NightRec update July – Sept 2009

Welcome to the first update regarding Brisbane City Council’s NightRec program.

NightRec will partner local services to provide alternative activities and recreation for young people on Friday and Saturday nights in areas that face community safety issues.

The project aims to:
a) provide activities for young people, as an alternative to current risk-taking behaviours
b) increase the communities sense of safety within the targeted area
c) develop strong local partnerships that model sustainable practice in managing community safety concerns.

PROJECT AIMS.

NightRec will deliver on Council’s Vision for 2026 by nurturing a Friendly and Safe City.  ‘In 2026, Brisbane will be a place where everyone feels safe, without fear for their personal safety or property security – in their homes, streets, parks and travelling throughout the city’ (Living In Brisbane Vision 2026).

 Progress so far.
After receiving funding at the end of July, we begun consultation with stakeholders, identified key priority areas for the project, conducted a sample audit of community safety perceptions in Fortitude Valley, recruited a full time project officer to oversee the program, and begun planning activities for October to December.

Consultation:
To date we have established relationships and consulted Queensland Police, Queensland Health, Department of Communities, Drug Arm, Brisbane Youth Service, Red Cross, Brisbane City Council (Alcohol Management, Community Safety, Inclusive Communities’ teams), PCYC, Praxis Coop, Valley Chamber of Commerce, PCYC’s, Chaplain Watch and City Care. We also attended the national Think Drink conference and have been gathering data from stakeholders regarding current issues, current responses and possible solutions. We will continue consultation and engagement throughout the project.

Target Areas
Following discussions with stakeholders, reviews of local media, and conversations across Council, we will be focusing over the next nine months on the following areas:
1. Fortitude Valley: entertainment precinct including malls, parks and streets in the surrounding areas.
2. South Brisbane: particularly Southbank train stations, Southbank precinct, Goodwill bridge and botanical gardens
3. Brisbane CBD: particularly King George Square and surrounding areas
4. Chermside: particularly Westfield Shopping Centre and surrounding parks and public transport hubs.

Perceptions of Safety in Fortitude Valley.
In addition to looking at crime statistics and media reports, we talked with 284 people in Fortitude Valley on Friday September 11 between 10pm and 1am. Partnering with RedCross and Brisbane Youth Service, we asked how they felt about safety in the Valley and what they thought could be done to increase safety.
Of the 284 responses, 52% were male and 48% female. 3% were under 18, 62% 18-25, 26% 26-35 and 8% over the age of 36. Predominantly people were in the valley to go to a night club (45%) or a bar (19%), with the remaining 34% attending either a restaurant, café or live music venue.
In response to the question ‘How safe do you feel in the Valley’, 24% responded either ‘totally unsafe’ (6%) or a ‘bit unsafe’ (18%), with most stating they felt ‘fairly safe’ (38%) or ‘totally safe’ (38%).
In response to the question ‘How safe do you think the Valley is overall’, 53% responded either ‘totally unsafe’ (19%) or a ‘bit unsafe’ (34%), with fewer stating they felt ‘fairly safe’ (33%) or ‘totally safe’ (14%).
When asked ‘what could be done to make the Valley more safe’, the 171 different responses were summerised into the following response groupings:
- more police and security at peak times in hotspot locations
- increased access to public transport and taxis, including management systems to handle peak times and clientele
- stronger laws to manage those that offend, disturb or perpetrate crime or violence
- presence of local people who make the valley safe and welcoming, are on the lookout for potential issues/ safety concerns, link to police/ chaplain watch.
- presence of more street entertainment in areas where patrons are becoming bored/ frustrated: ie cab ques, entrance lines to clubs etc.
- a safe space for patrons who need support/ first aid/ assistance etc…as a first point of call before police, ambulance etc.

 While the surveys represent a very small sample of Valley patrons, it highlights:
- that people felt that the valley was unsafe (53%), although 78% stated they personally did not feel unsafe (perception was greater than individual reality).
- that largely, people were supportive of current police presence and would like to see that presence increased as a positive step towards increased safety
- that people felt there was a need for  a safe space for intoxicated people to detox (from alcohol) and that more efforts were required to make the Valley safe and welcoming to deter aggressive behaviours.
We will be using these suggestions and data to influence the design of future programs.

NightRec Project Officer.
We are excited to announce that Jonty Bush will be commencing with us on October 12. Jonty brings a rich knowledge of project management within a community safety context, including work on Queensland’s One Punch Can Kill campaign. Jonty will manage NightRec’s engagement, consultation, design, implementation and evaluation processes. She will be in touch with stakeholders throughout October.

October to December.
While continued discussions with stakeholders will refine the rollout of activities in each location, the following processes are set to take place.

 1.  Fortitude Valley: In partnership with Police, CityCare and Chaplain Watch, we will be providing a safe space at Valley Fiesta October 23-25. The space will offer free water, access to phone calls, first aid, information and support. The space will support people who are dehydrated, feel unsafe, are injured or need support to get home safely. In addition to the safe space, we will be trialling ongoing creative approaches to minimisation risk taking behaviours. This  will include street performers and volunteers that will create a safe and welcoming environment around the Valley, linking into existing security, police and chaplain services where required. Finally, we will contribute to the action plan set by the Valley Liquor Accord. This will include the promotion and activation of the ‘Play Nice, Play Safe’ community awareness raising campaign and networking with transport, security and venue providers.

2. South Brisbane: We will collaborate with Southbank Corporation, local Police and related stakeholders to offer alternate outreach based activities across the Southbank Precinct. These activities will both provide for young people and build relationships that help further explore issues associated with night-time use of the area.

3. Brisbane CBD: We will partner with RedCross and Police to offer activiies in King George Square that respond to the needs of transient young people using public space.

4. Chermside: we will continue to work with Brisbane Transport, Jabiru, Police and Westfield centre management and security, to respond to the ongoing needs of local young people for safe, accessible space to interact and enjoy recreation, without impacting negatively on other patrons in the precinct.

We welcome all ideas, feedback and discussions regarding the NightRec program. Please contact Jonty.Bush@brisbane.qld.gov.au or on 34030136.