The City of Launceston in northern Tasmania recently won two Local Government Association of Tasmania Excellence Awards for excellence and innovation.
Council won the Community Development category for a joint initiative with Tasmania Police and the Launceston Safer Communities Partnership. The Designing Out Crime – Designing In People initiative involved a training course for police and Council workers, a national conference and a booklet with design tips on safer urban development.
The booklet outlines how Councils can plan urban environments to discourage crime and vandalism and make the community feel safer. In particular, parks, lighting, fencing and landscaping can be used to create spaces that deter opportunistic crime.
Speaking at the Awards presentation, Mayor Janie Dickenson said the initiative was a great example of the community and Government working together towards a common goal.
Council’s Local Emergency Recovery Plan won the Management Planning category of the Awards. Mayor Dickenson said the plan was “an excellent example of emergency recovery planning at the local level”.
“It’s fantastic for Council to be rewarded for all the hard work that people have put into both these projects,” she said.
For further information contact Manager Civic Affairs, Gary Stokes, email council@launceston.tas.gov.au or telephone (03) 6323 3123.