Safety plan achieves thumbs up

An ambitious plan aimed at boosting safety in central Hamilton has been labelled a success by city council staff despite challenges over measuring its effectiveness.

Council’s city planning and environmental services general manager Brian Croad presented an update report on the Hamilton Central Safety Plan to elected members last week and said progress had been good.

A feature of the safety plan is the People’s Project which brings together health and social service agencies to provide wrap-around support to homeless people.

Since the project’s inception, more than 30 people have been housed.

The safety plan also included a new bylaw targeting nuisance and offensive

The safety plan also included a new bylaw targeting nuisance and offensive behaviour in the central city.

behaviour in the central city.

Under the bylaw, which came into force on December 15, begging or sleeping in a public place and using a mindaltering substance in public is an offence.

Croad said there had been ‘‘really good’’ progress implementing the plan but further work was needed collating and measuring data on its success.

‘‘I would suggest that any councillors who have been down here would have seen quite a massive difference in the feel and ambience of the central area in terms of safety,’’ Croad said.

Council has allocated $314,000 to deliver the safety plan, which includes City Safe patrols, a scaling up of litter collection and increased plant maintenance.

Mayor Julie Hardaker said the public was pleased the council had started addressing people’s concerns about antisocial behaviour in central Hamilton.

‘‘It’s early days. We’ve only just got onto this and the key will be in the matrix that’s developed to measure success. Part of that will be stats and part of that will be people’s own views and feelings about the space.’’

aaron.leaman@fairfaxmedia.co.nz