Executive Summary 1
Past, Current and Future Development 5
A. Introduction 6
B. History & Development 6
The Yalukit-willam Clan 6
European Settlement 7
Post War development 8
C. The Current Environment 9
Land uses 9
Natural features 10
Residential development 10
Community centres and halls 10
Children’s services 11
Schools 13
Recreational facilities and open space 14
Doctors and health care providers 15
Dentists 15
Pharmacies 15
Local Newspapers 16
Arts and Cultural events 16
Transport 16
D. What’s ahead for Laverton 17
Community Renewal 17
Residential development 17
School facilities 17
Council Works 18
Laverton Station Upgrade 19
References 20
Data Profile 21
A. Population Characteristics 21
Population numbers 21
Family types 22
Household types 23
Overseas born residents 24
People with disabilities 25
Participation in education 26
Internet connections 27
B. Labour Force Characteristics 29
Labour force participation 29
Employment sector 29
Occupation 30
Unpaid work 31
C. Financial Wellbeing 33
Income 33
Individual income quartiles 33
Household income 34
Household income quartiles 34
Centrelink payments and allowances 35
SEIFA Index of Disadvantage 35
Gaming losses 35
D. Housing 37
Dwelling numbers 37
State Government owned housing 37
Residential aged care facilities 38
Building permits 38
Housing tenure 38
Housing prices 39
Housing repayments 39
Housing Rents 41
Rental payments 41
Housing affordability and housing stress 42
E. Transport 43
Car Ownership 43
Journey to Work 43
F. Population Forecasts 45
Population 45
Age groups 45
Consultations 48
A.Introduction 48
B.Methodology 48
C.The Findings 49
Tables and Graphs
Table 1: Population numbers 21
Table 2: Family structure 23
Table 3: Household types 23
Table 4: Year of arrival in Australia 24
Table 5: Main countries of birth 24
Table 6: Non-English speaking background 25
Table 7: Proficiency in English 25
Table 8: People needing assistance with a core activity 26
Table 9: Attendance at educational institution 27
Table 10: Highest level of schooling completed 27
Table 11: Type of internet connection 28
Table 12: Employment status 29
Table 13: Employment by Industry 30
Table 14: Occupations of employed persons 31
Table 15: Carer of an aged person or person with a disability 31
Table 16: Volunteer activity 32
Table 17: Gross weekly individual income 33
Table 18: Gross individual income quartiles 34
Table 19: Annual household income quartiles 35
Table 20: Electronic gaming machines 36
Table 21: Dwelling type 37
Table 22: Public housing properties 37
Table 23: Housing tenure of households 38
Table 24: Median housing prices (real) 39
Table 25: Median house prices, 2008* 39
Table 26: Monthly housing loan repayments 40
Table 27: Housing loan repayment quartiles 41
Table 28: Indicator of housing stress 41
Table 29: Vehicles per household 42
Table 30: Travel to work 43
Table 31: Total population 44
Table 32: Households and dwellings 45
Graph 1: Population 2006 and 2001 21
Graph 2: Age structure of Laverton and Hobsons Bay 22
Graph 3: Weekly household incomes 34
Graph 4: Housing repayments quartiles 40
Graph 5: Weekly housing rental (households) 41
Graph 6: Forecast age structure 45
Graph 7: Age structure - gains and losses 46
Graph 8: Households and families 47
Laverton Neighbourhood Profile
Executive Summary
The Laverton neighbourhood is located at the western boundary of the City of Hobsons Bay. The neighbourhood was named after an original property in the area, owned by Alfred Langhorne in the 1830s. Laverton’s borders are formed by the old Geelong Road to the north and the Princes Freeway along the south and east boundaries. To the west, the neighbourhood shares a municipal boundary with City of Wyndham.
(NB: Laverton neighbourhood, as referred to in this profile, is the area that falls within the Hobsons Bay municipality. It does not include the section of the Laverton suburb that extends into the City of Wyndham.)
The Laverton neighbourhood is primarily a residential area and construction of the housing began in the1950s. The main retail area is located around the Aviation Road precinct, on the south side of the Werribee railway line.
Transport infrastructure is a major feature in the neighbourhood. The Werribee railway line runs through the southern end of the neighbourhood and physically divides it from the north, while the Princes Freeway separates Laverton and the rest of Hobsons Bay.
Laverton was described by residents as having a “good atmosphere”, that it was a down to earth place, without pretensions. People said it was a place with a lot to offer “but that it has tended to be unrecognised for all that it does have”. For some, it was a place where they could afford to buy a home and for those who were born overseas, Laverton offered the opportunity of a new beginning. However, its location on the border of two municipalities had its downside. As one person put it, Laverton “used to be on the edge of Wyndham, now it’s on the edge of Hobsons Bay - whatever happens we’re used to being the poor sister”. Nevertheless, people spoke about the strong connections they have with Laverton; “I’ve been here all my life...This is my home”.
Population numbers
· At the 2006 Census, there were approximately 4,300 people living in Laverton. The population declined by 4.3 per cent (193 people) since the previous Census in 2001.
· Population forecasts indicate the current population will increase to just under 4,600 by 2020. The anticipated growth rate is 4.6 per cent compared to 7.1 per cent for Hobsons Bay.
Age structure
· Since the 2001 Census, the number of children and young people and those in the 25-49 age bracket have declined, while the number of residents aged 50 years and over has increased.
· Forecasts for 2010-2015 predict that the main population growth will be among young adults and those of family formation age (20-34 years) and those aged 55 years and over.
Overseas born residents
· Just under one third of Laverton residents were born overseas. The main overseas countries of birth were the United Kingdom, New Zealand, the Philippines and Vietnam.
· Fifty-eight per cent of residents speak a language other than English compared to around 62 per cent of Hobsons Bay residents.
Residents needing assistance
· Estimates suggest that approximately 800 residents living in Laverton have a disability.
· There are 213 people in Laverton who require assistance with core activities involving self care, communication and mobility.
Education
· Laverton has a Prep-Year 12 College, together with a private primary school.
· Twenty per cent of Laverton residents are enrolled in education, on a par with Hobsons Bay.
· Thirty one per cent of Laverton residents (aged 15 years and over) have completed Year 12, compared to 43 per cent for Hobsons Bay.
Labour Force
· Fifty per cent of Laverton residents (over 15 years) are in the labour force, 9 per cent below the Hobsons Bay rate. Of these, 12 per cent are unemployed, compared to six per cent of Hobsons Bay residents.
· Approximately 57 per cent of people work full time, around 6 per cent below the rate for Hobsons Bay.
· The largest employment sectors for the neighbourhood’s workers are manufacturing; transport, postal and warehousing; and retail trade (19 per cent, 14 per cent and 11 per cent respectively).
· Laverton has a slightly higher rate of people not in the labour force compared to Hobsons Bay (39 per cent and 35 per cent respectively).
Income
· According to the 2006 Census, approximately 73.7 per cent of Laverton residents have gross weekly incomes below the Australian average of around $815.
· In addition, 49 per cent of Laverton residents have a gross weekly income below $400 per week, compared to the Hobsons Bay rate of 42 per cent.
· Approximately 46 per cent of Laverton households have a gross income below $800 compared to 36 per cent of Hobsons Bay households. At the higher end, 15 per cent of households in the neighbourhood have incomes above $1,400, half the rate for Hobsons Bay.
Housing
· Eighty-five per cent of the neighbourhood’s dwelling stock is detached housing. The proportion of home owners and those purchasing have both declined since the 2001 Census.
· The level of households who are renters has risen from 21 per cent to 27 percent since 2001.
· Home ownership is 9 per cent below the level for Hobsons Bay.
Transport & traffic
· Laverton has access to both train and bus services.
· Seventy six per cent of Laverton households indicate they own one or more vehicles, compared to 83 per cent of households in Hobsons Bay,
Future developments proposed for the area
· New residential development in Laverton is likely to be low to moderate levels of infill development. There are opportunities to redevelop the former Laverton Primary School site in Epsom Street, although there are no current proposals to do so.
· The Laverton Prep to Year 12 College opened in 2009. It is anticipated the second stage of works, which will include some community facilities, will be funded in the 2009 state budget.
The site of the former Laverton Plains Primary School at the corner of Burnley and Hillman Streets will be used to construct a new facility for the Western Autistic School. The school will provide educational programs for young students up to Year 3 with autism spectrum disorders.
· Hobsons Bay City Council has commenced the enhancement of Aviation Road and its surrounds. The draft plan includes streetscape improvements to create a more pedestrian friendly environment.
· The Council is currently designing concept plans for Laverton’s Crown Street Community Hub.
· The Laverton Community Renewal project received an extra 3 years of funding in the 2009 State Budget.
DISCLAIMER
Every care has been taken to ensure the information in this document is correct. However, Hobsons Bay City Council does not accept any liability to any person or organisation for the information (or the use of such information) provided in this document.
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Laverton Neighbourhood Profile