Mayor Phil Marks and deputy mayor Robert Rossi with the new |Community Watch patrol car.
Camera IconMayor Phil Marks and deputy mayor Robert Rossi with the new |Community Watch patrol car. Credit: Supplied/Martin Kennealey

Third patrol car on the lookout

Staff ReporterSouthern Gazette

The car is used for patrols in Ascot during the day, and at night it patrols the Kewdale industrial area and the airport’s commercial area, plus the road between the two terminals.

Last November, the council voted unanimously to consider an allocation of $482,000 in the 2014/15 budget for a third patrol vehicle to monitor businesses and homes.

An increased budget allocation of $503,000 was included in the City’s budget in July after heated debate among councillors, with some concerned about the cost and questioning whether the City was responsible for patrolling commercial areas.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

The City has two other Community Watch patrol cars, with one providing a 24-hour service and the second operating only during the busiest period, 3pm to 3am.

The combined annual running cost is about $660,000.

The extra patrol was raised in community feedback in an annual Business and Community Perceptions Survey.

‘The feedback given by the community included requests for more crime prevention initiatives such as greater access to more security and patrols,’ Cr Phil Marks said.

Newly released results from this year’s survey reveal 94 per cent of residents were satisfied with the City as a place to live and 88 per cent were satisfied with the City as a governing organisation.

‘The City is delighted with these results and feedback and is grateful for the continued community participation and effort to provide valuable comments,’ Cr Marks said.

Areas of improvement identified included tidying of streetscapes, improved street lighting and better management of local traffic.