ONE bench in Kings Parade is not like the others, and that is because it carries a very important message.
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A bench on the eastern side has been given a fresh coat of paint under the Red Bench Project, which was started by the Red Rose Foundation.
By having a red bench in a public space, participating cities hope to raise awareness about domestic violence.
The Bathurst Regional Community Safety Committee formally unveiled the red bench in Kings Parade on Thursday.
Councillor Jacqui Rudge, who is also the chairperson of the community safety committee, said it was an initiative Bathurst should be proud to be a part of.
"It's a great initiative to get the message out there, where people can come and site and have a chat about what may be happening in their lives with their relatives, friends or neighbours," she said.
"We think that the project actually gets people talking about domestic violence."
Participation in the Red Bench Project is the first initiative to be rolled out under council's Bathurst Community Safety Plan 2019-2023.
The plan will address a range of community safety issues and Cr Rudge said that, data showed, domestic violence was an area that needed to be prioritised.
In 2017, there were 216 instances of domestic violence related assault reported and Bathurst ranked 39th out of 120 local government areas in NSW.
"As a community, we need to start helping these people and showing them some sort of support," Cr Rudge said.
Senior Constable Sue Rose, the crime prevention officer for Chifley Police District, said that the Red Bench Project was an initiative that the police supported.
Chifley PD has a domestic violence team to support victims and they are encouraged to report instances of it.
Sen Const Rose said domestic violence wasn't only physical altercations and includes psychological violence and financial issues.
"We do encourage, particularly women, to come forward and they will get all the support that we can possibly offer," she said.