The City of Hobart has deployed new speakers blasting 80’s music in Wellington Court as part of an effort to deter anti-social behaviour.
Located next to Hobart’s Elizabeth Street Mall, Wellington Court had become a popular loitering spot for ‘at-risk youth’, with the installation of the music system already giving the space a ‘positive ambiance’ and acting as a ‘deterrent to anti-social behaviour’.
The Council has now completed its Wellington Court Refresh Project, which included the reconfiguration of existing tables ‘to reduce large gatherings’, fixing the fountain and installing new lights in the court and Soundy’s Lane.
Changes have also been made to waste management, ongoing service and cleaning of tables, as well as security patrols.
The Council say feedback from businesses in the area has been positive and has noted a significant decrease in antisocial behaviour in the court over the last six months.
In January, Tasmania Police launched ‘Operation Saturate’ to tackle violence and anti-social behaviour in the CBD, apprehending 73 individuals on 342 offences within just 25 days leading up to October.
