A Healthier Craigieburn by Albert Chong

A Healthier Craigieburn

Albert Chong | 541366 | ABPL90131 | #SPM15C

INTRODUCTION 1

CRAIGIEBURN HEALTH VISION NORTHERN HORIZONS The vision for Craigieburn is to Melbourne’s economy is evolving from be an established health premanufacturing roots to ‘one cinct known for its health equity traditional centered on high value knowledge manand community involvement. ufacturing and health services’ (NorthThe Craigieburn health precinct ern Horizons,). Implementing a health precinct helps address issues of prevenwill become dedicated to not tative and community focused health, general health and specialised services. just the promotion of general A key attribute of a health precinct is and social wellbeing, but will that it clusters services together in one also provide employment and general location with consideration given to all modes of accessibility ranting from education opportunities within hard infrastructure to digitally affordable the health and medical sector. access. A key role in a successful health Health is a primary factor in a city’s development and Craigieburn will be able to provide the support needed not just for the City of Hume, but across metropolitan Melbourne. Health in Craigieburn will not just be limited to just wellbeing and the provision of open space, but will reflect the larger issue at hand: creating a connected health network throughout Melbourne. In addition to health and wellbeing, service infrastructure is key to delivering a healthy community. This means easy accessibility to a variety of infrastructure from large scale hospitals and general practices, to local community support groups.

cluster will be the roles different parties will fulfill in meeting health infrastructure requirements and their ability to deliver.

HUME HORIZONS The City of Hume is home to wide range of health and support services. In the pursuit to create a safe and healthy community, service provision must ‘meet the needs of the growing population’ (Hume City Council, 2014). In addition, the council wants the community to reach their full potential through social equity, accessibility to high quality education and employment opportunities close to where they live.

ABOUT CRAIGIEBURN It should be noted from the beginning that this strategic plan is a build up from the existing Hume Health and Wellbeing 2013-2017. Whilst the report focuses on four aspects of health and wellbeing environments: built, social, natural and economic; overlapping issues address in this strategic plan. However where these two reports differ is in its implementation and range of scope regarding different issues. Craigieburn Health will build upon the issues already outlined in the council report whilst simultaneously introducing place specific interventions. The City of Hume is currently experiencing rapid development and population growth is expected to see ‘a 90 per cent increase in the number of infants to nine year olds’ as well as a growing aging population as seen in ‘a 120 per cent increase in the number of people aged over 65’ (Forecast ID, 2011). So the population is being stretched both ways and as a result, the employment sector will see a lower workforce participation rate whilst there will be a rising demand for health care and support services to accommodate this forecasted population growth.

CRAIGIEBURN Craigieburn is located approximately 26 kilometres north of the Melbourne CBD in the City of Hume. It is currently the final train station along the Craigieburn train line and has been identified as a “health precinct” and future “activity centre” in the Northern Subregion in Plan Melbourne (see map on right). This is significant as within the same region there is an identified emerging education and innovation cluster: La Trobe University and an the already established Austin Hospital.

INEQUALITY According to Adashi and et al (2010), spatial inequality ‘reflects on providing people with equal access to goods and social services’. As such, community healthcare services are a key combatant to racial and economic inequality.

EDUCATION It is said that ‘education improves people’s ability to access services, and to improve the wealth level in terms of employment’ (Diener and Diener, 2002). In the fast emerging knowledge economy of Melbourne, education is the key to opening more opportunities to oneself. From this logic, the Hume Global Learning Centre will play a key role in promoting education and learning within Craigieburn and the City of Hume. It is the gateway for many to new opportunities.

TRANSPORT Socially speaking, public transport is important as it is a form hard connection. An efficient network can expand a user’s experience and choice. Currently in Craigieburn, there is one train station and a series of bus routes which meander throughout the area. Its inefficiency is restricting the mobility of the community it is supposed to serve.

STRATEGIES 4

STRATEGIES INTRODUCTION THEMES

COMPONENTS

WIDER NETWORK

A Healthy Craigieburn establishes suburb wide themes and strategies that underpin the overall vision. These strategies will be briefly outlined and further explored throughout the different stages of implementation within the 10 year timeframe.

This strategic plan is a response to existing issues and directs future development so that it not only delivers upon the vision of the area, but is also aligns with policies and goals outlined by the City of Hume in Hume Horizons 2040.

Whilst there is a focus on Craigieburn, it should be remembered that the suburb is part of a greater whole and will inadvertently be linked to similar nodes within the knowledge economy.

ACCESSIBILITY • Public transport initiatives with possible rerouting • Personal mobility promotion through infrastructure improvements

BUILT FORM • Health clinic locations and promoting clustering • Mixed land uses particularly around major transport nodes • Teaching, learning and research environment developments

ALIGNMENT WITH THE CITY OF HUME In order to respond accordingly to current issues, A Healthy Craigieburn builds upon the council’s Health and Wellbeing 2013-2017 report and Hume Horizons 2040. Drawing upon the goals specific to a healthy community as well as drawing upon existing community engagement, it is hoped that his strategic plan is well aligned with council goals.

Hume City is healthy, safe and welcoming community where all residents are encouraged to live active and fulfilling lives. - Hume Horizons 2040

The challenge is to identify and tackle the underlying determinants of health and ensure that everyone in Hume, regardless of their gender, age, culture, ability, faith and economic and social position, can enjoy a healthy and fulfilling life.

A health precinct located in the City of Hume connected to a wider network within the knowledge economy.

Developing connections with other similar major precinct through either hard infrastructure or networking/partnerships.

- Hume City Council: Health and Wellbeing Plan 2013-2017

Redeveloping the bus network to improve efficiency, route and introduce hierarchy of service.

Connecting a disjointed cycle network to increase mobility and promote personal active transport as an alternative mode of transport.

Establish key areas for future consolidation and development: possible transit oriented development.

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Developing connections with other similar major precinct through either hard infrastructure or networking/partnerships.

Enhancing green corridors and improving public space. This will provide ecology benefits and regional connections.

Further development of consolidated areas into destinations, transforming Craigieburn into an attractor.

IMPLEMENTATION 7

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Having the community involved will be a key contributing issue of this strategic plan: having a plan for providing health services linked with employment and education opportunities is all well and good but is pointless if the community does not support it and participate in shaping the plan. Kelly (2010) highlights various community engagement processes and whilst on the surface, this strategic plan appears to be vision driven, it aims to be a ‘blended approach’ involving a combination of vision and trend focused whilst also attempting to address issues raised by the community. The implementation of this strategy will be seen across a 10 year timeframe with possible future developments that are visioned outside the allotted 10 years (see Horizon & Beyond).

HUME HORIZONS 2040 In keeping with the community strategy already outlined in the report, A Healthy Craigieburn will adopt similar methodologies such as community quarterly reports and internet updates. This plan acknowledges that whilst the Council is representative of the community they govern, they alone are not solely responsible for deliverying upon the strategies outlined within this plan, but will require ‘a whole of community respopnse’, as well as support from higher levels of government, local businesses and community groups. The vision of this report can be achieved through constant communication and community accountability.

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IS CITIZEN POWER As obvious as it may seem, Arnstein highlights the need for community participation when planning for the community. Simplified into the “ladder of citizen participation” it shows the varying degrees in which citizens can contribute and the amount of power wielded at each rung. This strategy is clearly community driven and as such relies on community consultation and feedback in project developments. As such, in accordance to Arnstein’s ladder, degrees of participation required would range from partnership to informing depending on level of input and strategy progression.

SUMMARY Community engagement as outlined for this report will have a cyclical nature: informing and responding to community issues and feedback. If need be, the report can be adjusted and/or negotiated for changes to suit a community’s ever changing needs.

Review

Response

Consultation

Stakeholder action

Project development

EARLY WINS It is essential that a number of projects are successfully delivered in the early stages of the plan. These are listed as “early wins” as achieving these goals will help gain momentum for future project developments.

SHORT TERM INITIATIVES: 1-5 YRS This short term stage sees the introduction of new education partnerships and employment services in strategic and logical locations around Craigieburn. In addition, consolidation and planned development of existing health clinics will be part of the short term stage as it will provide the foundation for medium term initiatives.

ACCESSIBILITY PUBLIC TRANSPORT NETWORK 1 Train - bus interchange. 2

Primary bus route that links Craigieburn Central and the Highlands with Craigieburn train station.

Bus route to the CBD as an alternative to the train.

CYCLE NETWORK Reconnecting a disjointed cycle 1 network for increased mobility. 2

Repurposing Craigieburn Road for conversion to shared road of buses, cyclist and cars. Cycle routes through open spaces to be improved as part of general network improvement.

BUILT FORM 1 2

Identification of strategic locations for later initiatives. Basic pedestrian flow begins to take shape in order to dictate future development locations particularly in Craigieburn Central.

ENABLING PROJECTS Establishing partnerships early on in the plan is key to gaining the momentum needed for delivering on later initiatives.

Having the local community and local health clinics on board with future upgrade plan.

Partnerships within short term initiatives include: • La Trobe University working in partnership with the Hume Global Learning Centre and community groups in providing additional education opportunities, particularly within the health sector. • Having Austin Health and Northern Hospital provide support for local clinics.

Having future health service developments clustered with existing infrastructure in accordance with cluster theory thinking: proximity improves knowledge transfer and overall market competition.

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MEDIUM TERM INITIATIVES This stage sees the consolidation of previously established partnerships and will see relevant development of new clinics and services clustered around consolidated areas.

MEDIUM TERM: 5-10 YRS These nodes will be eventually become connected not just within Craigieburn and the City of Hume, but to a wider metropolitan Melbourne. Within this time-frame can also see the beginnings of selective transit oriented development (TOD). Such urban development should not be seen ‘as a way of increasing the demand for rail services’ (Mees, 2014), but rather as a technique to connect major nodes and reduce car dependency. Craigieburn’s bus routes will updated and rerouted through a hierarchy network. Efficiency will be improved with the ‘provision of feeder and connecting bus services’ (Mees, 2014).

ACCESSIBILITY PUBLIC TRANSPORT NETWORK 1 New bus terminal in Craigieburn Central that will connect Highland age care centre with new healthcare clinics. 2

Improved bus frequency and efficiency between Craigieburn and other suburbs within the City of Hume.

BUILT FORM 1

Developing links between consolidated sites.

Previously selected sites are developed into “destinations”.

Expansion of education and specialised services districts.

Surrounding areas of consolidated sites are setup for future urban development to accommodate a growing population: may see a need for mixed age housing (the young living with the elderly). Additionally, an opportunity for semi TOD: particularly around major interchanges and stops.

Landscaping and connecting green spaces as a form of regional connection.

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2 Destination Strategy: creating places that attract new people from neighbouring suburbs, transforming Craigieburn from a “dormitory” to an “attraction”.

Craigieburn is part of a large knowledge network.

ENABLING PROJECTS Craigieburn health precinct will be connected with other major nodes of the Northern Subregion as well as the CBD due to partnerships previously established in short term initiatives. These connections are more than just linking nodes through hard infrastructure, but can also be accomplished through improved internet connection thanks to today’s digital age.

Continued community engagement and general feedback is crucial in keeping track of plan progression. The community will act as an alternative to the accountability system as this strategic plan is community driven. Regular updates for the general community and focus groups will help drive the project in achieving its vision.

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HORIZON & BEYOND Craigieburn Health may continue to develop beyond the allotted timeline, subject to demand and new partnership opportunities. For example, Austin Health could potentially fund and support the creation of an expanded Craigieburn Health Services to become a class leading hospital and a new research and development facility is created near the Hume Global Learning Centre for expanded medical research and development.

EXPANDED LEARNING HUB OFFICES

CRAIGIEBURN CENTRAL

CRAIGIEBURN

VISIT

WORK

HOSPITAL

ADMIN

LIVE 13

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 14

Craigieburn will transform from its current dormitory suburb character to a prominent health precinct that fully engages the community. A new health sector will bring with it the benefits of the knowledge economy and provide employment and education opportunities for a spatial disadvantaged suburb. New partnerships will be formed and help push for new health services and development of old infrastructure. A healthier Craigieburn will promote healthcare equity and cater to a diverse community.

REFERENCES ADASHI, E.Y. GEIGER, H.J. & FINE, M.D. 2010. Health care reform and primary care â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the growing importance of the community health centre. The New England Journal of Medicine. DIENER, E. & DIENER, R.B. 2002. Will money increase subjective well-being?. Social Indication Research. Vol. 57. Issue 2. pp 119-169. FORECAST ID. 2011. Population summary, viewed 21 August 2015, <http://forecast. id.com.au/hume/population-summary>. HUME CITY COUNCIL. 2014. Hume Health and Wellbeing Plan 2013-2017, viewed 8 September 2015, <http://www.hume.vic.gov.au/About_Us_Contact_Details/Your_ Council/Media_Publications_Forms/Council_Strategic_Plans/Hume_Health_and_ Wellbeing_Plan_2013-17>. HUME CITY COUNCIL. 2014. Hume Horizons 2040, viewed 8 September 2015, <http:// www.hume.vic.gov.au/About_Us_Contact_Details/Your_Council/Media_Publications_ Forms/Council_Strategic_Plans/Hume_Horizons_2040>. MEES, P. 2014. TOD and Multi-model Public Transport, Planning, Practice & Research, Vol. 29. No. 5. pp 461-470. VICTORIAN STATE GOVERNMENT. 2014. Plan Melbourne, viewed 2 September 2015, <http://www.planmelbourne.vic.gov.au/Plan-Melbourne>.

IMAGES p. 1 Top: AUSTIN HEALTH. 2014. viewed 17 October 2015, <http://www.austin. org.au/page?ID=992>. Left: PIDGEON. 2012. viewed 17 October 2015, <http://www.pidgeon.com.au/sector/government/view/1/130>. Right: CHONG, A. 2015, taken 12 August 2015. p. 3

Map 32: VICTORIAN STATE GOVERNMENT. 2014. Plan Melbourne, viewed 2 September 2015, <http://www.planmelbourne.vic.gov.au/Plan-Melbourne>.

p. 8 Quotes: HUME CITY COUNCIL. 2014. Hume Horizons 2040, viewed 8 September 2015, <http://www.hume.vic.gov.au/About_Us_Contact_Details/ Your_Council/Media_Publications_Forms/Council_Strategic_Plans/Hume_ Horizons_2040>. Ladder: DOBSON, C. viewed 17 October 2015, <http://www.vcn.bc.ca/citizens-handbook/arnsteinsladder.html>. p. 9 Bus: BUSAUSTRALIA, viewed 17 October 2015, <http://www.busaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=43636>.