Safer Cities: Her Way

Safer Cities: Her Way is a collaborative partnership program between Transport for NSW and a number of pilot councils across NSW. The program aims to improve the perception of safety for women, girls and gender diverse people when walking or moving to, through and within public spaces and transport hubs.

Fairfield City Council identified Canley Vale as a key location to improve safety for women and girls. Led by Cred Consulting the Canley Vale precinct involved extensive community consultation and a unique co-design process with both the community and design experts from a range of fields including social planners and landscape designers, artists (Jennifer Turpin and Gillian Kayrooz), lighting designer (Greg Dunk, Lo-Fi), and staff from Fairfield City Council.

blix Architecture was engaged to help lead the design process, helping to synthesise the feedback and produce a concept design for a range of spaces near the station. The urban design approach focused on stretching the existing sense of safety for women, girls and gender diverse people into the evening, giving them the lighting, activation and spaces to spend time in their community. The strategies include targeted areas for lighting, temporary street dining, public art and seating.

Images by Legacy Studios and Blix Architecture