Site tours
Each tour provided delegates with an opportunity to speak with people directly involved with each project, as well as with a chance to network with colleagues. Tours included lunch and other refreshments, plus user friendly hand-outs and information.
Tour 1: Creating strong communities in high-density areas
Visit some of Melbourne’s inner-city high-rise public housing estates to see how strong communities are growing from areas that have been characterised by adversity and disadvantage.
Dedicated residents with the support of community agencies and government programs such as Neighbourhood Renewal are transforming estates into thriving community hubs. Local leaders will showcase local training and employment programs, arts, health and wellbeing initiatives as well as cultural projects and community gardens.
Learn more about the environmental sustainable design features that are meeting the challenges of climate change and saving energy, water and money for residents. Tour includes a visit award-winning K2 Apartments, Atherton Gardens and Kensington Gardens.
Atherton Gardens estate
This $48 million (as at December 2008) partnership between the Department of Human Services, Department of Planning and Community Development, Environment Protection Authority Victoria, Melbourne Water, Infoxchange and the Brotherhood of St Laurence has resulted in a major revitalisation of the Atherton Gardens high-rise estate in Fitzroy. The project involves modernising apartments including providing computers and intranet wiring, foyer and lift upgrades, creating an IT community hub, basketball court and community garden redevelopment, improved paths, tree planting, and a rain and grey-water recycling system.
Community Gardens
There has been a community garden at the Atherton Gardens housing estate in Fitzroy since approximately 1981. The Community Garden at this time had approximately 45 plots.
In early 2007 the garden was extended by Jesuit Social Services with this area to be included as part of its youth program. In 2008 the garden was redesigned and rebuilt with Neighbourhood Renewal funding with the extended area included in the overall design. The size of garden beds was increased as were the overall number of plots. There are now 73 plots.
The Community Garden was part of the ABC Open Garden Scheme in February 2009. Over two days the garden played host to a multitude of visitors from all sectors of the community, with food on sale from the wood fired oven, garden tours and performances from different cultural groups that reflected the multicultural makeup of the garden.
K2 Apartments
The name K2 Apartments comes from the building’s unusual street address, rather than a reference to the world’s second-highest mountain.
The apartments were designed to satisfy a high demand in this inner-city location. The complex consists of 96 units – 56 one-bedroom and 40 two-bedroom units. Approximately 50% of the units are designed for people with disability. There is a shared community room and 52 car spaces.
Location-specific considerations include: giving priority to pedestrian access over vehicles due to readily available public transport, and a focus on sustainable landscaping with public and private courtyards reinforcing the ‘green living’ aspect of the development.
Innovation and strategic vision … the story of the K2 development
In 2000, Property Services & Asset Management (PSAM) within Housing & Community Building at the Department of Human Services led the Victorian government’s environmental response with a design competition that would demonstrate its commitment to sustainability.
Professor Roger Fay and Dr Robert Vale from Deakin University’s Built Environment Group provided the expertise to develop the high-level environmental brief.
The aim was to stimulate innovation and deliver an urban building offering true long-term benefits to both the environment and future public tenant occupants.
The competition called for a building lifespan of 200 years, a 50% reduction in water consumption compared with a typical household, and aimed for no non-renewable energy to be used in its daily operation.
The philosophy behind the competition was to embrace ecologically-sustainable living in the design rather than as an ‘added component’. Consequently, there was a clear objective not only to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption, but also to consider the social and economic aspects of sustainable living such as access to landscape, indoor air quality, natural ventilation and the provision of a variety of communal spaces.
The 96-unit development is the result of the winning design submitted by architectural firm DesignInc Melbourne. It was built by builders Hansen Yuncken on a site formerly occupied by the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind.
Further information:
| Factsheet: | Download here | |
Tour 2: Working in partnership to deliver affordable housing solutions
Visit innovative housing projects that demonstrate what can be achieved when government, community and corporate sectors work together for the benefit of people in need.
Victoria’s growing community housing sector is creating more diverse options for low income people, housing linked to a range of specialised support services and more housing in areas of demand across the state.
Led by representatives from Victoria’s Housing Associations, this tour will showcase exemplary affordable housing projects created through successful partnerships.
Further information:
| Factsheet: | Download here | |
Tour 3: Connecting people with housing and the right support
On any given night in Victoria, it is estimated that 20,500 people are homeless.
This tour features some of Melbourne’s redeveloped rooming houses and other innovative projects designed to accommodate homeless people, single people, older people and those with a disability or special needs.
Hear about the landmark Common Ground Project designed to respond to the needs of the chronically homeless. Based on a successful North American model, the collaborative project will transform an old warehouse into apartment accommodation with 24 hour on site support and employment and training services.
Participants will also hear about the AFL Ladder program which aims to change the lives of young people affected by homelessness. It provides participants with accommodation, tailored support and mentoring from AFL players and elite female athletes to help them establish confidence, stability and security.
Further information:
| Factsheet: | Download here | |
Tour 4: Regenerating local communities with Neighbourhood Renewal
Visit the regional area of Wendouree West, near Ballarat, where the government’s Neighbourhood Renewal program has helped reverse trends of severe disadvantage. Wendouree West is Victoria’s first Neighbourhood Renewal site. The program began in 2001 and finished in 2009. In this time, new jobs have been created - many people are working for the first time in their lives, education has become a priority and houses have been turned into homes.
The rejuvenated local area now features renewed streetscapes, a tenant-operated grocery store, a state-of-the-art Community Learning Hub, and improved fencing and landscaping updated by tenants who are learning trade skills by working on new homes.
Wendouree West Life Long Learning Hub
The Wendouree West Community Learning Hub is an excellent example of what collaboration between government, local agencies and the community can achieve.
Neighbourhood Renewal’s place-based approach enabled the whole community to be genuinely involved in this lifelong learning vision for their community.
The precinct has become the central focus of activity in Wendouree West. It houses an integrated educational facility encompassing: Prep to Year 8 school; kindergarten; occasional care; an information technology centre; adult education; neighbourhood house and other community and education spaces and services.
Violet Grove shopping precinct
In 2001 the Violet Grove precinct –– once disparagingly referred to as ‘Violent Grove’ –– had five vacant shops and one fish and chip shop; it was run down, badly vandalised and covered in graffiti. Collaboration between government and local community groups in Wendouree West has since revitalised and transformed it into a vibrant and community-focused precinct that meets the needs of local residents.
It now has a hairdresser, St Vinnies Budget Groceries, Simplicity is BEST Computer Centre, the fish and chip shop and a large office complex that houses services from UnitingCare, Ballarat Group Training, Highlands Personnel, Primary Care Partnerships and several visiting services.
Further information:
| Factsheet: | Download here |
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Tour 5: Working in partnership to deliver affordable housing solutions
Visit innovative housing projects that demonstrate what can be achieved when government, community and corporate sectors work together for the benefit of people in need.
Victoria’s growing community housing sector is creating more diverse options for low income people, housing linked to a range of specialised support services and more housing in areas of demand across the state.
Led by representatives from Victoria’s Housing Associations, this tour will showcase exemplary affordable housing projects created through successful partnerships.
