New ‘Nellies’ light up Nelson Bay to support safer public spaces

newy.com.au – New interactive light, sound and artwork installations have been switched on in Nelson Bay as part of a six-month project to better understand and improve how women and girls experience public spaces at night.

The Nellies Safer Spaces for Women and Girls Project is now live on Yacaaba Street, with four digital displays, known as “Nellies”, installed as part of the local streetscape.

Designed in collaboration with local women and girls, the installations use light, sound and artwork to attract attention and encourage people to interact with the space. Data captured through the project will help the NSW Government build a clearer picture of how public spaces are used after dark and how safety could be improved.

The project is led by the University of Newcastle in partnership with FASTLabs, Design Anthology, Saphi, Peclet, Urbis and Port Stephens Council, and is funded by the NSW Government through Transport for NSW.

University of Newcastle Professor Tamara Blakemore said the collaboration combined community insight with innovative design.

“This project places the voices of women and girls at the centre of public space design and community safety,” Professor Tamara Blakemore said.

“It helps test how activation can improve safety and encourage more people to use these spaces,” Professor Tamara Blakemore added.

Mayor Anderson said Port Stephens Council was proud to support the project, which brings together art, creativity and efforts to improve safety in public spaces.

“It’s great that our own local women and girls helped shape the look, feel and function of the interactive installations,” Mayor Anderson said.

“Innovative projects like this help us understand how our community experience public spaces. They also show how creative design can make places feel safer, more welcoming and more connected,” Mayor Anderson added.

The project aligns with Port Stephens Council’s Community Wellbeing Strategy and builds on council’s ongoing work in placemaking, public art and town centre activation.

Community members can visit the Nellies from the corner of Magnus Street and Yacaaba Street, Nelson Bay, and take part in the experience to help shape future public space safety.