Collaboration between key agencies for a safer community

Key agencies led by Taupo District Council have joined forces and put in place a plan to make the Taupo district a safer place by reducing injury, preventing crime and improving safety in all areas.

Collaboration between funding partners ACC, Lakes District Health Board, NZ Police and Taupo District Council has led to a ‘Taupo Safe District’ steering group being formed including representatives from the NZ Fire Service and TownCentre Taupo. The group has put in place a project plan that meets the criteria set by the World Health Organisation to allow Taupo district to apply for accreditation as an International Safe Community by 2010, joining the 10 other New Zealand towns and cities already accredited.

Leader of the steering group, Council’s Safer Communities Project Manager Doug Scott said it was great to have the project plan in place. “Now the planning has been signed off, we (the steering group) are looking forward to getting some of the actions underway,” he said.

The objectives of the ‘Taupo Safe District’ project plan is to lower injury by raising awareness and commitment to prevention, promoting and improving safety on our roads, embracing safety through crime prevention activities and encouraging collaboration to support safety and injury prevention.

The recently formed Taupo Safe Communities Trust is working on making the Taupo Township a safer place and is one project of many working towards the goals of the ‘Taupo Safe District’ project.