At the 17 February 2026 meeting, Council endorsed a transition away from the Footscray CBD Security Program towards a Council led Place Management and Activation Model. It focuses on coordination, activation and amenity.

The Place Management and Activation Model (to be known as the Footscray Welcome Crew) is designed to support a vibrant and prosperous activity centre by establishing a welcoming, visible on-street presence that supports all users of the Footscray CBD. The model will focus on building trust, providing practical assistance and positive engagement.

This is part of Council's broader Footscray Revitalisation program providing place-based capacity, supporting greater coordination, partnerships, early intervention, trader support and activation.

You can learn more about the proposed model below, by reading our FAQs on this page, or in further detail by reading pages 235-248 of the Council Report.

The Footscray Welcome Crew is a critical component of Council’s broader Footscray Revitalisation efforts and will be guided by the actions outlined in Council’s endorsed Footscray CBD Place Plan.

The Footscray Welcome Crew will support the day-to-day operation of the Footscray CBD, assist traders, help strengthen coordination on the ground, and contribute to a CBD that feels well-managed, welcoming and alive.

The name is deliberate. It reflects Footscray’s identity as a place of arrival, exchange and belonging, and reinforces an approach that is welcoming, approachable and community‑focused.

A key part of the role is managing shared use of public space. This includes supporting economic and community activity while also responding appropriately to people experiencing vulnerability.

Where appropriate, the Footscray Welcome Crew may engage community members directly through practical assistance. Where further action is required, the following referrals will be considered:

• Outreach and support services – for homelessness, welfare concerns, mental health or substance use issues.
• Local Laws – for obstruction, public drinking in designated areas, and permit or trading issues.
• Victoria Police – for criminal activity, threats, violence or immediate safety risks.
• Maintenance services – for cleaning, graffiti and infrastructure issues.

The Footscray Welcome Crew will build on Council’s recent investment in revitalisation and be delivered by a small, dedicated team which will include:

• the Footscray Revitalisation Lead
• a Footscray Precinct officer
• a Community Development Officer.

When interacting with vulnerable community members, the Footscray Welcome Crew staff may:

• engage respectfully
• check on wellbeing
• provide information about available services
• notify outreach or support services where assistance may be required.

The Footscray Welcome Crew will not undertake enforcement, nor will it provide clinical support, case management or specialist homelessness outreach.

Where behaviour creates risks to safety, staff may request support from Local Laws Officers, Ambulance Victoria or Victoria Police.

Council is sharing the proposed Place Management and Activation Model for the Footscray CBD to ensure it aligns with community and stakeholder expectations. We want to know:

• Have we got the proposed model right?

• If you have any feedback/comments on the proposed model.

Share your thoughts via the survey below and learn more by midnight Sunday 17 May 2026.

Ongoing stakeholder engagement, conversations with traders, business groups and support agencies, has helped informed both the evaluation of the security program and development of the proposed Place Management and Activation Model.

The proposed Footscray Welcome Crew has been informed by ongoing conversations with key stakeholder groups, over 700 pieces of feedback and an online conversation via Your City Your Voice.

In late 2025, we received 42 posts and 62 comments on the posts for the question: 'What can Council do to help improve safety in the Footscray CBD?'. Key suggestions and themes included:

• cleanliness and maintenance
• revitalise the CBD to make it vibrant and safe at night
• calls to address anti-social behaviour
• calls for more homelessness and health support
• requests for a visible police presence
• calls for better lighting, seating and greening.

In September 2025, Council endorsed the Footscray CBD Place Plan, developed in response to current challenges and future opportunities. The Footscray CBD Place Plan sets out a practical program of works to strengthen safety, amenity, activation, and coordination across the CBD. It is a living document designed to evolve through ongoing engagement and cross-sector collaboration.

The first year of the Plan includes a $2.4 million investment in the public realm, with initiatives already in motion to improve lighting, upgrade wayfinding signage, renew CCTV systems, expand street cleaning and maintenance, and introduce a Security Guard Program aimed at boosting safety and public confidence. Council will also continue to support trader associations and community events to further activate the precinct, while enhancing coordination of local service responses to homelessness.

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