​Residents and business owners have gathered in Earlwood, to discuss safety issues with local Police and Council officers.

Mayor Khal Asfour said the meeting was called after a number of concerns were raised over the past six months.

“From time to time, we receive a concentration of complaints from residents in local communities, regarding safety issues,” he said.

“These are addressed in consultation with residents and Police, through specific strategies targeting the issues identified.

“This can include conducting a community safety audit, which is a holistic approach and involves undertaking a walk-through in a particular area, with residents and business owners pointing out their concerns. These are done during the day and night.

“That was the case in Earlwood recently, with around 20 people taking to the streets of the suburb’s town centre, with Police and Council officers.”

The main issues identified, a need to:

Review traffic and the impacts of traffic light sequences on the behaviour of drivers;Review general maintenance and waste management needs;Review signs to better support rules and regulations in the area; andWork with local businesses to encourage a better sense of community pride and ownership.

Overall, residents and business owners participating in the audit advised that they feel safe living and working in Earlwood.

“We can now go and work with Council’s internal and external agencies to address these matters,” Mayor Asfour said.

This year, Council has hosted five Local Safety Forums and five safety drop-in sessions at local shopping centres, where Police shared the latest crime statistics, gave updates on the progress of targeted campaigns, and listen to concerns from residents.

More Local Safety Forums and safety drop-in sessions will be held next year, with information to be advertised in Community Link magazine, local newspapers and via cb.city/safety