Safe Spaces, Thriving Places

Overview

CBDs are important to regional cities and the Bundaberg Region is no different - it’s the heart of our community.

Safe Spaces, Thriving Places is a collaborative initiative focused on improving safety, activation, amenity and business confidence within the Bundaberg CBD.

Through partnerships with local businesses, community organisations, government agencies and service providers, the initiative aims to create a vibrant, welcoming and connected city centre where people want to live, work, visit and invest.

Since its launch, Safe Spaces, Thriving Places has evolved into a platform for collaboration, bringing together stakeholders to address challenges, identify opportunities and support positive outcomes for the CBD.

Key focus areas include:

Community safety
Community wellbeing
Business engagement
Place activation
Economic growth
Amenity improvements

Achievements and progress

Community safety

Secured funding through the Queensland Government Secure Communities Partnership Program.
Replacement of 89 CCTV cameras and installation of 3 additional CCTV locations.
Continued collaboration with Queensland Police Service regarding community safety.

Activation and vibrancy

Delivery of the Wednesday Winter Warmers program.
Support for trader-led events.
Vacant shopfront activation projects.
Seasonal activation planning with local traders.

Business engagement

Establishment and ongoing support of the CBD Advisory Group.
Regular engagement with Bundaberg Chambers of Commerce.

Amenity improvements

Increased street cleaning activities.
Introduction of the Glutton street cleaning machine.
Ongoing advocacy regarding public amenity and cleanliness issues.

Community support

Collaboration with local support agencies and networks to improve access pathways, coordination and delivery of support services.
Additional outreach and engagement of people doing it tough.
Working with stakeholders to co-design an alcohol and other drug primary prevention action plan
Collective advocacy to reduce systemic barriers and to highlight need for appropriate levels of resourcing of government and non-government agencies addressing homelessness, mental health, alcohol and other drug and community safety issues.
Community activation events and awareness campaigns to promote services and strengthen connections between support services and those seeking assistance
Leveraging opportunities to enable learning and development opportunities for stakeholders
Enhanced patrols and coordinated responses to address emerging issues and improve community safety outcomes.
Increased collaboration between Council, Queensland Police Service, Regional Housing, Salvation Army and other community organisations.

Business support

Introduced a significant reduction in outdoor dining fees for hospitality businesses.
The fee reduction supports cafés, restaurants and hospitality venues to make greater use of outdoor dining areas while reducing operating costs.
Delivery of Working with Council supplier engagement sessions to help local businesses better understand procurement opportunities and Council processes.
Ongoing collaboration with Chamber of Commerce, Regional Business HQ and other business support organisations.

Grants and financial assistance

Bundaberg Regional Council offers a range of grants and financial assistance programs that support community projects, events, organisations and initiatives that help strengthen and enrich our region.

Find out more here.

Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF)

The Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) is delivered as a partnership between the Queensland Government and eligible local Councils across the state through Arts Queensland. RADF promotes the role and value of arts, culture and heritage as key drivers of diverse and inclusive communities and strong regions. RADF invests in local arts and cultural priorities, as determined by local communities.

Find out more here.

Our Stories, Our Places

Our Stories Our Places Heritage and Character Grant Program provides a means for Council to deliver financial assistance to owners of eligible heritage listed and main street commercial character properties to undertake sympathetic conservation works to improve the appearance of these buildings and make a positive contribution to the streetscape.

Find out more here.

Project partners

Safe Spaces, Thriving Places is delivered through collaboration between Council, businesses, community organisations and government agencies.

Partners include:

Queensland Police Service
Bundaberg Chamber of Commerce
Regional Business HQ
Salvation Army
Regional Housing Limited
Queensland Government agencies
CBD Advisory Group participants
Local businesses and traders

Get involved

If you would like to be involved in Safe Spaces, Thriving Places or discuss opportunities for your business, please email us.

Frequently asked questions

Why are CBDs so important to our economy?

CBDs play a crucial role in regional economies by generating significant economic activity. As a Small Business Friendly Council we are committed to better understanding the operating environment for local businesses, including exploring key challenges and opportunities and identifying stakeholders.

CBDs are crucial to the economy in regional Queensland for several reasons:

Economic hub: CBDs serve as the central point for economic activity, attracting businesses and services that are essential to the local community.
Employment generation: They provide employment opportunities, contributing to the overall economic growth and job creation in the region.
Service delivery: CBDs offer a range of services, including retail, healthcare, education and government services, which are vital to the community.
Investment attraction: The presence of CBDs attracts investment, which can lead to infrastructure improvements and economic diversification.
Regional integration: CBDs facilitate regional integration by providing a common platform for communication and collaboration among businesses and services.
CBDs play a multifaceted role in regional Queensland's economy, contributing to the overall growth and development of the region.

What area does this project encompass?

Safe Spaces, Thriving Places is focussed on the Bundaberg CBD. For this project we consider the CBD boundary to be bounded by the river to Woondooma Street and Kennedy Bridge to the train line, in line with the Safe Night Precinct project (see the map on the Queensland Government website).