Look out for Neighbourhood Watch

Lakeside residents David Edwards, Pip, Caitlin and Ryan Chalmers, David Farrelly and Wendy Andrews are celebrating the installation of the area's Neighbourhood Watch signs. 170482_03 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

By Bonny Burrows

A nine-month fight to install Neighbourhood Watch signs has ended in victory for Lakeside Pakenham residents.
After almost a year of lobbying by the Lakeside Residents Group (LRG), Cardinia Shire Council finally erected the pre-purchased signs at the entrance to Lakeside Estate.
The group was told by the council in February that there was “no money” to install the signs but the shire has since coughed up the cash.
LRG member Wendy Andrews said that it was a relief to have the signage installed after such a long wait, especially since there was a push to roll out Neighbourhood Watch across the shire.
The initiative sees residents within small communities work together with police to improve the quality of life within their neighbourhood by minimising preventable crime and promoting closer community ties.
“We felt it was important to display these signs to let the general public know we’re not only part of the Neighbourhood Watch group, but also that we are a community that cares and looks out for each other,” Ms Andrews said.
The signs can be found near Lakeside Primary School and Aldi supermarket.