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Air/health Neighbourhood Watch precinct a first for Victoria

By Latrobe City Council - 10th June 2005 - Back to News

An innovative Air/Health Neighbourhood Watch area, centred around the Latrobe Regional Airport and the Latrobe Regional Hospital, was launched today by the Neighbourhood Watch State President, Bill Horman, at the Latrobe Regional Airport terminal building.

The new Air/Health Neighbourhood Watch area, while encompassing the airport and hospital precincts, also takes in nearby tourist accommodation services and private homes surrounding the area.

In welcoming the new Neighbourhood Watch area, Councillor Lisa Price, said it was a first for Victoria in terms of a combined Neighbourhood Watch precinct centred around an airport and a health service.

"With eyes being focused more and more on airport security these days, this joint initiative by the Latrobe Regional Airport board and the board of directors of Latrobe Regional Hospital is to be congratulated," Cr Price said.

Latrobe Regional Hospital Chief Executive, Felix Pintado, said the new initiative would be one that would benefit over a thousand people in the area.

"Latrobe Regional Hospital already has over 1,100 staff members, and with the new Gippsland Cancer Care Centre development under construction, we can expect this number to increase," Mr Pintado said.

"If you add to that the number of patients and visitors we have at Latrobe Regional Hospital at any one time, plus the staff members and customers at the airport, caravan parks, Century Inn, the new Gippsland Rotary Centenary House and local home owners, it would not be uncommon to have over two-thousand people in our new air/health Neighbourhood Watch area.

"With this large population in our neighbourhood, the airport and hospital boards have recognised that the very best form of security is vigilance by those who work and live in the area. The creation of the new Neighbourhood Watch area will empower the airport and hospital communities, and our near neighbours, to protect their personal assets and the community services of the Airport and the Hospital," Mr Pintado concluded.

Cr Price acknowledged the work of local Morwell policeman Acting Senior Sergeant Graham Madin, Senior Constable Brendan Clifford and others in identifying the need for a new Neighbourhood Watch area. "The airport board immediately recognised the potential and the need, and worked with other stakeholders to make it a reality, Cr Price said.

"As a result, a Neighbourhood Watch committee has been formed for the new area, which is being serviced by the airport board and hospital safety representatives.

"I congratulate the airport and hospital boards and neighbouring communities, and also thank the Victoria Police for supporting this excellent initiative.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com