Social Infrastructure Planning Tool Project

A tool for building and shaping strong communities

in the process of growth

Council 2011 2031 % change

Casey 261, 196 404,498 54.9Cardinia

77,535 142,383 83.6

Hume 175,605 263,998 50.3Melton 112,980 225,774 99.8Mitchell 35,995 59,266 64.7Whittlesea

163,538 287,566 75.8

Wyndham

168,550 340,724 102.1

Total 995,399 1,724,211 73.2

Social Infrastructure Defined

Those processes, programs, events, services, networks and activities that support individuals and families to meet their social and personal needs in a particular place through personal growth, social interaction, social services support and community development.

Two key elements

1. Community connecting activities, programs, events

2. Community capacity-building programs, activities, processes

Importance of NetworksPersonal bonding networks•family, close friendsBroader bridging networks•education, employment, clubs, volunteeringGovernance networks•links to decision-making bodies

(Pope 2011 DPCD)

• Residents of growth areas tend to move (far) away from their bonding, bridging and familiar governance networks

• Lack of adequate public transport and high fuel costs make travel difficult

Social Isolation in the Growth Areas

Social isolation amongst growth area residents is resulting in higher than average rates of

•mental health problems •child developmental issues•family dysfunction/violence•Youth disengagement

Where social connection is lacking:•lifeless places to live where residents suffered from a range of mental health vulnerabilities

(UK New Towns)Where social connection present:•have a 50 per cent greater likelihood of survival compared with those with poor or insufficient social relationships.

(VicHealth)

New Town Blues

“There is a strong link between mental ill health and lack of social ties in a new environment.”

Goh and Bailey (2007)

SIPT Project To develop a strengths-based, flexible Tool to guide the building of strong connected communities by identifying for all stakeholders•what social infrastructure is necessary•when and how it should be delivered•and by whom.

Key stakeholder involvement

• Australian Community Foundation

• 7 Melbourne Growth Councils

• Department of Planning and Community Development

• Department of Human Services

• Stockland Land Developer

• Brotherhood of St Laurence• VCOSS• Department of Health• Lend Lease/Delfin• Melbourne Citymission• National Growth Area Alliance• RMIT Centre for Design• Scouts• VicHealth and GAA

Literature Review Recommendations

• Establish a benchmark standard for funding community development and community support services

• Develop Good Practice Guide

• Develop a model planning framework

Principles of Planning for Social Infrastructure

• Community engagement

• Asset-based• Flexible• Inclusive• Prevention

focus

• Early delivery• Partnership

approach• Innovation• Sustainable• Continuous

Evaluation

• Healthy, safe, inclusive

• Culturally richand vibrant

• Democratic withactive citizens

Victorian Community Wellbeing

Framework

Stage Three(Capire Consulting)

•To recommend a Governance Structure for the Project.

•To develop a Framework for Social Infrastructure Planning in Growth Areas

• To develop a Tool that will identify a benchmark standard for community development and community support program provision for the Growth Areas in the process of growth

• An Implementation Plan that will include identifying stakeholder responsibility and possible funding sources (where available)

• An Evaluation Plan

Stage Four

Demonstration Project (2014):

•the Tool will be applied to a new estate (or estates) and evaluated

Community Engagement

Community Festivals

Music for young people

Community residents associations

Connection through Social Media

Street parties/Neighbourhood

BBQs

Book clubs, choirs, sewing groups, writers’ groups....

Active Recreation Programs

Playgroups

Cooking programs for young people

Financial Literacy

Building Harmony

Parenting Programs

Placemaking New Zealand

“What attracts people most, it appears, is other people”

Joanne KyrkilisSocial Policy and ProjectsCity of WhittleseaOn behalf of the 7 Growth Councils and the SIPT Reference Group

Thank you