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Council Steps In For Disadvantaged CommunitiesA national study commissioned by Jesuit Social Services and Catholic Social Services Australia has found that local postcodes 3984 and 3995 represent some of the most disadvantaged communities in Victoria. By Bass Coast Shire Council - 2nd March 2007 - Back to News The postcodes cover 25 suburbs from Anderson to Wattle Bank and Coronet Bay to The Gurdies, including Wonthaggi, Grantville and Corinella.
The assessment is based on a number of factors including:
- Social Distress (ie. income, lone person households);
- Health (ie. disability/sickness support, life expectancy, suicide);
- Community Safety (ie. criminal convictions, domestic violence);
- Economic (ie. unemployment, computer use/internet access);
- Education (ie. non-attendance at preschool, early school leaving); and
- Community Engagement (including a range of community indicators).
Bass Coast Shire Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Allan Bawden said Council was aware of the disadvantage in the communities and welcomed the report.
"The idea of this study isn’t to make people feel bad about where they live, but to help government target funds to the most needy areas.
"The information in the report is really helpful to us when responding to community needs and to lobby State and Federal Governments for more community funding."
Mr Bawden said Council had been working on a number of projects with the help of other groups and organisations in the Shire to assist the communities. Some of these include:
- Developing an Education Strategy to making it possible for all students, regardless of their age, to pursue a variety of educational options.
- Implementing an Affordable Housing Strategy to ensure there will be accessible, available, appropriate and affordable housing in the Shire now and into the future.
- Developing a Responsible Gaming Policy to ensure that problem gambling does not become a major issue in Bass Coast.
- Developing a Drug and Alcohol Strategy to help ensure local alcohol and drug issues are given they attention they need.
- Creating a new Wonthaggi Children’s Centre – Council has committed $558,000 over two financial years to construct Stage 1 of the project.
- Helping to improve job opportunities by assisting small business and agribusiness in the region and encouraging business investment in the area.
- Commissioning a report regarding the Shire’s current population and demographics and future projections. From here Council will develop policies aimed at bringing about the best possible economic future for all Bass Coast residents.
- Completing its Community Building Project, which has spawned a number of ventures and processes to benefit community groups in the future.
- Keeping rates as low as possible to keep home and rental costs down (Bass Coast currently has an average rates cost of $848, the lowest among the 16 large rural/regional shires in Victoria)
- Opening the Grantville Transaction Centre, which provides access to a range of medical, health and government services, including public computer and internet access.
- Launching the Waterline Project, which aims to connect the nine communities along the eastern coastline of Western Port through social, cultural and environmental activities.
- Supporting the Transport Connections Project, which aims to identify and lobby for improvements to existing transport that will help to increase accessibility and mobility around the Shire.
- Continued work with other agencies and service providers such as hospitals, schools, health providers, Local Learning and Employment Network, Bass Coast Community Foundation, Bass Coast Community Health Service and the Department of Human Services.
"We would be happy to discuss any of these projects with the community," said Mr Bawden, "and always welcome new ideas."
For more information on the report, titled ‘Dropping off the edge’, visit www.australiandisadvantage.org.au
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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