Local women, girls and gender diverse people will be invited to help identify issues that impact their perceptions of safety and shape improvements in Chatswood South CBD as part of a new $1 million project to help make the area feel safer, more welcoming and easier to move around.
Willoughby City Council has received $1 million in NSW Government funding through Transport for NSW's Safer Cities: Her Way 2 program to deliver the Her Way: Chatswood South Precinct project over two years.
Through Her Way: Chatswood South Precinct, community members will help identify issues and opportunities for improvement through a series of engagement activities and co-design workshops within the Chatswood South CBD.
The insights and outcomes from this project may also help inform future strategic planning and improvements within the precinct.
Improvements could include better lighting and visibility, clearer sight lines, public art, wayfinding and signage, improved amenities and accessibility, as well as events and activations.
Mayor Tanya Taylor said the project would give the community an important role in shaping improvements to the Chatswood South CBD.
"Everyone deserves to feel safe and comfortable when moving around their local area, whether they are travelling to work, visiting local businesses or spending time with family and friends," Mayor Taylor said.
"By working directly with women, girls and gender diverse people, we can better understand their experiences and identify practical improvements that help make the Chatswood South CBD a safer, more welcoming and more inclusive place for everyone."
Willoughby City Council is one of 23 successful applicants across NSW selected to receive funding under the Safer Cities: Her Way 2 grant program.
Minister for Transport John Graham said:
"Women have the right to feel safe in public spaces, and this funding will help achieve that in Chatswood.
"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.
"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 Her Way 2 grant is part of the $50m Safer Cities program led by Transport for NSW that aims to improve perceptions of safety for women, girls and gender-diverse people as they move to, through and within public spaces and transport hub precincts.
Council will soon invite local women, girls and gender diverse people to take part in "walkshops," where they will walk through the area and share their experiences, as well as co-design sessions. Participants will identify what is working well and where improvements could be made.
This project is proudly funded by the NSW Government through Transport for NSW's Safer Cities: Her Way program.
