the small businesses here on Chapel Street.'
Stonnington Deputy Mayor Tom Humphries said the council had listened to the local community's calls for more investment in the iconic shopping and dining strip.
'Chapel Street was great, and it can be returned to its former glory by focusing on improving amenity and increasing safety,' he said.
'This new allocation of funding will look to improve the quality of the street above the current cleaning, amenity and maintenance schedule.'
Mr Humphries said the council was taking inspiration from controversial former New York Mayor and Trump loyalist Rudy Giuliani.
'Stonnington can improve the amenity and in partnership with Victoria Police we can work to improve safety,' he said.
'This model worked for Rudy in New York.'
The plan also includes consolidating library services at Prahran Town Hall and encouraging more use of the Prahran Square.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Herald Sun
18 hours ago
- Herald Sun
Cradle Mountain search for Christopher Inwood scaled back
Don't miss out on the headlines from National. Followed categories will be added to My News. Police are scaling back the search for Victorian man Christopher Inwood, who has been missing for several days in Tasmania's Cradle Mountain area. Mr Inwood is feared dead, as authorities say his chances of survival are 'very low' if he has been exposed to the elements for the time he's been missing. Mr Inwood was last seen in Kindred in Tasmania's northwest on Monday night. His van was found in a carpark at a ranger's station the following morning. An extensive search effort was undertaken to find the 52-year-old, including a helicopter crew, police, SES volunteers, park rangers, and drone operators. Huts and emergency shelters along the Overland Track were searched, as well as wide-ranging aerial searches of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. Tasmania Police Western District search and rescue Inspector Steven Jones said the emergency agencies would continue to follow any new leads to try to locate Mr Inwood. 'Our thoughts remain with his family who are affected during this incredibly difficult time,' Inspector Jones said. 'Extensive search efforts have been undertaken in the area where the missing person was last believed to be. 'At this stage, that area has been comprehensively searched, and all reasonable search strategies have been completed.' While Mr Inwood's vehicle was located, the search crew found no further evidence to help track him down. 'Given the length of time Mr Inwood has been missing and the harsh weather conditions in the area, if he has been fully exposed to the elements, sadly, his chances of survival are extremely low,' Inspector Jones said. Weather conditions this week at Cradle Mountain have been below freezing overnight. Anyone who has any information about Mr Inwood's location has been encouraged to contact Tasmania Police. Originally published as Search for missing man in Tasmania's Cradle Mountain scaled back
Herald Sun
18 hours ago
- Herald Sun
Marat Ganiev and Eyal Yaffe charged over the death of Isla Bell
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News. Two Melbourne men facing charges over the death of a 19-year-old whose remains were discovered in a fridge will find out in September if they will be committed to trial. Marat Ganiev, 53, is accused of murdering Brunswick teen Isla Bell on October 7, 2024 at his St Kilda East apartment, while Eyal Yaffe, 57, is charged with helping him hide her body. Both men appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Friday when Mr Ganiev asked for a further adjournment as he was waiting for Legal Aid representation. Members of Ms Bell's family were present in court for the committal mention. Both men have been remanded to appear for a committal mention on July 18 and for a four-day committal hearing beginning on September 22. Mr Ganiev and Mr Yaffe were arrested on November 19, 2024 after police discovered Ms Bell's remains at a Dandenong waste management facility that morning. Police allege Ms Bell met Mr Ganiev on October 5 and began staying at his apartment. CCTV allegedly captured her entering Mr Ganiev's apartment at 9.27 pm and she was never seen to leave again. Police allege CCTV captures a fight shortly before 1am on October 7 followed by extensive cleaning by Mr Ganiev over the next few days. Two days later, it's alleged Mr Yaffe arrives towing a black fridge on a trailer which is then swapped out eight days later with a fridge wrapped in plastic and black tape. Police alleged the fridge contained Ms Bell's remains and was moved across several locations in Melbourne's southeast over the following month. On November 18, it's alleged a man opened the fridge, finding a bag with a 'foul smell' which he threw into a rubbish bin believing it was animal remains. Late last year, Ms Bell's family established the Isla Bell Charitable Fund to honour her 'remarkable legacy' as an artist and natural world advocate.
9 News
a day ago
- 9 News
Nicola Gobbo's Lawyer X lawsuit against state of Victoria dismissed
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here BREAKING Israel launches attack on Iran Former gangland lawyer-turned-informer Nicola Gobbo has lost her lawsuit against the state of Victoria after claiming police compromised her safety when she was exposed to have double-crossed clients . The former barrister sued the state for at least $800,000 in damages over claims she was groomed by police to become a human source in late 2005. Also known as 'Lawyer X', she claimed police exploited her vulnerabilities and distress due to close ties to gangland figures, including Tony Mokbel, by offering her protection, support and promises to protect her identity in exchange for information on her gangland clients. A supplied screengrab taken from and ABC News tv interview featuring Melbourne lawyer Nicola Gobbo, who has been revealed as Lawyer X. (PR IMAGE) But her cover was blown in March 2019 when she was exposed as 'Informer 3838' and 'Lawyer X'. Justice Melinda Richards today dismissed Gobbo's lawsuit as she handed down her judgment in Victoria's Supreme Court. She said once Gobbo decided to become an informer "exposure was an inherent risk". "So the state can't be held liable. Therefore it is unnecessary to assess damages," she said. Gobbo was registered three times as a police informer in the 1990s to mid-2000s, when she gave handlers information about underworld figures. During the judge-alone trial, her lawyers said their client suffered psychological injury since her double identity was exposed. She was forced into the witness protection program with her two children and her depression worsened as they moved overseas for their safety. The state has fought each of Gobbo's claims, arguing she voluntarily became an informer and she could have left the role at any time. Nicola Gobbo and her one-time client Tony Mokbel. (Supplied) During the trial, Gobbo gave evidence by video live stream from a secret location with her image hidden inside the court to protect her new identity. Gobbo signed the bar roll at 25, becoming the youngest woman in the state to do so, and quickly found herself representing gangland clients, including the Mokbel family and Carl Williams' clan. A royal commission found her position as both an informer and a barrister could have affected more than 1000 convictions. Former clients Tony Mokbel, Faruk Orman and Zlate Cvetanovski have successfully had convictions overturned since her role was uncovered in March 2019. Gobbo has been ordered to pay the costs for the state. In 2010, Gobbo sued Victoria Police, claiming they failed to protect her as a witness and settled out of court for almost $3 million. courts Victoria news Victoria Police national CONTACT US Auto news:Is this the next Subaru WRX? Mysterious performance car teased.
