Public Safety Infrastructure Forum
Safe Public Space
Physical or Social Matter?
Marjan Hajjari
Social Planner at Moreland City Council
PhD Candidate in Urban Design at University of Melbourne
November 2013
Public Safety Infrastructure Forum
“ Poor design facilitates crime, good
design will not necessarily prevent it”.
( Merry in Valentine, Gill 1990)
Public Safety Infrastructure Forum
Physical structure
Safe Public Space
Social structure
Social Structure
Public Safety Infrastructure Forum
“ Social relations within a space and the
group(s) who control that space socially have
a greater influence on how safe women feel
than does the design of the space” (Valentine,
Gill 1990)
Inclusive public space
Geography of Women Fear
Research project
age, gender, ethnicity
excluded
Social cohesion
Perception of Safety
right to the city
Safe Public Spaces for Women
exploring young people’s perceptions
Public Safety Infrastructure Forum
Public Safety Infrastructure Forum
“ Safety for me has dropped. I don’t feel as safe
as I used to in these areas…I live in a laneway as
well and […] I don’t mind the kids, they hang out
there and drink and smoke but they’re generally
harmless. But I think there’s a bit of division.
For me personally with a lot of Middle Eastern
cultures it feels…and I live with my nieces who
alos feel a bit like this, with a lot of these new
shisha bars. They feel very predominantly male
oriented and as women we don’t fell
comfortable to go there”
A middle-aged long-term Anglo-Australian resident in Coburg
Public Safety Infrastructure Forum
“ …Muslim women [in Fawkner] have fears
about their safety in the street and on public
transport, particularly outside their immediate
neighbourhood”
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/NGYgM6u1MP7s3h2RXErZOQ
Public Safety Infrastructure Forum
Justin Avenue Shopping Strip Renewal
Project
(Moreland City Council)
An alternative approach to improve social inclusion and
community safety in urban public space
Public Safety Infrastructure Forum
Justin Avenue shopping strip, Glenroy
Moreland City Council
Public Safety Infrastructure Forum
BACKGROUND
Justin Avenue Category 2
Shopping Strips,
Justin Ave was targeted for
the last financial year
(12/13).
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Key Issues
Perceived sense of safety
Experiencing high rates of violence and crime
Associated drug trading/use
Public Safety Infrastructure Forum
Key Issues
Image and sense of place:
Low social connection among the residents
A poor aesthetic image
Public Safety Infrastructure Forum
Key Issues
Built Form:
Activities
and economic situation
4 active shops, 9
closed shops and
High
ratecentre
of shop
a medical
Street Furniture:
3 Seats
1 Bin
3 trees
Parking:
25 on-street car
parks including 2
disable car park
vacancy,8 vacant shops out of 13
Public Safety Infrastructure Forum
Key Issues
Social structure
High concentration of social housing in the area
Significant number of single mothers who are living in low
economic condition with a high rate of domestic violence.
Public Safety Infrastructure Forum
Key Issues
Movement and traffic issue
Inadequate public transportation with a low frequency
Public Safety Infrastructure Forum
Opportunities
There is not any shopping strip in the walking
catchment of Justin Avenue, so if it Justin
improves,
Avenue it
Widford Street
Shopping
would be Shopping
able toCentre
serve a large number
of Centre
dwellings,
Glenroy Activity
Centre
West Street
Shopping Centre
North Street
Shopping Centre
East Street
Shopping Centre
Public Safety Infrastructure Forum
Opportunities
The reserve in front of the shopping strip can be
used to improve the liveability of the place.
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Opportunities
There is significant number of new dwellings
around Justin Avenue,
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Justin Avenue Shopping Strip
Objectives
Change the perception of the place,
Improve public safety,
Provide a public place for community engagement and
connectivity,
Encourage the social interaction and interest at the street
level,
Improve the physical appearance of the place,
Improve the economy and business at the shopping strip,
Public Safety Infrastructure Forum
Groups and Institutions involved in Justin Ave.
Shopping Strip workshop and consultations
Moreland City Council
Place Design & Strategy
Economic Development
Social Development,
Arts and Culture,
Open Space
Community Wellbeing
Youth & Community Development
Traders and
Shop owners
Glenroy
Secondary
College
Merri Community Health Services
Police Victoria
Department of Human Services
Public Safety Infrastructure Forum
Justin Avenue Shopping Strip Project
The project includes four main elements:
Upgrades to the external area of shopping strip
Urban Design team
Upgrades to the reserve
Open Space team
Activation of one of the vacant shops and a street
party Community Wellbeing/ Economic development
Art work(s) applied to some of the roller shutters in
collaboration with local school students
Youth services
Public Safety Infrastructure Forum
Justin Avenue Shopping Strip
Community Consultation
Appearance
of the strip
Vacant
Shops
Personal
Safety
Litter
Traffic
Anti-Social
Behaviour
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Justin Avenue Shopping Strip
Design Concept
Public Safety Infrastructure Forum
Painting the roller shutters doors
Moreland Youth service
Glenroy Secondary school
Public Safety Infrastructure Forum
Justin Avenue Street Party
Moreland City Council
Merry Community Health
Salvation Army
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Justin Avenue Street Party
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Justin Avenue Community Engagement Program
William Turner Reserve- (10 October-28 November)
Glenroy library
Story time for children
Moreland aged and disability
services
Active Moreland exercise
session,
Seniors Lunch
Glenroy neighbourhood learning
centre
Try social dancing,
Sewing demonstration
Film making workshop
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Justin Avenue Community Engagement Program
William Turner Reserve- (10 October-28 November)
Promote mental health awareness for young people
In collaboration with Glenroy College
Planting session
Moreland Open space team in collaboration
with Belle Vue Park Primary
Playgroup Victoria Van
Family relationship centre
Salvation Army
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Change the place of others to
place of us