Safer Cities: Her Way 2 – Help Shape How Safe Bathurst CBD feels day and night
Tell us where you feel unsafe, and what changes would help make the Bathurst CBD and Howick Street Bus Interchange more welcoming for everyone.
Introduction
Bathurst Regional Council has secured funding of $1.15M through the NSW Government’s Safer Cities: Her Way 2 program to improve perception of safety and accessibility for women, girls and gender-diverse people in the Bathurst CBD.
The project focuses on the area within approximately 800 metres of the Howick Street Bus Interchange. The project will focus on footpaths, parks and bus stops around the Howick Street Bus Interchange and the surrounding CBD Precinct.
We want to hear from you.
Your experiences will help identify the places that feel safe, uncomfortable, and the practical changes such as lighting, clear views across public space, public art, signage, updated seating or events that would make Bathurst feel more welcoming and inclusive—particularly after dark.
How You Can Get Involved
You can contribute by:
- Sharing ideas by dropping a pin on the interactive map.
- Completing a short survey.
- Sharing ideas for improvements.
- Following project updates.
More ways to be involved will be announced soon, keep an eye out for upcoming walkshop and co-design workshop opportunities.
Why This Matters
Everyone deserves to feel safe using public spaces. However, research shows that women, girls and gender-diverse people often experience cities differently and are more likely to adjust where, when or how they travel because of concerns about personal safety.
Issues such as lighting, visibility, isolation, more eyes on the street and access to help can influence whether people feel comfortable walking, catching public transport or spending time in public places.
By understanding these experiences, Council can prioritise improvements that make Bathurst's public spaces more welcoming, accessible and safer. Designing places that work better for women also creates safer, more inclusive places for older people, children, people with disability, visitors and the wider community.
This project is proudly funded by the NSW Government, through Transport for NSW’s Safer Cities: Her Way program
For more information about Safer Cities program please visit Safer Cities: Her Way Program | Transport for NSW website: Safer cities: Her Way Program Transport for NSW
