Peninsula wins Safer Towns grant

The Peninsula will benefit from a two-year $96,000 grant from the State Government under the Safer Towns and Cities Program.
A pilot program will be set up on the Peninsula, to be used by Gosford Council to implement the program in the longer term across the city.
The project aims to develop a local crime prevention plan for endorsement by the Attorney General and implementation as a Safer Community Compact.
The principal aim of the local crime prevention plan will be the development of a coordinated multi-agency strategy that engages all relevant local services to prevent and reduce crimes of concern to the local community.
The Peninsula Community Forum developed the application in conjunction with Gosford City Council in May 1998 with funding being allocated in March 1999.
Council will soon advertise for a project coordinator to oversee the project and form the Peninsula sub-committee for the Pilot Program.
The sub-committee will be based on the Community Forum task group that initiated the application to the Attorney General.
Forum spokesperson Debra Wales said: "The application arose as a result of a safety audit conducted by the Community Forum in March 1998.
"When funds became available through the Attorney General’s Department, we thought that this would be an ideal opportunity to prepare a local crime prevention program utilising the wide range of talents and resources available on the Peninsula.
"Gosford City Council assisted the Forum with the application and became the sponsor for the program."