It’s easy to think of building security as someone else’s job, but in a shared living environment, we all have a role to play. Whether it’s holding the door open for a stranger or leaving a fire exit ajar for “just for a minute,” these small habits can have big consequences.
Precinct began with a basic security setup, which led to a number of issues impacting both residents’ property and peace of mind. Over time, the Owners Corporation (OC) progressively implemented targeted improvements in response to these incidents, with a clear focus on both immediate needs and long-term outcomes.
What follows come at a cost, both financially and, at times, inconvenience. The processes in place have been carefully developed and refined to minimise these impacts. However, they are necessary responses to repeated security breaches that have required active intervention to prevent further risk.
Building Layout
Precinct’s unique layout plays a significant role in its overall security profile. As the first community in Melbourne designed with an open, multi-building layout connected by shared gardens, it stands apart from typical strata developments. Most buildings have one or two main entrances and perhaps a central or rooftop garden. In contrast, Precinct spans two acres, includes multiple garden zones, and features numerous entry points across several buildings, along with two levels of underground parking.
This distinctive design influences every aspect of security planning and cost. It’s a key consideration in all discussions outlined below, particularly when comparing Precinct to more conventional strata developments.
Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)
Over time, Precinct has upgraded and expanded its CCTV network, prioritising not just the number of cameras, but also their coverage and image quality (day and night). After all, footage is of little use if you can’t clearly zoom in to identify a face or number plate to assist police. Likewise, CCTV alone can’t prevent incidents in real time, especially if no one is onsite actively monitoring the footage and able to respond.
Onsite 24/7 Staff
Since its original settlement, Precinct has trialled various approaches to Building Management (BM) and security in an effort to determine what works best. It began with a live-in onsite manager, moved to a weekday-only presence with limited night security, and eventually transitioned to having 24/7 onsite staff to meet both resident needs and the complex security challenges that come with inner-Melbourne living.
During periods without 24/7 staffing, patterns emerged where criminal activity would occur outside staffed hours. This experience isn’t unique to Precinct, surrounding buildings and their managers share similar insights. The consistent finding: lower staffing often results in higher crime, while stronger, around-the-clock staffing significantly reduces incidents. Precinct incurs higher costs due to this investment, but benefits from markedly lower crime rates.
Pedestrian Entrances
General building access remains our greatest vulnerability when it comes to trespassers, particularly those targeting mail and parcel theft. Unfortunately, this is one area where security ultimately comes down to resident action. No level of OC investment can replace the simple responsibility of ensuring no one follows you into the building without swiping their own access credentials.
Onsite staff do deter and intercept some individuals, but they can’t stop everyone, especially those who follow residents in and leave with stolen items within moments.
If someone follows you in and you don’t recognise them, it’s appropriate to politely ask them to swipe their RFID access. If you’re uncomfortable doing so, stay nearby and observe whether they proceed to the lifts and swipe, or simply linger. If something feels off, contact the BM or security immediately (text or phone), they can either attend in person or monitor the individual on CCTV.
Importantly, remain alert and don’t make assumptions based on appearance. CCTV footage has repeatedly shown well-dressed individuals, including women, loitering in foyers while pretending to take phone calls, then leaving with stolen packages. Theft doesn’t have a look or uniform, so please stay aware and act when something doesn’t feel right.
Carpark Access
Precinct previously experienced ongoing issues with unauthorised vehicle access to the carpark, most commonly, vehicles tailgating others through the entry. The consequences ranged from vehicles parking in private bays to theft and damage. In response, a targeted access control system was introduced to address these concerns.
The new system, managed by Building Management, restricts access to authorised vehicles only. The original remote-control entry system, which could be easily shared or misused, was replaced. Now, each car space is entitled to one active access for one registered vehicle.
To further prevent tailgating, boom gates were installed. However, the original large, slow roller door remained a security gap, as it stayed open too long during entry and exit. This was later replaced with a high-speed roller door, significantly reducing the time the carpark is exposed.
While there may be some initial inconvenience during the setup process, once complete, the system provides enhanced security and greater protection of residents’ vehicles and property.
Carpark Communication
One of the key challenges with underground parking is poor mobile reception. At Precinct, this became a notable issue, particularly when the BM or security staff were patrolling the carparks and unable to be contacted. It also raised concerns for resident safety, especially in emergency situations.
To address this, Cel-Fi technology was installed across all parking levels, providing full 5G mobile coverage for all major Australian providers. This upgrade has significantly improved communication, safety, and peace of mind for residents and onsite staff alike.
Bicycle Storage
Bicycle theft was a persistent issue at Precinct for many years. While initial measures such as fencing and access control helped, they weren’t enough to fully prevent incidents. To address this, a fully enclosed, structurally secured bike storage area with controlled access was installed. Combined with broader site-wide security measures, this has made bicycle theft significantly more difficult and far less common.
Conclusion
Precinct can implement the most advanced security systems, but nothing is more effective than residents staying aware of their surroundings. Being alert to suspicious behaviour and reporting anything or anyone you’re unsure about to onsite staff or police, depending on the situation, is essential.
You might not recognise someone, but staff monitoring live CCTV footage may know them. By staying present and observant, you might help prevent a theft before it occurs, encouraging would-be offenders to move on to less vigilant locations.
Ultimately, resident presence and awareness remain the most powerful deterrents to criminal activity in Precinct.