Making our suburbs safe

The City plays a vital role in helping to ensure residents and businesses feel safe in our local community, working hand-in-hand with a number of groups to achieve that goal.  Our greatest tool is the Safe City Strategy 2007-2012 which aims to tackle a complex range of crime and safety issues, affecting both the inner city and our urban villages. It recognises that the causes of crime are complex, and only by working together can we create safer and more vibrant communities.

Strong, resilient communities are those where people know and trust each other, and welcome others. They are reflected in people greeting each other in the street, attending dance classes in their local halls, playing sport in their local parks, sharing a love of books at their local libraries. The City of Sydney provides a wealth of facilities and programs to encourage our diverse residents and workers to participate in community life.

The Safe City Strategy has some key aims, among them strengthening communities, improving the built environment and reducing crime and anti-social behaviour, while also advocating to higher levels of Government for extra resources. We partner with police, community groups, businesses and government agencies – recognising we have a shared responsibility to make our City safe and all will benefit when that goal is achieved.

The Strategy builds on more localised plans like the Redfern-Waterloo Community Safety Plan. A taskforce helped transform that plan into reality and five years on, inspiring changes are beginning to show. Major crime rates continue to fall, school attendance has increased and a stronger and safer Redfern-Waterloo is already beginning to emerge.

The Glebe Community Safety Plan links into our Sustainable Sydney 2030 vision to strengthen the distinctive and diverse character of Glebe, while improving safety and helping those in need of support. It aims to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in the community, keep children in school longer, develop community building projects, improve the physical environment and support the vulnerable. We’re partnering with Leichhardt Police, community groups, local businesses, government and other key stakeholders to achieve this. 

The Safe City Strategy and local community safety plans are complemented by our Late Night Trading DCP, and strategies to combat Street Drinking, Homelessness and Drugs and Alcohol. Crime and safety issues are complex and the safest communities don’t necessarily have the most police and prisons. Safe communities are those with solid community structures, strong families, a welcoming neighbourhood environment, social opportunities and a healthy local economy. It’s a realistic goal, and one that can be achieved by an ongoing dedication and commitment to work together with the common goal of creating safer and stronger local communities.

Source: South Sydney Herald June 2009 www.southsydneyherald.com.au