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
54.9
Cardinia
77,535
142,383
83.6
Hume
175,605
263,998
50.3
Melton
112,980
225,774
99.8
Mitchell
35,995
59,266
64.7
Whittlesea 163,538
287,566
75.8
Wyndham 168,550
340,724
102.1
995,399
1,724,211
73.2
Total
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 Networks
Personal bonding networks
•family, close friends
Broader bridging networks
•education, employment, clubs,
volunteering
Governance networks
•links to decision-making bodies
(Pope 2011 DPCD)
Social Isolation in the
Growth Areas
•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 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
Victorian Community Wellbeing
Framework
•Healthy, safe, inclusive
•Culturally rich
and vibrant
•Democratic with
active citizens
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”
Thank you
Joanne Kyrkilis
Social Policy and Projects
City of Whittlesea
On behalf of the 7 Growth Councils and the SIPT
Reference Group