Latrobe Valley Neighbourhood Renewal/Alliance

• Download the Neighbourhood Renewal Report
  

Neighbourhood Renewal is an intensive eight-year, whole-of-government place-based initiative aimed at narrowing the gap between disadvantaged Victorian communities and the rest of the State. Neighbourhood Renewal aims to narrow this gap by bringing together the resources and ideas of residents, governments, local businesses and community groups to tackle disadvantage and build more inclusive communities.

The Latrobe Valley Neighbourhood Renewal program was delivered in the areas of Morwell East, Moe Heights, Traralgon East and Glendonald Estate (Churchill) between 2002 and 2009.

The Neighbourhood Renewal program had six key objectives including:
1.    increased pride and participation
2.    enhance housing and environment
3.    improved employment, learning and local economic activity
4.    decreased levels of crime and improved personal safety
5.    better health and wellbeing
6.    increased access to services and improved government responsiveness.

Some of the program activities facilitated through the Latrobe Valley Neighbourhood Renewal program include:
o    social activities promoting healthy active lifestyles (Big Day INs, Family Table Tennis, In2Cricket Program, Growing Vegetables Together Program);
o    activities promoting community inclusiveness and connectedness (Multicultural BBQ, Games Days, Big Day INs, Sudanese Australian Day);
o    activities that increased pride and participation (Story Telling Project, Waterhole Creek Clean Up and Environment Day);
o    activities that promoted school attendance and enhanced learning capability (Police and Breakfast in Schools Program, It’s Not Okay to be Away);
o    opportunities for youth training and employment (Our Future Our Place)
o    activities to promote greater safety and reduced crime (Victoria Mounted Police Tours, Cop Shop Program);
o    the creation of over 370 local jobs through the upgrade or modification of 850 public housing properties;
o    revitalised community centres in Morwell East, Moe Heights and Churchill; and
o    the upgrade and enhancement of local community parks
o    Morwell East Resident Action Park (MERA Park)
o    Glendonald Park in Churchill
o    Priestly Park in Traralgon East

The Latrobe Valley Neighbourhood Renewal program concluded in June 2009 and the attached Year 8 Report provides a comprehensive overview and evaluation of the program.

It also highlights an agreement that was reached towards the end of the program between local residents, Latrobe City Council and other local agencies to establish the Latrobe Valley Neighbourhood Alliance in order to provide ongoing support and commitment towards achieving Neighbourhood Renewal objectives for at least the next 3 years until June 2012.

The Latrobe Valley Neighbourhood Alliance is overseen by an Advisory Board chaired by Latrobe City’s CEO and supported by the following organisations:
o    Latrobe City Council;
o    Department of Human Services;
o    Department of Planning and Community Development;
o    Latrobe Community Health Services;
o    Centrelink;
o    Berry Street;
o    Victoria Police;
o    Department of Education and Early Childhood Development;
o    Quantum Support Services;
o    Gippsport; and
o    residents from the four neighbourhoods of Traralgon East, Morwell East, Churchill and Moe Heights

A three year action plan has been developed by the Latrobe Valley Neighbourhood Alliance Board to guide the activities of all partners towards achieving ongoing outcomes in the six priority areas of Neighbourhood Renewal.