Published on 06 August 2026
Melton City Council has united with four neighbouring western metropolitan councils to call on the Victorian Government to increase police resources across Melbourne's rapidly growing western suburbs.
City of Melton Mayor Cr Lara Carli along with the Mayors of Brimbank, Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay and Wyndham are urging the Victorian Government to deliver more visible, local police services to meet the needs of residents across Melbourne's west.
Police resourcing has failed to keep pace with the region's significant population growth, and this has been further compounded by reduced public access to local police stations including Caroline Springs.
With crime rates rising across Melbourne's west, many residents are feeling increasingly unsafe and concerned about access to local policing services.
Together the Councils are calling on the Victorian Government to:
In March 2026, Melton City Council wrote to the then Minister for Police, Anthony Carbines, on behalf of local residents regarding the reduction in opening hours at Caroline Springs Police Station.
Council outlined community concerns about reduced access to police services, and the distance residents must travel to the nearest open stations in Sunshine and Melton. Council called for Caroline Springs Police Station to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Council also requested additional police resources for Caroline Springs and the broader City of Melton to support both the current population and the City's expected future growth.
Quotes attributable to City of Melton Mayor, Cr Lara Carli:
"The City of Melton is one of the fastest-growing areas in Australia and it is critical that essential services keep pace with this growth, including police resources both within our stations and on the frontline.”
"Across Melbourne's west, police resourcing needs to keep pace with the growth of our communities.”
"Our residents are concerned. We are seeing crime rates increase across the west while police station opening hours are being reduced."
“We appreciate our hardworking local police force, but our community want greater access to our police stations and assurances that our police numbers will grow in line with our population.”
"Every resident deserves to feel safe in their community and have timely access to police services when they need them. We are calling on the Victorian Government to ensure Melbourne's west receives its fair share of police resources and investment."