This petition of residents and businesses of Palmerston Crescent and surrounding streets draws attention to the need for urgent action to address the growing anti-social behavior, theft, substance abuse, and safety concerns to residents and businesses since the new housing policy was implemented during the COVID-19 crisis. Specifically, the policy of sheltering rough sleepers in hotels and apartments. The hotel is of concern to us our city edge apartments Hotel and City Park Hotel in South Melbourne.

In as much as we feel it is a reasonable option to place people who are homeless due to the loss of a job, domestic violence, backpackers or people who are undergoing significant financial pressures, bringing in large groups of the mentally ill, drug addicts and alcoholics is not!

This has changed our street and neighborhood from a pleasant, safe, and peaceful area of South Melbourne to one where:

·      drug deals are being transacted in the alleyways

·      theft from residents’ cars and properties

·      harassment

·      rubbish being dumped in gutters and gardens and rubbish bins left overflowing

·      groups are congregating without PPE (mandatory masksThe petition therefore requests:

1. More resources to frontline police to tackle growing anti-social behavior, harassment, theft, and drug-related crimes on our streets, especially overnight. 
2.  Install security cameras to deter theft and drug deals taking place outside the hotel and in the alleyways.
3. Transfer the mentally ill, drug addicts, and alcoholics into a more supportive environment that provides the counseling and medical staff on-site, rather than a hotel, which is not equipped to handle such illnesses.
4. Daily Street cleaning services, including weekends, to remove discarded trolleys, litter, and garbage from our streets.

5. The City Edge Hotel’s security guard to patrol the external areas including Palmerston Crescent.