Grants to boost street safety

JANUARY 12, 2016: Not-for-profit and community groups are reminded that grant applications for Round 2 of the Coalition Government’s Safer Streets Programme are now open.Round 2 will invest up to $29.4 million in individual grants for local government organisations and eligible incorporated not-for-profit organisations, community groups, and chambers of commerce to implement community safety and crime prevention initiatives across Australia.Mackay received $400,000 in funding under Safer Streets Round 1 in 2014, so this programme is already working to improve safety and reduce crime in the city.Other centres should consider if they could also benefit in this round.I encourage potential applicants for Round 2 to contact my office to discuss their projects eligibility and to receive all submission details.More than $19 million in funding was awarded under Round 1 of the Programme for projects across 150 locations to deliver security enhancements such as better lighting and CCTV in retail, entertainment and commercial precincts.Importantly, the Safer Streets Programme uses proceeds of crime - confiscated from criminals - to fund these local crime prevention projects.  This means that the crimes of yesterday can help prevent the crimes of tomorrow.Find out more at www.ag.gov.auApplications close 2pm on 17 February 2016.