Central Coast Council is calling on women, girls and gender-diverse people to raise their voices to improve the perception of safety within the Gosford CBD.
A survey and an interactive map have been specifically designed to capture their thoughts as part of the Safer Cities: Her Way Program, a collaborative partnership program with Transport for NSW.
Under the program, $1M in funding has been provided to develop and pilot safety-boosting initiatives for women, girls and gender-diverse people and improve perceptions of safety on our streets, in parklands and at public transport hubs around Gosford.
Council’s Director of Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith, said it was important for members of the community to share their experiences, good or bad, when they have travelled to or visited the Gosford CBD.
“The survey and interactive map are just two ways we are engaging women, girls and gender-diverse community members to have their voice and experiences heard,” Smith said.
“By understanding areas where they have felt safe or unsafe, we will use a co-design approach to trial solutions to address their concerns.
“A safer place for women, girls and gender-diverse people is a safer place for the whole community.”
The learnings from the survey and interactive map will be reviewed by focus groups to design pilot safety initiatives, which will not only trial ways to make Gosford feel safer but will influence future planning and street designs in other locations across the Central Coast.
Council Administrator Rik Hart said the initiative was crucial to ensure women, girls and gender-diverse community members feel they were not constrained in how they moved about Gosford in their day-to-day lives.
“We know women, girls and gender-diverse community members actively use public transport and move through public spaces to access essential services and opportunities,” he said.
“Yet, it’s these cohorts who face more gender-based harassment and safety issues when in public spaces than men do.
“Ultimately, everyone has a right to feel safe and this program helps us get one step closer to achieving this.
“As Gosford CBD and the waterfront precinct expands, it’s imperative that now more than ever women, girls and gender-diverse community members are able to feel safe travelling through Gosford to access future higher order jobs and study opportunities.”
Visit yourvoiceourcoast.com/HerWay to take the survey and comment on the interactive map.
Source:
Central Coast Council