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Table of Contents
Executive Summary 1
Past, Current and Future Development 5
A: Introduction 6
B: History & Development 6
The Yalukit-willam Clan 6
European settlers 6
Post World War II development 7
C: The Current Environment 8
Land uses 8
Natural features 10
Residential development 10
Community centres and halls 10
Children’s services 12
Schools 13
Recreational facilities and open space 13
Retail centres 14
Doctors 15
Dentists 15
Pharmacies 15
Local Newspapers 15
Public Transport 16
D: What’s ahead for Altona North and Brooklyn 16
Residential development 16
Council works 17
School facilities 18
Public transport 18
The Kororoit Creek Catchment Coordination Project 19
References 20
Data Profile 21
A. Population Characteristics 21
Population numbers 21
Family types 22
Household types 23
Overseas born residents 23
People with disabilities 25
Participation in education 26
Internet connected 27
B. Labour Force Characteristics 27
Labour force participation 27
Employment sector 28
Occupations 29
Unpaid work 29
C. Financial Wellbeing 30
Income 30
Income quartiles 31
Centrelink payments and allowances 32
SEIFA index of disadvantage 33
Gaming losses 33
D. Housing 33
Dwelling numbers 33
State Government owned housing 34
Residential aged care facilities 35
Building permits 35
Housing tenure 35
Housing prices 36
Housing debt 37
Rental prices 38
Rental payments 38
Housing Stress 39
E. Transport 39
Car Ownership 39
Journey to Work 40
F. Population Forecasts 41
Population 41
Age groups 41
References 44
Consultations 45
Introduction 45
Methodology 45
The Findings 45
Consultation Questions 53
Tables and Graphs
Table 1: Population numbers 21
Table 2: Family structure 22
Table 3: Household types 23
Table 4: Year of arrival in Australia 23
Table 5: Main countries of birth 24
Table 6: Non-English speaking background 24
Table 7: Proficiency in English 25
Table 8: Core activity need for assistance 25
Table 9: Attendance at education institute 26
Table 10: Highest level of schooling completed 26
Table 11: Type of internet connection 27
Table 12: Employment status 28
Table 13: Employment by Industry 28
Table 14: Occupations of employed persons 29
Table 15: Carer of an aged person or a person with a disability 29
Table 16: Volunteer activity 30
Table 17: Gross weekly individual income 31
Table 18: Gross individual income quartiles 31
Table 18a: Definition of income quartiles 32
Table 19: Centrelink Payments 32
Table 20: Electronic gaming machines 33
Table 21: Dwelling type 34
Table 22: Public housing properties 34
Table 23: Aged care facilities 2007 35
Table 24: Housing tenure of households 36
Table 25: Recent house sales - median prices 36
Table 26: Housing loan repayment quartiles 37
Table 26a: Housing loan quartile definitions 38
Table 27: Housing rental payment quartiles 39
Table 27a: Housing rental quartile definitions 39
Table 28: Vehicles per household 40
Table 29: Travel to work 40
Table 30: Total population 41
Table 31: Households and dwellings 42
Graph 1: Population 2006 and 2001 21
Graph 2: Age structure of Altona North and Brooklyn and Hobsons Bay 22
Graph 3: Housing repayments 37
Graph 4: Rental payments 38
Graph 5: Age Structure 42
Graph 6: Households and families 43
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Altona North and Brooklyn Neighbourhood Profile
Executive Summary
The Altona North and Brooklyn neighbourhood is bounded by the Princes Highway to the north and Kororoit Creek to the west and south. Major roads along the eastern boundary include Blenheim Road, Hansen and New Street, then west along the Westgate Freeway and into Cemetery Road.
The area incorporates a mix of land uses, predominantly residential and industrial. Major residential development dates from the 1950s, with much of the housing constructed during the 1960s and 1970s. The area played an important role in housing post-World War II migrants and a migrant hostel in Millers Road continued to operate up until the early 1970s.
People who participated in community consultation sessions described Altona North and Brooklyn as a good place to live and an area that is still affordable and reasonably well serviced. Long term residents spoke about noticeable improvements in the standard of housing and shopping options since they first arrived. Others people commented that “it’s an old area that needs “a few touch ups”
Population numbers
· At the 2006 Census, there were approximately 12,500 people living in Altona North and Brooklyn. The total population declined by 3.6 per cent (462 people) since the previous Census in 2001.
· Population forecasts indicate the current population will increase to just under 16,000 by 2020. The expected rate of growth is around three times the rate for Hobsons Bay. Rezoning of industrial land to residential use is expected to be a major contributor to this growth.
Age structure
· Since the 2001 Census, the number of children and young people living in Altona North and Brooklyn has declined, whereas those aged over 70 years have increased.
· Forecasts predict that while the numbers of aging will continue to grow, the numbers of people below the age of 35 years are also expected to increase.
Overseas born residents
· Approximately 40 per cent of Altona North and Brooklyn residents were born overseas. The main countries of birth are Italy, Vietnam, Greece, Lebanon and Malta.
· More than 80 per cent of residents speak a language other than English compared to around 62 per cent of Hobsons Bay residents.
Residents needing assistance
· There are 663 people who require assistance with core activities involving self care, communication and mobility.
· Just over 500 people aged between 26 and 65 years receive a disability payment, or just under five per cent of the Altona North population.
Education
· There are five primary schools in the area, together with two secondary colleges.
· Just over 18 per cent of Altona North and Brooklyn residents are enrolled in education, compared to around 22 per cent for Hobsons Bay.
· Ten per cent fewer people in Altona North have completed Year 12 compared to Hobsons Bay and eight per cent more left school before or on completing Year 8.
· In relation to their future plans, young people in Years 8 and 9 who participated in the consultations spoke about wanting to leaving school soon and getting a job or wanting to finish Year 12. No students had any plans for further study.
Labour Force
· The largest employment sectors for the area’s workers are manufacturing and retail (17.3 per cent and 12.4 per cent respectively).
· Forty five per cent of Altona North and Brooklyn residents (over 15 years) are in the labour force, 14 per cent lower than for Hobsons Bay. Of these, almost nine per cent are unemployed, compared to the Hobsons Bay rate of around six per cent.
· Altona North and Brooklyn has a much higher rate of people not in the labour force compared to Hobsons Bay (47.5 per cent and 34.8 per cent respectively). A contributing factor is due to the high proportion of people of retirement age who live in Altona North and Brooklyn.
Income
· At the 2006 Census, approximately 73.7 per cent of Altona North and Brooklyn residents had incomes below the average weekly income of around $815.
· In addition, just over 50 per cent of Altona North and Brooklyn residents had a gross income below $400 per week, compared to the Hobsons Bay rate of 42 per cent.
Housing
· Around three quarters of the area’s total dwelling stock is detached housing. Almost 50 per cent of households in Altona North and Brooklyn are home owners, 10 per cent above the Hobsons Bay rate.
· Since the 2001 Census, ownership rates have declined by 11 per cent while the proportion of people who are purchasing their homes increased by 6 per cent.
· Participants in the consultations spoke about the relative affordability of housing in the area. However, there were concerns that the situation is changing and that “in the last 12 months, house prices have increased dramatically”.
Transport & traffic
· Public transport consists of bus services, with the closest railway stations located at Newport and Altona.
· People in the consultation were generally happy with the bus service but noted the lack of weeknight and weekend services as something they would like improved.
· People of all ages who participated in the consultations indicated they walk regularly around the area. However, they commonly expressed concern about the large amount of traffic and the fumes from trucks, especially around main roads and major intersections.
Future developments proposed for the area
· Much of the new residential development in the area is expected to be infill development. Land around the Don Smallgoods site in Blackshaws Road was recently rezoned from industrial to residential use. Over the next five to ten years, this land will potentially add around 1600 new dwellings and increase the population by more than 3,400 people.
· Hobsons Bay City Council is investigating the development of a new library in Altona North and Brooklyn, to be co-located with the Bayside Secondary College in Millers Rd.
In the consultations, residents spoke about having to travel to access library services and the benefits of having a local library.
· An extensive upgrade of Paisley Park is underway. Together with the opening of the new Bayfit leisure centre, new work in 2008 will include a nearby playground and pathways. Further works will see a play zones and barbeque facilities and landscaping. Improvements to existing sports facilities are also planned.
· The redevelopment of the Bayside Secondary College site commenced at the beginning of 2008. Associated with the redevelopment will be a merger of the Altona Gate Primary School and Bayside College, with the campus becoming a Prep to Year 9 school.
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Altona North and Brooklyn Neighbourhood Profile
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Altona North and Brooklyn Neighbourhood Profile