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Neighbourhood improvement

These projects aim at enhancing the aesthetics of disadvantaged neighbourhoods through such things as tree plantings and open space revegetation, clean up days, obtaining funds for public facilities, and lobbying for increased services to the area.

Case study: Supporting communities to make change....

Bellambi suburb is large public housing area. HCI was contacted by the Coordinator of the Neighbourhood centre who was concerned about the bad press the suburb had been receiving. HCI held a vision workshop with residents who were asked to give their dreams for their neighbourhood. Many of the visions were simple such as playground equipment, more trees, no sewerage leakage into the ocean swimming pool. HCI then brought a number of key government and non-government whose departments contributed towards many of these improvements. An Interagency committee was formed and further progress has been made on neighbourhood improvements. A breakfast program was started, a community food garden was set up and a major redevelopment of the suburb is underway. One important change is that the local community has developed the skills, networks and organisation to undertake change.

Other Community Development Projects

• Neighbourhood food gardens - set up and developed a number of these which involve the local community in the provision of fresh fruit and vegetables with the aim of improving nutrition.
• Unemployed aboriginal training programs currently working on the ‘One Track for All’ project in Ulladulla.
• Each year we present over 100 awards to people and organisations that have made significant contributions to the objectives of Healthy Cities Illawarra. These awards are special to the recipients and are considered essential in developing social capital in our community.
• Currently working in the Koonawarra area using community development to develop and implement strategies to improve quality of life.

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