06 Conclusion

06

CONCLUSION

The importance of public-private collaboration for a sustainable social housing system in Australia formed the fundamental basis for conducting this research. The study has recognised that the social housing system in Australia is at the crossroads of transformation through an innovative partnership. To support the metamorphosis, a case study approach was employed to understand the diverse attributes that could influence the outcomes in this collaborative process. While the case study approach was used to collect & analyse the data, it is the extensive review of the existing scholarly articles, that provided the framework for the analyses. The review provided a scholarly understanding of the ‘Actors’ involved in Public-Private Partnership and comprehended the specific characteristic of ‘Place’ (Public estate renewal) on which the actors function.

The qualitative study of the individual cases - ‘Bonnyrigg Living Communities Project’ (BLCP) and ‘Carlton Public Housing Redevelopment’ (CPHR), selected for their contrasting attributes, provided insights on the dynamics between the public-private institutions (Actors), and the outcomes of the public estate (Place) renewal. Data on the policy framework and contract details gathered through various secondary sources established the understanding of relations between the actors. As for the outcomes, data were collected through secondary surveys, interviews, reports to understand the physical and social outcomes (like built environment, tenancy management, social mix), however, it is to be noted that the study did not consider other attributes like environmental, which is the limitations of this study.

Although the individual case study provided insights on dynamics between the actor and the outcomes of the place, it is the comparative analysis technique, that introduced the context and assisted in relating the dynamics between the Actors to the relevant outcomes. The comparative analyses conducted through meticulously utilising the established analytical framework, provided insights on the risks of involving private players along with potential mitigation strategies that could be developed by the state. The study explains the risk of private players is not restricted to the financial markets alone but has implications on the everyday life of the social housing residents. However, the research has found appropriate contractual guidelines, would potentially help mitigate the risks. Apart from ensuring minimal risk, the study emphasises the inevitable role of the government, particularly in the initial phase for initiating, enabling the partnership, and developing ‘trust’. Despite, the significance Investigating PPP for Australian Social Housing 31

of the government, the study finds it befitting to restrict them to a strategic role, and outsource executive functions like tenancy management, to Community Housing Providers (CHPs) for their sophisticated management. The research recommends an evolved framework for tenancy management and social mix policy frameworks that considers the existing ‘social networks’, and discards the practiced site-centric/market-centric approach. The pivotal role of community engagement in establishing trust, increasing the tenancy retention rate, and satisfaction in outcomes, has been emphasised through the study.

By providing an understanding of the varying influence of the public-private actors on the collaborative outcomes and recommending a community-centric approach to update the established practices, could potentially contribute to a framework for future Australian social housing through public-private partnerships.