Moe scouts and cubs are hoping Latrobe City Council will ensure their safety on winter nights by installing new lighting at Apex Park to light up the front of the scout hall.
First Moe Scout Group treasurer Peter Hibbs is asking council to fund new lighting, after parents and scout guardians said they felt unsafe at lock-up times after weekly meetings.
“We sometimes have unknown people loitering around the park at night – this is concerning to the scouts and their parents,” Mr Hibbs said.
“Leaders have to wait for others to arrive to be assured of their own safety. We regard this as a safety concern.”
Moe Scouts was one of four community groups to make submissions this week asking council to include their projects in this year’s budget in June.
Mr Hibbs said he had a quote for $6000 for new lighting but said it was in Latrobe’s hands as the park is council-owned property.
He said there was a light pole about 35 metres away, and an automated exterior light on the hall veranda but these were not enough.
About 16 cubs and a dozen scouts hold weekly meetings at the hall, learning bush survival and community leadership skills.
They also use the park to learn outdoor skills.
Mr Hibbs said the park is heavily used throughout the day and kids come to use the play equipment.
Latrobe City Rural Ratepayers Association president Graeme O’Hara fronted council on Tuesday asking Latrobe to retain is current farm rate differential at 75 per cent of the general rate.
This was the association’s 40th budget submission which is made annually to ask council to maintain the status quo.
Mr O’Hara said farmers who lived out of towns did not have the same council amenities such as sealed roads with kerb and guttering, lighting or rubbish removal.
“We just require a good access road. Farmers make a substantial contribution to council rate revenue and to the area’s general prosperity through being primary producers,” Mr O’Hara said.
Other budget submissions included fitting out the Traralgon West Sporting Complex with new kitchen and toilet facilities to create a multi-purpose room for general community use.
Traralgon West Cricket Club president Sam Varsaci said he had a quote for between $200,000 and $300,000.
He said the club had a preliminary discussion with the Latrobe Valley Authority to fund three-quarters of the project.
The club asked council to contribute 25 per cent of the cost. The Committee for Gippsland is seeking $15,000 from Latrobe City to sponsor a community leadership program which would help to further develop the community work of its alumni.
