Sydneysiders can look forward to a safer and more enjoyable night out this summer, thanks to a City of Sydney program designed to help people get around town and make it home without a hitch.
Every Friday and Saturday night until the end of March, the City’s late-night precincts will feature secure taxi ranks, information kiosks open until late, safety ambassadors patrolling the streets and additional temporary toilets.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the City was working hard to ensure Sydney’s night-time areas are safe, welcoming and easy to navigate over the busy summer period.
“The festive season and summer months see thousands of people on our city’s streets late at night, and we want to provide the best possible experience for locals and visitors alike,” the Lord Mayor said.
“We want to make sure people of all ages can enjoy the best of what Sydney’s late-night precincts have to offer, find their way around with ease, and get home safely.
“Last summer, our temporary toilets were used more than 10,000 times, and the Take Kare Ambassadors provided assistance to more than 5,600 people. These measures make a real difference to the functioning, safety and cleanliness of our city late at night.”
The Lord Mayor said a nuanced, whole-of-government policy approach is needed to ensure public safety without further negative impact on Sydney’s night-time economy.
“Before the lockouts, the City spent three years working on a late-night strategy, identifying more than 250 actions to make our night-time economy safer,” the Lord Mayor said.
“These actions included late-night transport, more facilities like toilets and lighting, tougher planning controls, more police and renewable liquor licensing permits that can be revoked from badly run venues, instead of being issued for a lifetime as they are in NSW.
“The discussion about the future of Sydney’s night life shouldn’t be boiled down into a choice between safety and vibrancy – we can have both.”
Key features of the City’s program of late-night safety initiatives for summer 2016/17:
- Temporary toilets will be deployed at Sydney Town Hall, Whitlam Square, Taylor Square and Springfield Mall in Kings Cross, with wheelchair accessible facilities available at Sydney Town Hall and Springfield Mall.
- Information kiosks providing maps, brochures and other helpful information for both locals and visitors will remain open until 9pm at Circular Quay, Haymarket and Kings Cross.
- The Safe Space and Take Kare Ambassador program will operate from 10pm to 4am in the city centre and Kings Cross. Designed to help vulnerable young people get home safely, the program’s volunteers provide first aid, phone and internet access, and free water. Extra Take Kare Ambassadors will be out and about on New Year’s Eve, when the City’s six event information booths throughout the city centre transform into Safe Spaces at midnight.
- ‘Super’ taxi ranks on Bayswater Road in Kings Cross, Bathurst Street, and Pitt Street near Martin Place will operate from 10pm to 5am, with taxi marshals, dedicated CCTV cameras, improved lighting and illuminated wayfinding. Seven other secure taxi ranks will also operate throughout the city centre, Darling Harbour, The Rocks and Kings Cross.
- Variable message signs displaying transport and safety information will be set up at Circular Quay, Martin Place, Town Hall, Hyde Park, Taylor Square and Kings Cross.
- Late night cleansing crews will deploy extra staff from 10pm to 4am to ensure the streets in late-night precincts are kept clean.
- Compliance and enforcement ‘hot teams’ staffed by the City’s licensed premises officers and rangers will help manage noise complaints and conduct compliance checks on licensed premises.
“Sydney needs a trial of 24-hour public transport on Friday and Saturday nights, similar to the trial currently underway in Melbourne, which involves an extra 300 train services, 250 tram services and 485 bus services each weekend,” the Lord Mayor said.
For media inquiries or images, contact City of Sydney Senior Media Adviser Keeley Irvin. Phone 0448 005 718 or email kirvin@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact Paul Mackay. Phone 0432 182 647 or email pmackay@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au