It’s set to be a Good Times Summer in Gosford with a jam-packed schedule of community events continuing until Sunday, January 28.
It all got underway on December 16 and will include live performances and roving entertainment, laneway installations and public art and local business deals and incentives.
Following the Safer Cities: Her Way campaign earlier this year, laneway lighting, public art and community events and activations have all been delivered as key actions to help to enhance feelings of safety.
The program is a positive initiative driven by the voices of the Central Coast’s women, girls and gender diverse communities delivering safety measures in streets and transport hubs across Gosford in a collaborative partnership with Transport for NSW.
The Safer Cities survey earlier this year found that 50 per cent of participants felt unsafe in Gosford CBD and 61 per cent had a negative perception of the city.
One of the initiatives introduced to augment safety and convenience is a free evening shuttle bus service which will travel in a loop around the Gosford CBD from Thursday to Saturday during the six-week Good Times Summer program.
Visitors are encouraged to use public transport to get to Gosford and then use the free shuttle bus to move around the different activities, which will include the return of the weekly night markets in Gosford.
Central Coast Council Director Community and Recreation Services Melanie Smith said the response to the Safer Cities survey was amazing and brought home real safety concerns.
“In particular, there were three main areas in Gosford the community felt needed attention – Burns Place Park, Kibble Park and the broader Gosford CBD,” she said.
“The feeling of being unsafe came from a lack of lighting, the actual aesthetics of the surroundings and the general lack of activation – particularly in the night-time – so it is wonderful that we are able to roll out the Good Times Summer program to address these issues.”
Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said initiatives like the Good Times Summer program, the return of the night markets and the free shuttle bus would be a boost for the CBD.
“I hope residents and visitors are able to get out and enjoy the safe and welcoming atmosphere these activities will bring to our local public spaces and transport precincts over the Summer,” she said.
Council Administrator Rik Hart said Gosford was experiencing enormous growth and development, with the waterfront area to be transformed over the next decade.
“So it is essential that we understand what the community is feeling about the city – and how we can plan early to ensure that it is welcoming and safe for all,” he said.
Highlights of the Good Time Summer program will include: free coffee and live music from 7.30 to 10.30 am each day in Burns Park; a lighting installation in Burns Park from 7.30-10.30pm each night; free tai chi every Wednesday in Kibble Park from 8.30-9.30am; live music in William Street Plaza from 11am-2pm on assorted dates; live music in the Mann Street laneway from 2-5pm on January 19.
On January 18 there will be drag bingo at the Fun House Factory from 6-10pm and there will be a kids disco in Kibble Park from 6-8pm on December 22 and 29 and January 5 and 12.
Don’t forget Christmas carols in Kibble Park from 6-9 pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve celebrations on the waterfront with fireworks at 9pm.
The Gosford Summer markets will be held in Kibble Park from 2-8 pm on January 5 and January 12 and Cinema under the Stars will be held at Industree Group Stadium on January 13 from 5:30 pm.
For more information about the Safer Cities: Her Way program and the Good Times Summer program, visit lovecentralcoast.com/goodtimes