Hamilton central city safety plan wins EXCELLENCE Award

Local Government New Zealand is delighted to announce Hamilton City Council’s Central City Safety Plan as the winner of a local government EXCELLENCE Award for successful community engagement.

The Council won the Fulton Hogan EXCELLENCE Award for Community Engagement at the LGNZ EXCELLENCE Awards in Dunedin last night. The awards, now in their third year, recognise and celebrate the outstanding leadership role local government plays within communities. More than 600 delegates from local and central government, and stakeholders, celebrated the outstanding leadership role local government plays within communities.

Hamilton City Council led a highly successful new approach to curb antisocial behaviour in public places. Outcomes have included a 30 per cent reduction in reported crime in the central city and a significant rise in the number of individuals and businesses who feel safety has improved in the central city.

Mayor Julie Hardaker led the Hamilton Central City Safety Plan, which was described by judges as “a well-planned and executed initiative which has addressed a complex issue, affecting all large urban centres, with positive results”.

The project was launched in September 2014 in response to significant concern and to restore public confidence in the safety of the central city.

The council set a three-year timeframe based on a holistic approach to improve perceptions of public safety.

The project took a two-pronged approach of setting boundaries as to what is acceptable public behaviour and to provide help to the homeless through the People’s Project – which has resulted in 125 people being housed and provided with on-going support. The council also revamped its City Safe team and highly visible safety officers now patrol the central city at key times. CCTV camera operators also work to spot issues and ensure City Safe Patrols, police or ambulance officers are notified immediately where needed.

LGNZ President Lawrence Yule says the project successfully engaged with a number of parties to address a concern many communities are facing.

“Communities need to feel safe to thrive, and Hamilton has shown an effective way of improving the feel in the central city and helping those in need. Achieving this is no mean feat,” Mr Yule says.

Judges for the awards are former Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast, Chair of EQC Sir Maarten Wevers and The New Zealand Initiative’s Executive Director, Dr Oliver Hartwich.

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