Shellharbour City Council has secured $150,000 in funding through the NSW Government’s Safer Cities: Her Way 2 program to help create safer, more welcoming and inclusive public spaces for women, girls and gender diverse people. The program is a collaborative partnership between Transport for NSW and Shellharbour City Council, to improve feelings of safety in local public spaces.
Council received funding to develop, trial and evaluate innovative approaches that improve how women, girls and gender diverse people experience public spaces, particularly around transport hubs and after dark.
Caption: Shellharbour Civic Centre. Image by Kramer Photography
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.”
The project will support the development of a lighting strategy to identify opportunities for creating safer, more welcoming and better-connected public spaces after dark.
Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer welcomed the funding announcement.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe and confident when moving around their community, whether they’re walking, cycling, catching public transport or spending time in our public spaces.
“This funding will allow Council to work closely with our community to better understand local experiences and develop initiatives that create safer, more welcoming spaces for everyone.”
Residents will play a key role by sharing their perspectives and local knowledge to help identify areas for the trial and inform future lighting upgrades.
Mayor Homer said the project aligns with Council’s commitment to building connected, liveable communities.
“Creating places where people feel safe, welcome and supported is essential to the wellbeing of our community.”
