Goal: Helping to build sustainable communities

The Department of Housing helps to build sustainable communities by:

• working with government and the private sector to develop innovative responses to ensure an adequate supply of affordable housing, and
• effectively using existing social and cultural resources of communities and building the capacity of residents to participate actively in community life, including community management and development.

Developing options to increase the supply of affordable and diverse housing

In 2007-08, the department contributed to the ongoing delivery of affordable and diverse housing outcomes through:

• maintaining and increasing the supply of affordable housing options under the Keeping the Australian Dream Alive initiative by:
  • acquiring 102 units of motel-style accommodation at a cost of $14.3 million,
  • acquiring 28 mobile homes for use in caravan parks at a cost of $1.8 million, and
  • commencing master planning of the caravan park at Woombye to improve amenities
• progressing the development of three parcels of land for affordable housing in partnership with local councils and/or community organisations to deliver affordable housing solutions. Two of the parcels will provide 23 housing sites for social housing and 23 sites for first home buyers. An expression of interest for the third parcel of land closed in June 2008,
• negotiating the portion and variety of affordable housing on major projects led by the Department of Infrastructure and Planning involving surplus government land at Coomera and Boggo Road Urban Village, and
• relocating six dwellings to councils in Boulia, Ilfracombe and Diamantina and 12 dwellings to councils for use as social rental housing in Charleville, Moura, Biloela, Proserpine, and St George. The relocated dwellings provide a cost-effective housing outcome for these remote communities.

During 2007-08, the Department of Housing commenced working with the Australian Government to finalise how the National Rental Affordability Scheme will work in Queensland. The scheme will:

• increase the supply of affordable rental properties,
• reduce rental costs for low to moderate income households, and
• encourage large scale investment and innovative delivery of affordable housing through a range of incentives.

The scheme will help stimulate the supply of new affordable rental dwellings nationwide. It is expected that Queensland will share in the national allocation of incentives, by offering an additional $2,000 per dwelling per annum for 10 years for Queensland-based projects, in the form of cash grants, land contribution or other in-kind support.

Rent for these dwellings will be charged at a minimum of 20% below the market rate for eligible tenants, with the requirement that dwellings funded under the scheme be solely rented to applicants from the department's housing register.

Supporting housing diversity by providing housing advice

The department provides policy advice and housing data and analysis on housing options to State agencies and local governments dealing with housing and residential development, including advice on affordable housing to meet community need. During 2007-08, the department:

• completed three housing analyses relevant to the communities of Hervey Bay, Maryborough and Mackay, and identified a range of housing options to address existing and future community needs,
• reviewed 30 planning schemes and instruments for individual councils to consider a range of housing options that better respond to the housing needs of the community,
• provided information and advice on housing-related issues to the Department of Infrastructure and Planning as part of its statutory regional planning program. The regional plans considered during the year were for South East Queensland, Far North Queensland, Central West, Maranoa and South West Queensland, and
• provided advice to the Urban Land Development Authority on affordable housing options for three urban development areas in Hamilton, Bowen Hills and Fitzgibbon.

Further, the department worked collaboratively with the Urban Land Development Authority to provide advice on policy frameworks and planning instruments that support housing diversity, including affordable housing in urban development areas, by:

• determining broad target groups for affordable housing, particularly in relation to income, price points and demographics,
• planning for the increase in supply of affordable rental housing and home ownership outcomes in urban development areas, and
• negotiating the participation of not-for-profit housing providers as key organisations in the delivery of affordable rental accommodation.

Promoting improved choice and access in the general housing market to ensure housing meets the needs of the general community

The Department of Housing and the Real Estate Institute of Queensland launched the Home Access Information trial in June 2007. Through the trial, Brisbane real estate professionals identify and promote properties for sale or rent in the private market that have access features, making it easier for people with mobility impairment to identify a property that they can more easily enter and move within.

In 2007-08:

• 71 real estate agents registered to participate in the trial,
• an awareness campaign commenced in September 2007, with a number of articles about the trial featured in journals such as the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) Journal and Sustainable Housing. Supporting advertisements appeared in Quest newspapers, The Courier-Mail, realestate.com.au, BMagazine and Seniors Magazine, and
• presentations of the trial were delivered to the Prince Charles Hospital's occupational therapists and the Cerebral Palsy League of Queensland Board, who provided feedback as well as possible options to increase participation in the trial. Presentations were also attended by representatives from the Tenants' Union of Queensland and Raine and Horne Realty.

The second edition of 'Over 100 ways to improve access at home' booklet was released in 2007-08 and placed in doctors' surgeries. It was also promoted on the Department of Housing website and distributed state-wide to community groups, carers groups, respite centres, community nursing services, Home and Community Care nursing services, social workers, occupational therapists, and to hospital discharge planners. The booklet provided information on a range of minor fixtures, fittings and equipment that can improve people's safety and independence in the home. Over 9,800 booklets and 12,200 promotional brochures were distributed in support of this campaign.

In 2007-08, the department implemented actions to address housing issues resulting from the mining boom in the Bowen Basin, including:

• releasing 34 vacant land sites to assist in addressing the shortage of housing options for low to moderate income workers in the area,
• providing $3.2 million to the Whitsunday Housing Company to develop 30 units of affordable accommodation over three years, and
• selling of 23 dwellings to address the limited supply of private accommodation in the Bowen Basin region where there was no demand for social housing.

Increasing community capacity and working with project partners to deliver sustainable solutions in Community Renewal areas

Community Renewal is a whole-of-Government program coordinated by the Department of Housing to develop stronger, well connected communities where people want to live.

The program actively engages residents from targeted communities to identify local issues and develop solutions which meet their specific communities' needs. Community Renewal works closely with State, local and non-government agencies in each renewal area, ensuring efforts are coordinated and resources are directed towards community-identified issues. In 2007-08, the department:

• engaged up to 7,960 residents in the development and delivery of projects and activities,
• contributed $16.1 million towards a total of $38 million which was allocated for improving 10 Community Renewal zones through 170 projects. These consisted of:
  • 95 projects targeting priority issues including engaging youth in their community and education system, supporting and developing families, training and employment and cultural programs to reconnect communities. These priorities were identified through community engagement workshops and linked to the priorities of partner agencies,
  • 60 projects to build the capacity of local residents and organisations, and
  • 15 projects to improve local amenities and infrastructure.

The program has the flexibility to provide the solutions communities need most, ranging from health and well-being, economic development, community safety, and employment and training initiatives to arts and cultural development, sport and recreation, and neighbourhood amenity improvements. Examples of projects approved during 2007-08 are:

• the Laurence Park Development project to assist in the development of a park in Condon. The project will transform a spare allotment into a vibrant community space for use by a wide range of people, increase community identity, and create opportunities for social connectedness and exercise. The park will be the first of its kind in the Upper Ross with a number of new elements to cater for different recreational uses including:
  • a play area with a range of new, interactive play equipment,
  • skating and basketball facilities,
  • a bike and walking path, and
  • picnic and barbeque shelters and rest areas
• the Woree Community Learning Centre project to support the establishment of learning programs and the purchase of information technology equipment at the newly constructed Community Learning Centre at Woree State High School,
• the Walking School Bus project to improve the health and well-being of local children, promote a healthy lifestyle and reduce traffic in the school area. The project will train 15 Walking School Bus volunteers to walk or 'drive' students from three local schools to participate in the Kids Sports program in Frascott Park. Kids Sports programs offer children the opportunity to participate in physical activity that is fun and inclusive of all fitness and ability levels. It is anticipated that the project will involve up to 500 children,
• the Beenleigh, Eagleby and Yatala Enterprise Area Transport initiative is a 12-month pilot project to improve access to local employment opportunities through the provision of accessible, affordable responsive and sustainable transport in the local area. The project will address the lack of employment oriented accessible transport between the Beenleigh/Eagleby and Yatala areas,
• the Caboolture Digital Divide project will supply 10 laptop computers, a data projector, screen and the installation of a computer rack, using wireless technology, at the Grant Road Sport and Community facility. It will provide localised training for residents to increase their information technology skills. The project will also supply 12 months broadband internet to the facility as a training tool. Training will be delivered by the Caboolture Learning Network via its highly successful Nervous Beginners Computer Course, and
• the Southport Heritage Walk project will increase residents' knowledge of their local community, provide an opportunity for community engagement, increase physical activity and provide a platform for local history to be incorporated into the local school curriculum. Heritage markers documenting local history will be situated around the suburb. A walking trail will connect the markers as well as other features such as local parks. The sites will be identified, chosen and designed following community consultation and will include places of natural, Indigenous and historical significance. The trail will also be linked with Queensland Health's 10,000 Steps project to assist the community to adopt active lifestyle changes that will enhance their well-being and increase community safety.

Community Renewal activities on Palm Island commenced in July 2000 with a budget of $6.4 million allocated for 40 projects. Work in the zone concluded on 27 April 2008 with all funds allocated. During its life, renewal activities were delivered in response to identified priority issues for the Palm Island community that included housing, employment, vocational training, recreation and community capacity building.

In particular, outcomes achieved on Palm Island during 2007-08 included:

• participation of community members in practical pre-vocational courses in building and construction through TAFE and QBuild,
• engagement of youths to develop their skills playing traditional musical instruments,
• construction of the Palm Island Children's Memorial Gardens to assist in the grieving and healing processes for relatives and friends of those who have passed away, and
• provision of case management support to help families who wished to transition from Palm Island to life on the mainland.

Improving government responsiveness and strengthening cross-government collaboration in Community Renewal areas

During the scoping, development and implementation of Community Renewal projects, a range of government and non-government stakeholders are consulted and provide input into project activities. In 2007-08, the department:

• facilitated partner contributions of 58% of total project funds, resulting in combined Community Renewal and partner agencies funding of over $38 million. The contribution of both Government and non-government agencies to Community Renewal enabled funds to achieve more outcomes targeting locally identified needs, and
• strengthened cross-government collaboration with 96% of projects funded by the program involving multiple service providers working together to achieve an integrated response in communities.

Percentage of total funds contributed by partner agencies

During 2007-08, the overall satisfaction with the government's responsiveness across all Community Renewal zones rose from 39% to 40%.

Developing and testing innovative projects and service delivery in Community Renewal areas

During 2007-08, the department reviewed the Community Renewal program to determine avenues to improve service delivery and develop further innovative projects in Community Renewal areas. In particular, an evaluation of the second phase (2004-05 to 2009-10) of the Community Renewal program was undertaken to measure the progress, effectiveness and long-term impact of the program. The review highlighted the effectiveness of the program's approach to partnerships, with external partners commending the commitment of the Community Renewal program in delivering high quality outcomes for communities, and the open and consultative approach to developing and implementing projects under the auspices of the program.

Specifically, the second term of the program has:

• improved systems and processes for delivering projects,
• instituted a suite of program performance measures that are perceived generally by stakeholders as easy to report against,
• sourced over 50% of total funding from partner agencies,
• achieved a high level of effective community consultation,
• addressed local issues expressed as zone priorities effectively and delivered innovative projects responding to these priorities,
• demonstrated particular success in establishing partnerships at a local or regional level with, and between, other State Government agencies, local councils and the community sector, and
• increased skills, knowledge and the capacity of local residents to engage with Government and has facilitated the creation of community partnerships, which have led to positive outcomes based on Government-community collaboration.

The third annual Community Life Survey was conducted, involving more than 2,500 residents from Community Renewal zones providing feedback on their perceptions of Community Renewal, their neighbourhood and lifestyle. The information captured will be used to evaluate the program's overall performance. Key results from the survey indicated that:

• approximately one-third of Community Renewal zone residents felt that the introduction of the Community Renewal program improved the quality of life in their neighbourhood,
• the proportion of residents satisfied with their neighbourhood as a place to live increased from 83% to 87% over the past two years, and
• resident perceptions of safety in their neighbourhood improved from 59% to 67%.

These sources of information have been used to inform future projects and service delivery in Community Renewal zones, and ensure the program continues to include innovative projects. In addition, each Community Renewal project is monitored on an ongoing basis and measured against its performance measures to ensure the efficient delivery of each project.

Measuring our performance

Performance measures	Actual			Target
	2005–06	2006–07	2007–08	2007–08
Percentage of funding contributed by partner agencies in Community Renewal	44%	55%	58%	50%
Level of participation in Community Renewal activities	-	16%	13%	20%
Proportion of targeted groups participating in Community Renewal	13%	11%	12%	13%
Progress against zone plans	20%	82%	77%	75%
Portion of zone plans reviewed annually	100%	100%	100%	100%

Source: Community Life Survey.
Measure: Key measures from the department's Strategic Plan 2007-2012 and output measures from the Ministerial Portfolio Statement 2007-08.

Client satisfaction	Actual			Target
	2005–06	2006–07	2007–08	2007–08
Satisfaction with the Community Renewal zone as a place to live	84%	83%	87%	85%
Satisfaction with level of changes in renewal zone since Community Renewal	84%	81%	81%	85%
Level of satisfaction with services available locally	57%	56%	57%	60%

Source: Community Life Survey.
Measure: Key measures from the department's Strategic Plan 2007-2012 and output measures from the Ministerial Portfolio Statement 2007-08.

2008-2013

The department will continue to help build sustainable communities by:

• working with project partners in Community Renewal zones to deliver sustainable solutions to local issues and help create stronger, well-developed communities where people want to live
  • build the capacity of the community to respond to its future needs, and
  • improve government responsiveness and strengthen cross-government collaboration in Community Renewal areas to streamline service delivery
• promoting housing diversity to meet the needs of communities
  • support improved choice and access in the housing market to ensure housing meets the needs of the general community,
  • encourage housing diversity by providing housing advice on planning schemes, major developments and other major initiatives, and
  • maximise the supply of a diverse range of affordable housing.

Key measures

• Satisfaction with the Community Renewal zone as a place to live.
• Percentage of funding contributed by partner agencies to Community Renewal.
• Percentage of Community Renewal projects with service integration outcomes.
• Number of local government planning schemes reviewed.
• Number of housing analyses provided to support the preparation of housing need assessments by local governments.