Wollongong City Council will target graffiti, domestic violence, harassment and non-domestic assault over the next four years, according to its new community safety plan for 2016-2020.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The draft plan will be considered at Monday night’s council meeting, and is designed to target the crimes and behaviours that have the biggest impact on the local community.
It also aims to improve residents’ perceptions of safety across the local government area.
According to the safety plan, property damage, graffiti and non-domestic violence incidents are trending down, while harassment and domestic assault remains steady.
“While the crimes targeted in this [plan] have not shown an upward trend over the last five year period, it is important to note they all have a significant impact on the local community,” the plan says.
The plan also highlights different “hot spots” for each of the targeted crimes, as it says “living and working in and around these hot spots generates fear for one’s safety”.
“Reducing crime in these locales will also reduce the number of victims of crime in these suburb hotspots, regardless of whether or not they report the crime,” the report says.
Violence high in CBD
Wollongong had the highest non-domestic assault rate in the local government area between October 2014 and September last year.
Figures show assault incidents occurred at a rate 3.5 that of the NSW rate in the inner city suburb.
Warrawong followed closely behind, while Bellambi, Unanderra and Berkeley made up the city’s top five suburbs. Hot spots tend to be situated in and around town centres, with Bellambi an exception.
Five priorities for community safety:
- Damage to property and graffiti is reduced by cutting the opportunities for it to occur
- Reporting of domestic violence increases due to campaigns that raise awareness and promote support services in Wollongong
- Alcohol-related assault is reduced through education, partnerships with Wollongong Liquor Accord and by improving late night transport options
- Anti-social behaviour is reduced by activation of Crown Street Mall and other areas
- Feelings of safety across the LGA are improved
The council’s Perceptions of Safety Survey 2015 showed:
- 90% of residents feel completely or mostly safe in their own neighbourhood
- 70% feel satisfied or very satisfied with how safe they feel
- 36% of people were concerned about anti-social behaviour in the city centre
- 23.2% were concerned about violent behaviour
- 33% were concerned about drug related issues
- 24.5% were concerned about alcohol related issues
- People of all ages thought public art looked great in the city
- People thought tagging made a place look dirty, was a form of littering and sent a message that damaging property was okay