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Long-Term Unemployed To Gain Skills In Housing Project

An innovative project involving long-term unemployed in housing construction has begun, with work commencing on the first site in Well Street, Morwell East.

By Latrobe City Council - 21st June 2005 - Back to News

Up to forty long-term unemployed will receive training during the first year of the project, providing them with the opportunity to gain certificate 2 and 3 in building and Construction, or of proceeding on to formal apprenticeships.

Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Bruce Lougheed, said the ‘Our Future – Our Place’ project built on neighbourhood renewal projects that saw the renovation of twenty vacant publicly owned houses over a period of two years in Latrobe City.

"This particular project develops private housing on vacant land in a public housing area, broadening the social mix through private housing and enhancing the overall neighbourhood perception," Cr Lougheed explained.

The project has been developed by Latrobe City and Try Youth and Community Services, with funding from the Commonwealth Government’s Regional Partnership Program, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, the State Government’s Department of Victorian Communities, the Department of Human Services, and Workways.

Site Project Manager, Rob Sandall, said that apart from learning a multitude of skills, networking with the various tradespeople provided participants with valuable contacts with potential employers over the period of their work.

"These participants are really keen. Centrelink requires two-days a week from them, but they have all volunteered to put in four. Two of the days amounting to sixteen hours are spent in the training room, with the other two days spent on the job," Rob explained.

Latrobe City Councillor, Graeme Middlemiss, said that a number of vacant blocks had been created in public housing areas when public housing stock had been assessed as being beyond economical repair and subsequently demolished.

"Vacant blocks scattered amongst housing stock create social fragmentation in neighbourhoods where this has happened. In some locations the existing houses are separated by up to three vacant blocks," Cr Middlemiss said.

"However, these vacant blocks provide the opportunity to redress neighbourhoods. The development of innovative housing on these vacant blocks offers a winning combination. The participants are winners because they have a much greater chance of entering an apprenticeship or finding employment; the community wins because the neighbourhood is enhanced; and of course a family is going to win by being able to move into their dream home," Cr Middlemiss said.

Cr Lougheed said the Well Street site was also being developed as a ‘model’ building site.

Latrobe City will soon introduce a new Local Law No. 3 ‘Protection of Council Assets and Local Amenity during Building Works’. Local Law 3 will require builders to incorporate stormwater and amenity protection measures into their building work. As part of an education program leading up to the introduction of the new Local Law, the Well Street site will demonstrate the requirements," Cr Lougheed explained.

Local builders will soon be invited to visit the site and view a number of examples of the latest products and materials being used to minimise the impact of their building activities on the surrounding environment," Cr Lougheed added.

On completion of the Well Street project, a second project will commence in Churchill.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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