Bellingen Shire Council has secured $1 million through Transport for NSW’s Safer Cities: Her Way 2 program to improve safety in the Urunga CBD.
The council will work with Transport for NSW to develop upgrades aimed at making public spaces and transport hubs safer, more welcoming and more vibrant for everyone, particularly women, girls and gender-diverse people.
The project will focus on safety improvements along key walking routes to and from Urunga railway station, shared paths throughout the town and other high-pedestrian-use areas. It aims to improve community perceptions of safety, particularly when moving around at night.
To ensure community input shapes the project, the council will engage with women, girls and gender-diverse people from Urunga and across the shire to identify priorities and co-design solutions.
Engagement will include a series of guided walking sessions, during which community members, key stakeholders and council staff will visit identified locations in Urunga to discuss existing safety concerns and potential public space improvements.
Participants will also attend a workshop to collaborate with the council on elements of the project’s design, which may include lighting, public art or wayfinding. Community surveys will be conducted before and after the upgrades to gather feedback and measure project outcomes.
The final scope of works will be determined following the engagement and co-design process. Potential improvements include lighting upgrades in the Urunga CBD, along the Urunga Boardwalk and the planned South Urunga Shared Path, as well as complementary features such as wayfinding, street furniture and public art.
Bellingen Shire Council Mayor Steve Allan said the project would help create a safer and more inclusive town centre.
“These upgrades are about ensuring the Urunga CBD is an inclusive, welcoming and safe place for everyone. We want all members of our community to feel safe and confident moving freely through the town at any time, day or night,” said Allan.
“Urunga is an important regional transport hub, connecting our community to essential bus and train services. Improving lighting and wayfinding between these key areas is a priority, helping to enhance accessibility and make it easier for people to navigate safely to and from these services.
“We’re taking past feedback on safety in the Urunga CBD to help inform the engagement for this project. We are also encouraging women, girls and gender diverse people in Urunga or the Shire to express interest in the walking sessions and workshops that will take place for this project.”
Minister for Transport John Graham said the funding demonstrated the ongoing impact of the Safer Cities program.
“The Safer Cities program 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.”
More information about the Urunga Safer Streets Project is available on the council’s website.
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