Lithgow City Council is delivering a major boost to safety, vibrancy, and local activation in the CBD, with more than $1.25 million secured to transform Main Street and surrounding public spaces.
The funding package brings together two complementary NSW Government programs:
$1 million through the Safer Cities: Her Way 2 Program to improve the feeling of safety, accessibility and amenity along key pedestrian routes and $258,500 through the NSW Government’s Permit/Plug/Play Program, led by Transport for NSW, to streamline processes and support improvements to public spaces, making it easier to deliver street-based events and community activations. In addition, Lithgow City Council will contribute $100,000 to assist in the delivery of the funded works.
Together, the projects will create a more welcoming, connected, and vibrant town centre, improving everyday experiences while making it easier to host events that bring people into the heart of Lithgow.
As part of the NSW Government’s Vibrant Streets Package, the Permit/Plug/Play Program aims to make it faster, simpler and more affordable to deliver street-based events while unlocking the full potential of local streets as vibrant public spaces.
The Safer Cities: Her Way 2 project will focus on the key corridor between Lithgow Station and Main Street, and will co-design solutions with women, girls and gender diverse people to address lighting, visibility, wayfinding and pedestrian amenity and improve perceptions of safety, particularly after dark.
Lithgow Mayor, Cr Cassandra Coleman, said the combined investment represents a coordinated approach to improving both everyday use and special events in the town centre.
“Together, these investments show how Council is leveraging every opportunity to deliver jobs, safer streets and a more vibrant town centre for our community,” Mayor Coleman said.
“These grant funded projects work hand in hand, making it feel safer and easier to move through our town centre every day, while also giving us the infrastructure and systems to host bigger and better events that bring our local businesses community together.”
By pairing safety improvements with event-ready infrastructure, Council is creating a town centre that is not only more accessible and inclusive, but also more active, resilient and economically vibrant.
Minister for Transport John Graham said this was the second round of the first-of-its-kind Safer Cities: Her Way program.
“This new funding builds on the success of the Safer Cities program, which has already engaged with around 30,000 people to shape projects across more than 80 communities across the state.
“Whether walking, riding or using public transport, everyone has the right to travel safely and feel safe in public spaces, both day and night.
“It’s important we continue to invest in programs like this to help deliver local upgrades that make a big difference in building safer, vibrant, thriving communities for everyone.” The projects will be delivered over the next two years, with community engagement playing a central role in shaping outcomes and ensuring the upgrades reflect local needs and priorities.
Both projects are proudly funded by the NSW Government through the Safer Cities: Her Way 2 Program and the Permit/Plug/Play Program, led by Transport for NSW.