DHHS East Division has joined forces with Mitchell Shire Council, Resilient Melbourne, DELWP and RMIT to identify the features that can ensure that greenfield developments in Melbourne’s growth corridors can be liveable and resilient.
As defined in the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2015-2019 , ‘liveable’ communities are: safe, attractive, socially cohesive and inclusive, and environmentally sustainable; with affordable and diverse housing linked by convenient public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure to employment, education, public open space, local shops, health and community services, and leisure and cultural opportunities. But how can we also ensure that communities are resilient to the effects of climate change?
To help us answer this question, RMIT’s Healthy Liveable Cities Group is conducting a Liveability audit that will inform and enrich the Rockefeller Foundation’s Resilient Melbourne Program with Mitchell Shire Council.
Resilient Melbourne is supporting Mitchell Shire and Beveridge North West, a greenfield development in Melbourne’s northern growth corridor, to foster cohesive communities that pull together and support one another in times of shock. The partners are working to create:
“a thriving, liveable, strong and engaged community that is self-sufficient and has pride of place. To achieve this goal, the development requires early delivery of services supported by infrastructure that supports health, livelihoods and employment from the time residents move in. “
DELWP’s Community and Partnerships Division, Hume Region are also committing funds to support the Liveability audit. To ensure that precinct structure planning will be informed by detailed liveability measures across the policy domains of transport, walkability, food access, housing, social infrastructure, employment and public open space.
DELWP is also commissioning new indicators to strengthen our understanding of how access to parks, open spaces and the natural environment is linked to local health and wellbeing outcomes.
Beveridge North-West is one of five townships across Mitchell Shire for which RMIT will conduct Liveability audits. The other locations are Seymour; Wallan; Kilmore and Broadford. If you live locally, engage with Mitchell Shire Council and Resilient Melbourne.
This work is highly relevant to all Interface Councils, which typically include townships ranging from those on Melbourne’s edge to small, rural townships. If you live in another interface Council (Wyndham, Cardinia, Whittlesea, Yarra Ranges, Hume, Cardinia Casey, Melton, Mornington Peninsula, Nillumbik), then contact your Council to see how it can connect with this work.
For further information please contact Tony Triado, Manager Population Health & Community Wellbeing, East Division.
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