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Our Future Our Place project officially launched

n innovative project involving long-term unemployed in housing construction was officially launched on Monday on the site of the project’s first home under construction, in Well Street Morwell East.

By Latrobe City Council - 25th July 2005 - Back to News

The ‘Our Future Our Place’ project was launched by the Hon Peter McGauran Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry;

the State Member for Morwell Brendan Jenkins MP; and Latrobe City Mayor, Cr Bruce Lougheed.

‘Our Future Our Place’ is a pilot project developed by Latrobe City in partnership with Try Youth and Community Services in consultation and with the support of a range of State and Commonwealth Government Departments. The project is unique in that it has a multi-purpose focus in providing training to achieve real job outcomes for the long-term unemployed and indigenous people, whilst addressing a range of community issues within former public housing estate.

The project involves the initial construction of two environmentally friendly, low-cost, attractive and innovative homes. The Well Street home in Morwell East is currently under construction, and the other home is to be developed later in Churchill. The construction of further homes is then envisaged with the project becoming self sustaining as homes are constructed, marketed and sold; in turn financing the next.

The ‘Our Future Our Place’ project aims to improve the social mix, neighbourhood perception and physical image of former public housing estate. It will demonstrate a sustainable model that can be used in other areas of Victoria.

The majority of participants in this project are residents of this area and other neighbourhood renewal areas. The development of private housing on these vacant blocks will broaden the social mix, providing the foundation to rejuvenate these areas into stronger, well integrated neighbourhoods, whilst improving the overall appearance of the areas.

The Well Street house currently under construction demonstrates the benefits and cost effectiveness of constructing environmental friendly and sustainable housing. It is intended that all houses constructed during the life of this project will be designed to meet environmental sustainability standards.

The project builds on the experience of Latrobe City and Try Youth and Community Services in working with the long-term unemployed, indigenous people and the communities of the neighbourhood renewal areas of our municipality.

Partners who have worked with Latrobe City in developing this concept include

• Department of Human Services
• Department of Victorian Communities
• Gippsland Area Consultative Committee
• Try Youth and Community Services
• Department of Education Science and Technology
• Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
• Local Job Networks
  

In co-operation with the project partners, the Well Street site is also being developed by Council's Waste Services team as a ‘Model Building site’. Many building sites cause damage to the natural environment and Council assets, and impact residential amenity, due to a lack of attention to responsible site management. Soil, concrete, chemicals and litter frequently finds its way into the streets, drains and waterways, and it is not unusual to find cracked footpaths and crossovers, ruined nature strips and damaged street trees outside a property under development.

In order to set a positive example to industry, Council is showcasing several aspects of best practice site management, featuring the display of several techniques and materials. In some cases, these have been donated by building product suppliers. Council will use the site to hold education forums for local building industry contractors and suppliers, as part of its commitment to environmental sustainability and liveability. Council is about to introduce a new local law specifically aimed at asset protection at building sites, and this project will form a key component of the community engagement strategy for the introduction of that local law.

During the first year of this project up to 40 long-term unemployed people will have the opportunity of a meaningful experience and of gaining certificate 2 and 3 in the construction industry. This project will provide participants with sufficient experience that will enable them to gain work on a number of construction projects.

This is a ground-breaking experience with a genuine whole of government approach in partnership with a number of community organisations and groups and the private sector delivering a strategically a multi-purpose project that has been designed to:

• address the multiple barriers faced by the long-term unemployed and indigenous people, many of whom have never worked or whose work histories are often episodic and whose work prospects are therefore problematic;

• provide services and interventions not typically available in many employment and training programs in order to achieve sustained employment outcomes;

• enhance the appearance of neighbourhoods by building innovative designed houses for private purchase on sites where public housing that has exceeded its economical life, has been demolished;

• increase the ratio of private to public housing to influence the social mix, sustainability and aesthetic appeal of targeted neighbourhoods;

• provide a participatory framework designed to engage local business and industry sectors in the development of this project;

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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