Central Geelong Mall: A safe space for everyone
Many people use the Central Geelong Mall for many different reasons: to meet and hang-out
with friends, to access the shops in and around Market Square, to sit and eat, wait for buses,
listen to buskers or whatever else it is that brings people into a public space.
Everyone experiences the mall in different ways depending on their age, gender and cultural
background. Everyone has the right to be in the mall and to feel safe and comfortable. The
fact is many people do not feel safe due to the mall’s reputation as a crime hotspot. As the
following shows however, this reputation is unsubstantiated.
Community concern
1. Crime is getting worse in the mall.
2. Assaults in the mall are at a record
high.
In fact, Crime Statistics Agency data show
Crime rates have steadily decreased over the
past four years. In 2014, criminal offences in the
mall totalled 36 compared to 50 in 2010.
There has been no major increase in assaults,
which accounts for low numbers remaining stable
over the last four years.
At the same time, according to Victoria Police call data calls for police assistance (in the mall
and surrounds) have reduced substantially over the last four years, from 2.44% of Geelong’s
total calls in 2010 to 0.65% in 2014.
Addressing people’s fears
The past three years have seen several studies completed in Geelong to ascertain people’s
perceptions of the mall. These include:
 Central Geelong Presentation Survey, City of Greater Geelong 2014
 Little Malop Street Central Traders and Community Safety Survey, Victoria Police
Geelong 2014
 Little Malop Street Initiative, St Laurence Community Services and City of Greater
Geelong 2012
Together, these studies confirm that unruly behaviour (eg language, fighting, smoking,
drunkenness and large groups) is the biggest factor in shaping how safe people feel. Other
influences include crime control measures, police/security presence, CCTV and physical
elements such as lighting and hidden spaces, particularly at night. The way the media
portrays the mall also has a strong influence.
This data has informed the development of a set of actions focused on addressing people’s
fears by working together on a safe space for everyone.
Developing an integrated response
In January 2015, the Minister for Police visited Geelong to meet with local stakeholders to
discuss community concerns about the mall, following an incident widely reported by local
and national media.
This led to a G21 Regional Justice Reference Group workshop in mid-February – involving
state and local government representatives, community leaders, service agencies and other
key stakeholders – to develop an integrated response. Outcomes included establishing the
G21 Regional Justice Reference Group subcommittee to work together on devising a set of
actions to address people’s fears about the mall.
Chaired by the Department of Justice and Regulation, the subcommittee brings together key
people from Victorian Government departments (Education and Training, Health and Human
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Services, Public Transport Victoria), Victoria Police, City of Greater Geelong, G21 Geelong
Region Alliance and the youth services sector. These parties support and collaborate with
each other to deliver the actions set out in this document.
Working concurrently with the subcommittee is the Central Geelong Task Force, which has
been established to implement the actions contained in the Central Geelong Action Plan.
This plan is a broader, longer-term strategy targeted at increasing the level of activity,
prosperity and vitality of Central Geelong.
Initiated by the City of Greater Geelong, the Central Geelong Action Plan’s development
brought together the former Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure,
Regional Development Victoria, VicRoads, Deakin University and leading planning and
property consultants.
Its implementation will have a positive impact on the CBD as a whole, ensuring there are
more people in the CBD for more of the time. In achieving this goal, the delivery of initiatives
under the Central Geelong Action Plan will have a positive effect on the mall.
Coordinated action across three areas for the mall
In developing the following actions, the subcommittee’s focus is on addressing concerns
regarding the mall in three key areas: engage people, physical environment and crime
control.
Engage people
Current actions
 Actively engage young people through existing networks and activities to develop
programs as an immediate response.
 Use existing forums (eg combined schools and youth services) to identify strategies to
address issues in the mall via schools, youth services and other relevant agencies.
 Monitor Victoria Police data as the basis for implementing proactive responses to
emerging issues, including the use of effective youth outreach programs.
Short-term actions (next one to six months)
 Introduce the #SoYouKnowGeelong initiative focused on engaging young people, other
mall users and local traders to negotiate and promote socially appropriate behaviours for
shared use of the mall. Activities include listening posts, community forums, Street Surfer
Bus, ‘So You Know Geelong’ wall and social media.
 Reactivate the Building Opportunities in Barwon partnership – involving Department of
Health and Human Services, BATForce, Glastonbury, MacKillop, Headspace and other
youth agencies – to facilitate access to education and employment activities for vulnerable
young people, including those who use the mall.
 Promote young people’s characteristics and strengths to adults via the current Streetface
initiative and an information session about what it means to be a young person growing up
with a lens always on you.
 Conduct forums with traders and involve them in developing and implementing viable
solutions, including activating the space.
 Focus Place Management initiatives to the mall and surrounds to address trader and
public needs.
 Commence the Central Geelong Action Plan’s ‘City Heart’ initiative to engage the
community around what makes a vibrant public space and where it should be located.
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Address the physical environment
Current actions
 Undertake a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) audit to identify
physical improvements in the mall.
 Provide more frequent and improved scheduling of bus services through the Moorabool
Street transport hub to reduce waiting times and improve people movement.
 Increase community usage of the mall through the ongoing programming and promotion of
diverse events (eg music performers, visual artists, street arts workshops, Food Truck
Fridays, commercial promotions, holiday activities).
Short-term actions (next one to six months)
 Liaise with local traders and other stakeholders about the recommendations from the
CPTED audit and seek participation in problem solving.
Longer-term actions
 Implement CPTED principles as part of future physical improvements to the mall and
throughout the CBD, including buildings, streets and other public spaces.
Crime control
Current actions
 Implement an integrated approach to boost crime control measures (eg safety audits,
CCTV monitoring, uniform or plain clothes patrols including foot patrols) in the CBD and
wider Geelong area to improve safety perceptions, reduce offences and increase offender
identification.
 Maintain Victoria Police presence at peak periods and in response to emerging issues.
 Continue regular meetings between Victoria Police Youth Response Task Force Unit,
Department of Health and Human Services, and service providers to develop strategies to
respond to children at risk, including those who frequent the mall.
Short-term actions (next one to six months)
 Review the Little Malop Street Central High Risk Community Location Plan and work with
the Geelong Local Safety Committee to respond to emerging issues.
 Conduct further consultation with mall user groups, including traders, to identify emerging
issues and enable the plan to be updated to incorporate a more contemporary and
integrated approach in the CBD.
Engaging others
Engaging young people, traders, mall users, the community and stakeholders is a critical
component of many of the actions. Key community engagement activities due to be
implemented over the next six months include:
 listening posts to seek mall users’ ideas about socially appropriate behaviours in the mall
 a negotiation process involving young people, traders and other mall users in mediating
conflicts between stakeholders
 using the Street Surfer Bus as a space for young people to be involved in
#SoYouKnowGeelong, and
 workshops with traders and other stakeholders through the Geelong Chamber of
Commerce to seek their input to viable solutions, including those related to activating the
space.
Monitoring progress
The subcommittee will continue to meet to monitor implementation of the actions and review
progress.
More information
www.geelongaustralia.com.au/community/safety
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