The City of Canada Bay has partnered with Transport for NSW as part of the Safer Cities: Her Way 2 program to help make public spaces feel safer for women, girls and gender diverse people.
Through the program, Council plans to deliver upgrades to laneways in Drummoyne, with improvements shaped by the local women, girls and gender diverse people through a co-design process.
The project aims to improve walking connections along Victoria Road and Formosa Street, making it easier and more inviting for people to walk through the town centre after dark.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe and move freely in our towns and public spaces, no matter the time of the day,” said City of Canada Bay Mayor Michael Megna.
“We’re especially looking forward to working closely with women, girls and gender diverse people in our community to help design these upgrades and draw on their ideas and lived experience.”
Council will invite members of the community to take part in interactive day and night ‘walkshops’ and identify opportunities to improve safety as they move through the spaces.
This may include improved lighting, vibrant artwork, music and activations to create more welcoming and lively public spaces.
Research undertaken through the Safer Cities program found that women are twice as likely as men to feel unsafe in public spaces after dark and would be more likely to walk and use public transport at night if they felt safer.
The project responds to this research while recognising that designing public spaces that feel safer, more welcoming and inclusive for women and girls, benefits the whole community.
Minister for Transport John Graham said this was the second round of the first-of-its-kind Safer Cities: Her Way program.
“This new funding builds on the success of the Safer Cities program, which has already engaged with around 30,000 people to shape projects across more than 80 communities across the state.
“Whether walking, riding or using public transport, everyone has the right to travel safely and feel safe in public spaces, both day and night.
“It’s important we continue to invest in programs like this to help deliver local upgrades that make a big difference in building safer, vibrant, thriving communities for everyone.”
Community co-design is expected to begin late 2026, with improvements anticipated to commence from 2027.
This project is proudly funded by the NSW Government through Transport for NSW’s Safer Cities: Her Way program.
Visit bit.ly/saferherway to learn more.
