Safer Cities: Her Way
The Central Coast was part of the NSW Government’s $30 million Safer Cities Program, which was aimed at improving the perceptions of safety for women, girls, and gender-diverse people in public spaces around transport hubs.
Working in partnership with Transport for NSW (TfNSW), Central Coast Council (Council) received $1 million to develop and pilot demonstration projects for women, girls, and gender-diverse people to experience improved perceptions of safety on our streets, in parklands, and around public transport hubs.
Gosford CBD was chosen as the location for the Central Coast Safer Cities: Her Way Project, as Gosford is considered by the Central Coast community as a city that can be perceived as unsafe. The transport hub and a one-kilometre radius were the focal points for the interventions trialled.
Council asked the community to join a unique human-centered co-design process, which championed the community's voice to identify problems and suggest demonstration projects that would test how we might make public spaces feel safer.
During a two-month period between 1 May and 30 June 2023 Council engaged with the Central Coast community to ask how we can improve perceptions of safety in Gosford.
Consultation
An overarching project governance team was established early in the project, with Council as the lead agency and a steering committee with representatives from key Council business units, NSW Police, NSW Health and NSW Trains. Meetings took place monthly to ensure engagement with community, focus groups, and other key stakeholders was undertaken in a genuine way and delivery of the project was planned to meet all objectives.
Two community surveys were conducted, one pre-intervention and one post-intervention to gauge perceptions of safety and an interactive map was utilised to gather data and commentary on specific locations within Gosford. Council received a total of 2981 survey responses and 539 interactive map comments.
A series of walkshops were also conducted with our community. These consisted of one high school walkshop, two pre-intervention day walks, two pre-intervention night walks, one co-design session, and one post-intervention afternoon and evening walk, with a total of 45 local women and girls.
These were followed by a co-design workshop with 30 community members, 20 key stakeholders, and Council staff to help us identify temporary public space improvements and two co-design workshops with the local high school.
A community and stakeholder information session was also conducted following the workshops to loop back to the community on what the interventions would be. This was attended by 30 people.
Between 1 March and 30 June 2023 we asked the community how we can improve perceptions of safety in Gosford. We encouraged everyone to get involved and be a part of this exciting project by:
- Reading the project information and FAQs on this page
- Sharing experiences in our community survey (now closed)
- Showing us places where you have felt safe or not safe and why, on our interactive map (see community comments)
We used the learnings of the survey and interactive map to inform walking workshops and focus groups. We are excited about the ways in which the richness of 3,500 community responses, 30+ in person experiences and 136,000 pieces of data can be incorporated into our ongoing strategies and plans.
Interventions
A series of interventions were co-designed with our community and stakeholders and delivered between October 2023 – June 2024. We went back out to the community to test the impact of these interventions earlier this year. The results then informed a case study which was submitted back to Transport for NSW.
The data revealed three key themes affecting perceptions of safety (vision, beautification, and activation) and three main areas that the community believed needed attention (Burns Place Park, Kibble Park, and the broader Gosford CBD).
We are delivering the following pilot initiatives based on what the community told us would make them feel safer when moving throughout the Gosford CBD such as lighting, public art, wayfinding, and events including six weeks of ‘Good Times Summer’ activations and weekly night markets! Additionally, Burns Place Park and William St will undergo a quick refresh.
| Location | Perception of Safety | Community asked for | Our intervention |
| Burns Place Park | 86% felt unsafe 67% negative perception |
Lighting (14%) revitalisation (14%) well maintained areas (12%) and cleanliness (12%) | Lighting, vegetation management, improved lines of sight, public art, activation |
| Gosford CBD | 50% felt unsafe 61% negative perception |
Lighting (12%) revitalisation (11%) well maintained spaces (11%) and economic stimulation (10%) | Laneway lighting, public art, community events and activations |
| Kibble Park | 43% felt unsafe 53% negative perception |
People around/passive surveillance (14%) lighting (12%) and economic stimulation (8%) | William St. hut removal, lighting, public art, activation |
To read more check out the following reports and the expanded FAQs below.
- Read the early outcomes in the Engagement Summary here
- Read the detailed Consultation Report here
- Read the Consultation Report Snapshot here
- Sign up to stay updated on this project here
Results
Next steps
A report to finalise and evaluate the Safer Cities: Her Way project was considered by Council at its meeting held on Tuesday, 27 August 2024. Council noted the outcomes, learnings and opportunities from the Safer Cities: Her Way Project for inclusion into future plans and strategies for Council - you can view the minutes here.
Future Opportunities
The recent vegetation clearance at Burns Place Park marks a significant milestone in enhancing the site's accessibility and safety for community use. This effort has transformed the area, making it more inviting and secure for all visitors. The initial success sets a strong foundation for future improvements, with Council poised to build on these gains through a forthcoming Development Application which will include repaving pathways to ensure they are safe and accessible for all, repairing retaining walls, and restoring the heritage archway, thereby reinforcing the park's historical significance. Additionally, minor but impactful enhancements such as landscaping, improved lighting, and new fencing are planned. These upgrades will not only beautify the park but also enhance safety and usability. These efforts will ensure that Burns Place Park remains a cherished and safe environment for recreation and leisure, reflecting both its historical importance and modern community needs.
Public Art was identified as a key community focus as a result of the feedback from the Safer Cities: Her Way program. Council is currently working to develop a Public Art Plan, which will aim to provide a framework for both Council and community to develop ephemeral, temporary and permanent public art opportunities on the Central Coast. A recently completed survey further highlighted the importance of public art to support our local artists and enhance spaces, experiences, and community connections across the region.
Another opportunity identified was the need to continue investing in ongoing event activations in Gosford CBD, particularly ones that target the night-time economy. As a result, the Council is investing in using Gosford CBD as a case study for live music driving the night-time economy and using the findings to develop a Live Music Plan. The council will be retesting perceptions of safety during these live music events/activations late in 2024.
There were 10 different business units of Council and over 30 individual staff involved in the planning and delivery of the project, with collaboration and partnerships underpinning its success.
It was awarded Highly Commended for Partnerships and Collaboration at the Local Government Professionals Australia Excellence Awards in 2024, recognising the unique and successful path taken in human centered co-design to establish successful partnerships both internally and externally with stakeholders.
The temporary wayfinding interventions will form part of a future permanent solution for wayfinding and changing community behaviour as they move through Gosford, particularly from the station to the stadium. We have seen that activating Burns Place Park will drive pedestrians into the park and then down the main street, which further enhances promotion of local businesses.
Many of the lighting and public art interventions are permanent, and the success of the installations will be shared with Council’s Placemaking and Art & Culture teams for consideration into future works at other locations.
We are committed to creating safe and vibrant communities. If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse or hardship information on support services can be found here.
Safer Cities: Her Way is a collaborative partnership program with Transport for NSW.
Links
Segmented Documents
Timeline
Who's listening
What did you hear from the community?
The Safer Cities: Her Way Consultation for Gosford amassed over 3,500 community responses, 30+ in person experiences and 136,000 pieces of data.
The data uncovered three key themes affecting perceptions of safety:
- Vision: lighting, lines of sight, passive surveillance
- Beautification: well-maintained spaces, pride of place, public art
- Activation: events, improved connections, economic stimulation, revitalisation
Key areas identified by the community for attention:
| Location | Perception of Safety | Community asked for | Our intervention |
| Burns Place Park | 86% felt unsafe 67% negative perception |
Lighting (14%) revitalisation (14%) well maintained areas (12%) and cleanliness (12%) | Lighting, vegetation management, improved lines of sight, public art, activation |
| Gosford CBD | 50% felt unsafe 61% negative perception |
Lighting (12%) revitalisation (11%) well maintained spaces (11%) and economic stimulation (10%) | Laneway lighting, public art, community events and activations |
| Kibble Park | 43% felt unsafe 53% negative perception |
People around/passive surveillance (14%) lighting (12%) and economic stimulation (8%) | William St. hut removal, lighting, public art, activation |
Read the early outcomes in the Engagement Summary here
Read the detailed Consultation Report here
Read the Consultation Report Snapshot here
What interventions are being delivered?
As a result of the engagement activities and the data collected, we’re excited to announce we will deliver and test five key pilot initiatives towards the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024.
Pilot initiatives include:
- Burns Place Park – The statistics told us 86% of individuals felt unsafe, and 67% also had a negative perception of this location. To enhance feelings of safety, the community recommended lighting, revitalisation, well-maintained areas, and cleanliness. As a result, the following pilot interventions have been identified: lighting, vegetation management, improved lines of sight, public art, and activation.
- Kibble Park and William Street – The statistics told us 43% of individuals felt unsafe, and 53% had a negative perception of this location. To enhance feelings of safety, the community recommended encouraging increased patronage/passive surveillance, lighting, and economic stimulation combined with improving lines of sight. As a result, the following pilot interventions have been identified: William St. hut removal, lighting, public art, and activation.
- Gosford CBD – The statistics told us 50% of individuals felt unsafe, and 61% had a negative perception of this location. To enhance feelings of safety, the community recommended improved lighting, revitalisation efforts, improved aesthetics, and economic stimulation. As a result, the following pilot initiatives have been identified: implementing laneway lighting, incorporating public art, creating safer connections, organising community events, and promoting activations.
- Activations – A ‘Good Times Summer’ activation will launch with a program of events across Gosford over a six-week period, commencing in December 2023. Weekly night markets will also make a comeback.
- Wayfinding - Improved signage will be erected across the CBD to share community information on safe travels and general information.
What is the Safer Cities: Her Way project?
Safer Cities: Her Way is a collaborative partnership program between Transport for NSW and a number of pilot councils across NSW.
The program will deliver demonstration projects aimed at improving the perception and feeling of safety for women, girls and gender diverse people when walking or moving to, through and within public spaces and transport hubs.
The demonstration projects are a way to test how to make public spaces feel safer. Each project will be developed through co-design workshops with local communities and designed to reflect local place identity and character. The projects will be evaluated for their effectiveness and insights will be used to build the case for longer-term change. Once complete, each project will develop a detailed case study that will be shared in the Great Public Spaces Toolkit.
Why ‘Her Way’ for the Safer Cities program?
Transport for NSW conducted a survey seeking community input to better understand the concerns and experiences that affect the community's sense of safety in and around public spaces across NSW. The survey closed on Wednesday 8 February 2023 and contributions to this consultation are under evaluation and review, with a detailed report to be published in the coming months.
Some initial findings from the state-wide survey are:
- 59 percent of women do not feel safe after dark in public spaces.
- 9 in 10 women agreed that safety influences how they move around.
- The top five things that help make a public space feel safer for women are: good lighting, presence of people, time of day, easy to navigate and if it looks cared for.
- When moving through and within public spaces, women prioritise safety over convenience.
- Three in four women would walk more if they felt safer in public spaces. Women feel safest in activated public spaces where there are people around no matter what time of day it is.
Why is Transport for NSW sponsoring the Her Way projects?
Her Way focuses on collaborating with councils and state agencies on public space demonstration projects. These projects aim to engage the community and create safer public spaces in and around public transport hubs across NSW. Her Way projects are small in scale, but with big impact.
Her Way is one part of the Safer Cities program which is investing $30 million over two years to improve safety in our cities and towns, particularly for women, girls and gender diverse people.
The aims for the Safer Cities program, based on the United Nations Safer Cities for Girls program are:
- Increase women, girls’ and gender diverse people’s safety and access to public spaces
- Enable women, girls and gender diverse people to move freely and alone in their community
- Increase women, girls’ and gender diverse people’s engagement with how the spaces around them are designed and managed
Transport for NSW and councils will make lessons from the Her Way projects publicly available as case studies on the public Great Public Spaces Toolkit webpage. We will promote the case studies to councils, government agencies and industry to support public space improvement projects across NSW.
Her Way also uses the Evaluation Tool for Public Space and Public Life before, during and after the demonstration projects. Transport for NSW has developed this free tool to help evaluate what is working well and what could be improved in any given public space.
How did Transport for NSW choose councils for the projects?
Councils were selected based on criteria focussed on improving the perceptions of safety of women, girls, and gender diverse people in public spaces, and centred around the following themes:
- Planning and Economy
- Safety
- Active Transport
- Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities
- Environment
Selected councils were also assessed to ensure strategic alignment with the Safer Cities program. Review was undertaken to confirm councils’ strategic priorities aligned to the program’s outcomes and themes of safety, walkability, and access to public space.
As a result, the selected councils span across the six cities and regional areas of NSW each with differing demographics and sociocultural environments, and therefore, provide unique opportunities to improve mobility and access for women, girls, and gender diverse people.
Where are the Her Way program projects?
Transport for NSW are working closely with partner councils across Sydney and regional NSW on Her Way demonstration project partnerships. The partner councils include:
- Blacktown City Council
- Bayside Council
- Central Coast Council
- City of Canterbury Bankstown
- City of Sydney
- Cumberland City Council
- Fairfield City Council
- Griffith City Council
- Lismore City Council
- Wollongong City Council
As a part of the project site selection process, councils will conduct engagement such as co-design workshops with local women, girls and gender diverse people to define where the projects will be located and what interventions will be trialled.
Why was Gosford chosen as the initial location for the pilot study?
Gosford has been chosen as the initial location for the Central Coast Safer Cities Her Way project.
Gosford is considered by the Central Coast Community as a city that has not advanced and can be perceived as unsafe.
We want the revitalisation of Gosford to include safer connections and places for people who live, work and play in the area.
Whilst the pilot is occurring in Gosford, the learnings from the Safer Cities: Her Way program will be used to inform planning and decision-making for the entire Central Coast region.
What is Transport for NSW contributing financially to the Her Way projects?
Transport for NSW is contributing up to $1 million to each of the listed participating councils, with project deliverables defined in the funding deeds for each council.
When will the Her Way projects start and finish?
Project milestones are unique to each of the projects and the unique place-based approach for each council. In general, project planning for round one projects began in November 2022, with projects to be completed by mid-2024.
This includes planning, design, construction, installation, engagement and co-design activities, activation/programming and case study development.
Each council follows its internal procedures to consult the community and stakeholders so that residents, businesses and other stakeholders are informed of the project planning, launch, activation and completion.
What are the phases for the Gosford Her Way project?
Phase 1: Discover & Define March – June 2023 (4 months)
The initial phase focuses on consulting and co-designing with the community and key stakeholders to better understand the right problems to solve.
We are currently asking women, girls and gender diverse people to get involved in the following ways:
- Read the project information and FAQs on this page
- Share your experience in our community survey
- Show us the places where you feel safe or not safe and tell us why, on our interactive map
In this phase, we are also hosting community co-design walking workshops and establishing key stakeholder and community focus groups. If you are interested in participating in these, please contact us or complete our community survey
Phase 2: Design & Deliver July 2023 – February 2024 (8 months) we are here now
The second phase we will begin to co-design and implement solutions through key stakeholder and council staff working groups.
A community focus group will work alongside these groups to evaluate effectiveness of the pilot interventions.
Delivery of interventions will begin by November 2023.
Phase 3: Deliver & Evaluate March 2024 – June 2024 (4 months)
In this phase will finalise delivery while collating information to compile a case study and best practice framework to implement across the entire Local Government Area and share with other Councils.
How could I get involved during the first phase?
We started in the discover and define phase to establish what needs to happen to make Gosford safer.
We started the conversation with women, girls and gender diverse people because a safer area for them will result in a safer place for everyone.
Everyone could get involved in the start of building a safer Gosford up until 30 June by:
- Reading the project information and FAQs on this page
- Sharing experiences in our community survey (now closed)
- Showing us the places where you have felt safe or not safe and why, on our interactive map (now closed for input but you can still view what others have said)
We used the learnings from the survey and interactive map to inform walking workshops and focus groups.
What support services are available for community safety?
We are committed to creating safe and vibrant communities.
If you or someone you know is experiencing violence or abuse, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or contact the Domestic Violence hotline on 1800 656 463.
In the case of an EMERGENCY or a crime in progress, call Triple Zero 000
To report information about a crime that has been committed, call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000
For confidential crisis support, call Lifeline 131 114
For further information about community health and safety visit https://www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/residents/support-programs/community-health-and-safety
What are the next steps?
The Co-Design workshop utilised insights from all data collected in the survey, interactive map and in-person walkshops to identify possible interventions with community, key stakeholders and Council staff.
The project team are now reviewing these outcomes and establishing working groups which will be responsible for the delivery of these interventions.
Once delivered, community members will be asked to evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions, to determine if they improve the perceptions of safety.
The findings from this project will form part of TfNSW’s case study.
They will also be shared with key stakeholders and incorporated into Council plans to ensure the learnings can build the case for longer-term change A detailed review of all feedback will be undertaken to produce an in-depth consultation report which will be made available on the Your Voice Our Coast project page.
Council will keep the community updated as the project progresses. Sign up to stay updated on this project here