Wyndham council will launch a trial private security patrol in Truganina, despite some councillors branding the proposal as an overreach.
Councillors adopted the city’s 2025-26 budget during a council meeting on June 24. Included was $372,000 for a 12-month trial of private security patrols in the Bemin Ward.
The idea for a private security trial in Truganina was part of an election pledge made by Cr Preet Singh during last year’s council elections.
The proposal attracted significant feedback from the community, with 43 per cent of respondents to council’s draft budget opposing the trial, 34 per cent wanting to keep it in the budget, and 23 per cent wanting the trial changed.
Cr Larry Zhao unsuccessfully attempted to extend the trial to include his ward – Williams Landing.
“Residents in Williams Landing Ward are particularly worried about this issue because Sayers Road is a boundary of Truganina security patrols trial, which if it is successful, will mean any anti-social behaviour will simply relocate to Williams Landing, Tarneit, Hoppers Crossing, or Werribee and we will need a Trump border wall to protect the other parts of the city,” he said.
Crs Susan McIntyre and Jasmine Hill attempted to have the trial removed from the budget altogether, proposing that it be replaced with funding for measures that are proven to deter crime such as lighting and CCTV, council’s Coffee with a Cop program or a municipality-wide youth safety and engagement grants program.
Both councillors’ attempts to do away with the trial were voted down by a majority of councillors.
Cr McIntrye said security patrols fell outside the core responsibilities of council and was “not equitable” and “not a good use of ratepayers’ funds”.
She questioned whether residents who already pay for private security patrols of areas such as Sanctuary Lakes, Mambourin and Manor Lakes, would be reimbursed by council if the Truganina patrol was approved.
Cr Hill stated that latest Crime Statistics Agency data showed that Werribee, Hoppers Crossing and Tarneit had recorded the highest number of criminal incidents in the year to March,
“Yet we are being asked to support a private security patrol in Truganina … which has significantly fewer incidents by comparison,” she said.
Speaking in support of the trial, Cr Singh said it had the “potential to significantly rebuild the community’s trust in their local council” while Cr Maria King said it would be a deterrent.
