Safety is important to the Darebin community and Council.

Its importance is reflected in the Darebin 2041 Community Vision and Our Darebin Plan 2025-2029.

In 2023, we asked for the community's help to build a picture of places where they feel safe and unsafe in Darebin.

The project aimed to gather information about your experiences of safety all around Darebin, from its parks and sports facilities to streets and public transport stops.

We are now using what you told us to inform projects and interventions across a range of areas of Council's responsibility.

Community Engagement Summary

Through nearly 500 submissions, we heard of safety concerns about motor traffic and speeding vehicles around schools, about low-lit areas where you feel unsafe walking at night and about unsafe infrastructure for bike riding and walking.

Check out the engagement highlights and the map below to see what we've learned.

Feedback received helped paint a picture of where the community feels safe and unsafe around Darebin.

Reported concerns related to all times of day and night, and most commonly related to the following spaces:

• Areas near schools, kindergartens, and residential zones where traffic and speeding are frequent concerns.

• Pedestrian crossings that lack zebra markings, traffic lights, or proper signage, making them unsafe for pedestrians.

• Poorly lit train stations, parks, and paths that are perceived as too dark, especially at night, contributing to feelings of unsafety.

• Footpaths that are narrow, uneven, or blocked, posing risks for pedestrians, particularly those with disabilities or prams.

• Bike lanes that are poorly maintained or situated too close to fast-moving traffic, making cycling hazardous.

• Community members reported loitering around shops, stations, and car parks.

• Tram stops that need reinstating to improve accessibility and reduce long, unsafe walking distances.

From 10 August to 16 October 2023, we invited you to have your say and share your experiences of places that make you feel safe or unsafe in Darebin.

We support a community where everyone is equal and respected. We wanted to know more about your experiences and take these into consideration for future planning. We wanted to know if you feel safe and about your experiences - anywhere around Darebin - from the parks, pools and sports facilities you visit, to streets and public transport stops. We wanted to know about places where you don’t feel equal and respected, to help us influence the services, programs and facilities that we deliver.

We wanted to hear from you no matter your age, gender or background. Your story can help create a more equal and respectful community for everyone.

To get involved, the community could place a pin on the map to give feedback on a place, facility or service. People were asked to describe their experiences of safety and answer the prompted questions. Feedback was also gathered through in-person paper surveys.

How is the data being used?

We are now using this feedback to make public spaces in Darebin safer and more inclusive. Feedback from the community also helps with the prioritisation for delivery of future improvement projects.

For places described that aren’t managed by Council, such as public transport, arterial roads or private property, we will contact the appropriate organisation to advocate for those improvements.

When placing a pin on the map, usernames and comments were made available for others to see. Other responses will remain anonymous.