Principle 1: Open and welcoming

Everyone can access public space and feel welcome, respected and included.

Everyone should feel included when they’re in a public space. This requires us to plan for public space that helps everyone to feel culturally, physically and socially included. People should feel safe, welcome and like they belong when they’re in a public space.

Public space should offer a range of things for people to do, including free experiences. This includes seating, shade and shelter, end-of-trip facilities, accessible toilets and inclusive play spaces.

Design and care for public space in a way that people of all ages and abilities can enjoy being there, with dignity and ease. Create clear entrances and exits, open areas and make it easy to understand how to move around and between spaces. Integrate public space with nearby land uses and public transport. Ideally, people should be able to easily get there on foot or by bike.

Not all public space can meet every need – but linking public spaces and providing them in all areas will create a connected network of spaces that work together.

Engage with communities to plan, design, manage and activate public space. Talk to a diversity of people, including Aboriginal peoples, young people, people with disability, people experiencing homelessness and culturally and linguistically diverse people. Try to engage people and groups who may have felt left out from these processes in the past.