About the Area

About the area

The Laverton neighbourhood is located at the western boundary of the city of Hobsons Bay. Laverton’s borders are formed by the Old Geelong Road tothe north and the Princes Freeway along the south and east. To the west, the neighbourhood shares a municipal boundary with the city of Wyndham.

The neighbourhood is primarily a residential area, with most of the housing constructed since the 1950s.The main retail precinctis located around Aviation Road. Laverton has a Prep to Year 12 school and one Catholic primary school.

Laverton is described by residents as a place with a strong community spirit. People spoke about Laverton having a “good atmosphere” and without pretensions. They appreciate that Laverton is affordable and that it has easy access to major road networks and the train. The downside of living close to the freeway is the impact of traffic, particularly around the Aviation Road linkage. In addition, the railway line which passes through the neighbourhood, is a dominant physical barrier.

Population

There were 4,286 people living in Laverton, at the 2006 Census. Laverton’s total population has declined by 4.3 per cent (193 people)

since the 2001 Census. Population forecastspredict a change in that trend with the population expected to grow by about 4.6 per centreaching4,600by 2020.

Age structure

Between 2001 and 2006, there was decline in the number ofchildren and young people aged 0-17 years and adults aged 25-49 years. Against this decline was an increase in young adults aged 18-24 years and residents aged in their 50s and older. Population forecasts to 2016 anticipate these trends to continue.

Overseas born residents

Approximately 31 per cent of Laverton residents were born overseas and around 20 per cent arrivedin theneighbourhood in the past five years.The main countries of their birth were the United Kingdom, New Zealand, thePhilippines, Vietnam and India. Fifty eight per cent of Laverton’s residentsspeak languages other than English.

Residents needing assistance

At the 2006 Census, five per cent (231) of Laverton’s residents indicated they needed help with core activities involving self care, communication and mobility.

Education

Almost 20 per cent of the Laverton population are enrolled in education, slightly below theHobsonsBayfigure of 22 per cent.

Twelve per cent fewer residents completed Year 12 and six per cent more left school at the end of Years 9 or 10, compared toHobsonsBay.

Labour force

Fifty per cent of Laverton’s residents (over 15years) are in the labour force, nine per cent below the rate for HobsonsBay.Of these, 57 per cent had full time employment, below the HobsonsBay rate of 62.8 per cent. The percentage of residentswith a part time job (27.4 per cent) was similar to the HobsonsBay figure (28.6 per cent). Laverton’s unemployment was double the HobsonsBay rate (12 per cent and 5.9 per cent respectively).

Income

In 2006, 73 per cent of Laverton’s residentshad below average weekly incomes–compared to 64 per cent across HobsonsBay.In addition, 35 per cent of residents had very low incomes of less than $250 per week, compared to 30 per cent of HobsonsBay residents. (According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the average weekly income was $815 at August 2006.)

Housing

Most of Laverton’s dwellings (85 per cent)are separate houses,.Twenty seven per cent of households fully own their home, well below the 36 per cent figure for HobsonsBay.

Some residents spoke about Laverton providing them with the opportunity to be mortgage free. However, there was also a concern about the need to maintain housing affordability. “Affordable home ownership is one of the best things about Laverton but don’t lose it [affordability] in attracting new investment.”

Future developments proposed for the area

• On the whole, it is expected that the level of new residential development in Laverton will be low to moderate and mainly infill development.
• The site of the former LavertonPlainsPrimary School,at the corner of Burnley and Hillman Streets, will make way for the construction of the new WesternAutisticSchool. The school will be for young students up to Year 3 and is expected to open in 2009-10
• Hobsons Bay City Council has commencedenhancements to the Aviation Road shopping precinctand is currently designing concept plans for the Crown Street Community Hub.
• The Laverton Community Renewal project received an extra three years of funding in the 2009 State Budget.

Published 2009