Grant to make city’s underpasses safer

A $250,000 State Government grant secured by the Karratha City Ratepayers and Residents Association aims to make the city’s underpasses safer for residents.

The grant includes funds for solar lighting at underpasses on Rosemary Road and Baynton Drive, as well as CCTV installation at the Youth Shed and Tambrey Pavilion, among other works.

Member for the Pilbara Kevin Michel said he had been to KCRRA meetings and heard discussions about needing funding for law and order and taken the request to the McGowan Government.

“I got them to make a commitment to give the funds as part of the Local Projects, Local Jobs scheme,” he said.

KCRRA worked with the City of Karratha and the Safer Communities Partnership to decide how best to spend the money.

KCRRA president Dana Hage said underpasses had been identified as one of the main areas where people felt unsafe. “We highlighted the areas that were having trouble and decided to increase lighting and take away dark spots where people are afraid,” she said.

“We figured it was less likely to have an element of crime in areas with CCTV and lighting.”

KCRRA had been petitioning the council for more than two years to tackle the increase in crime.

“At the end of the day we’ve got to do something about it and I think it’s (money) very well spent,” Mr Michel said.