Safe and walkable neighbourhoods are key to a thriving and happy community.
Hawkesbury City Council continuously monitors local safety and works with our residents and partners to develop innovative ways to improve and support our community’s sense of safety and wellbeing.
Our latest project, Our Paths, Our Stories: Community Storytelling and Safety, will help address community concerns around feeling safe when walking between Windsor Train Station, McQuade Park and the Deerubbin Centre on George Street. This project is proudly funded by the NSW Government, through Transport for NSW’s Safer Cities: Her Way program.
The project will celebrate the stories, achievements and lived experiences of local women, girls and gender‑diverse people, reflecting the Hawkesbury’s cultural identity and deep connections to Country. It will be developed and refined in conversation with our community partners, as well as workshops and pop-up trials of concepts where the community will be provided an opportunity to interact and provide feedback on the ideas and designs.
Why are we doing this project?
Community engagement and local survey data highlight consistent concerns about feeling unseen and unsafe, particularly for women, girls and gender‑diverse people.
Hawkesbury City Council’s 2023 Community Satisfaction Survey showed that while daytime safety perceptions were relatively strong, feelings of safety at night were significantly lower, with only 23% strongly agreeing they felt safe after dark. Many respondents expressed concerns about isolation, visibility and confidence when moving through town‑centre areas, particularly when alone.
Engagement with local organisations, including women’s, youth and cultural groups, has reinforced the value of initiatives that uplift community voices and promote cultural representation. Feedback indicates that public storytelling, visibility of local role models and culturally grounded narratives help people feel more connected and supported in public spaces.
