Has Planning Succeeded in Keeping Moonee Valley Safe? Sarah Osborne Cities; from Local to Global Word Count: 1429
A healthy city is the most desired theme of community engagement of residents in Moonee Valley (Heissenbuttel, & Fleckney, 2017). The term healthy in the context of city planning is where individuals can live well and be safe. The following paper will analyse if planning has succeeded or failed the City of Moonee Valley in regards to safety, focusing specifically on the site of Ascot Vale Housing Commission, located in the south-east of Ascot Vale and applied to the rest of Moonee Valley. Data used to analyse the implementation of a safe city is from; Cities; from Local to Global 2017, Site Visit 2 Survey Data (Heissenbuttel, & Fleckney, 2017). The definition of safe is “protected from or not exposed to any danger or risk; not likely to be harmed or lost” ("safe - definition of safe in English | Oxford Dictionaries", 2017). “Danger or risk” is interpreted as social, physical and environmental in the context of researching Moonee Valley. Safety, or perceptions of safety in cities combine many factors, from eyes on the street, to green space within cities and the notion of social exclusion inhibiting safety. Furthermore, the implementation of infrastructure such as street lights and barriers also contributes to the feeling of safety within a community. However, even with the correct planning involved and the site at no locational disadvantage, high antisocial behaviour may render it hazardous. Therefore, a healthy city depends on the culture and the behaviour of the community. Planning negatively effects Ascot Vale Housing Commission in regards to social safety and well being. Social exclusion has a damaging effect on the safety of individuals as it subsidizes antisocial, dangerous behavior. Baum and Gleeson posit that disadvantage and deprivation are structural phenomenon that affect those who are socially excluded. “Disadvantage is embedded in the distribution of and access to social networks, role models and a range of essential services necessary for inclusion and participation in society” (Baum, & Gleeson, 2010). In accordance with the data collected from the Site Visit 2 Survey, residents in Moonee Valley report that they have access to many essential services within a 20-minute walk from their home (Figure 1). Desired services are located within a 20-minute walk from Wingate Avenue Housing Estate (Figure 2). Therefore, residents are at no locational disadvantage. However, Wingate Avenue Estate is at serious social disadvantage with the issue of drug and alcohol misuse prominent within the community (male resident, 26 years old) with drug deals taking place everyday (Ly, 2015). The design and plan of the housing estate can be attributed to the problem. The Estate was designed in 1946 and built in 1947 ("History of the Ascot Vale public housing estate - Waking up in Geelong", 2017). The Housing Commission Victoria employed what was considered 'modern' planning strategies at the time, most notably Garden City principles to balance private and public open space. The placement of apartments and the street pattern was generated with the principle of 'ordered variety' ("Ascot Housing Commission Estate", 2014). As a result, flat blocks are laid out at odd angles with wide unused space between each building contributing to antisocial behaviour through limited sightlines, "Thinning out a city does not insure safety from crime and fear of crime" (Jacobs, 1965). This planning strategy failed residents with too much open space available creating a wasteland which does not contribute to the safety of the community. Great emphasis was placed on open space, gardens and the right balance of public and private space which has not succeeded. What public space exists are wide
walkways of nothingness between the apartments with no purpose attached. Essentially wasted space.
Access to services and infrastructure in 20 minutes Shops and services Good parks, walking or bike trails, and natural areas Frequent public transport Good sports and leisure services Good health services Good community facili.es Childcare centres or primary schools Secondary schools Good employment opportuni.es Ter.ary or adult life-long educa.on No answer
Would like access to
0
500
Currently have access to
1000
1500
Figure 1: (Heissenbuttel, & Fleckney, 2017)
Figure 2: Locational Advantage of Ascot Vale Housing Estate (Osborne, 2017)
Urban Green Space effects the safety of a city from both a social and environmental perspective. “Urban parks can increase the perceptions of safety and belonging” as well as “improve life for city dwellers – especially their health” (Wolch, Byrne, & Newell, 2014). Access to parkland can also significantly decrease the development of obesity. Thus, the presence of parkland in Moonee Valley has a beneficial influence on social safety.
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING SERVICES WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO SEE WITHIN A 20 MINUTE WALK FROM YOUR HOME? 20 15 10 5 0
Figure 3: Services needed by residents of Wingate Avenue within a 20-minute radius (Site Visit 2 Survey Data, 2017) Currently, Moonee Valley respondents cite good access to parks, walking or bike trails and natural areas (Figure 1), however, parks are the third most wanted area of access across the municipal area. Parks in Wingate Avenue Housing Estate was reported as the second area of access to be improved (Figure 3), however combined with the need for sports and leisure centres both passive and active recreational opportunities and spaces are the highest ranked service needed by Wingate Avenue residents. Furthermore, there are no natural parklands within a 20-minute radius (Figure 2). Consequently, planning has failed the residents of Wingate Avenue with little access to good parks, natural areas and active recreational spaces, rendering the Estate and the area around it hazardous. Alternatively, the presence of urban green space can alleviate environmental pressures. “Green space may filter air, remove pollution, attenuate noise, cool temperatures, infiltrate storm water, and replenish ground water; moreover, it can provide food” (Wolch, Byrne, & Newell, 2014). This counteracts the dangers of climate change and provides a range of “ecosystem services that could help combat many urban ills” (Wolch, Byrne, & Newell, 2014), such as reduce runoff and decrease the urban heat island effect. “Moonee Valley has a number of beautiful major parks to be enjoyed by the whole community for leisure and recreation” ("Parks & playgrounds | Moonee Valley City Council", 2017). As residents also asserted they had access to good parks, planning has succeeded in keeping Moonee Valley safe from environmental damage and climate change. However, the introduction of parks into Greyfield areas such as Ascot Vale Housing Estate has encouraged gentrification, forcing disadvantaged inhabitants to move elsewhere. The role of planning is to not disadvantage the residents of the commission further by forcing them to move from their locational advantaged area due to developmental pressures and gentrification.
Although urban planning highly influences security, the culture of a place can also contribute to safety. Social exclusion negatively influences the culture of a community, causing a reduction in safety and physical and mental health. Social exclusion arises from “unemployment, poor skills, low income, bad housing, high crime, poor health or lack of transport” (Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, 2003). As health is the most desired theme in Ascot Vale and Moonee Valley, social exclusion must be addressed to achieve this goal. Social exclusion occurs at Wingate Avenue Housing Estate although it is at no locational disadvantage except access to employment (highest response of most desired services (Figure 3)). As there are large social issues within the estate as outlined above (such as drug and alcohol abuse and violence) it can be concluded that exclusion from society or cultural differences is the root of unsavory behavior at the site The main drivers of social exclusion are; disadvantages within the labor market, political and legal structures, and ideology such as racism or stereotyping of groups (Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, 2003). As there were high percentage of people born overseas, mostly from African, Mediterranean and Asian countries (onsite observation) and were of the same low socioeconomic group (this is a housing commission), racism and stereotyping of groups may have a negative impact upon social exclusion, therefore, prolifically contribute to crime, violence and drug and alcohol abuse prevalent. There is only so much planning can do to alleviate these dangers and establish safety within Wingate Avenue and Moonee Valley. When do we decide that it is not planning at fault but the culture inherent within the community impacting upon health and safety? Successful cities have “visionary individuals, creative organizations and a political culture culture sharing a clarity of purpose” (Landry, 2008). It is not apparent that Wingate Avenue has any of these individuals to curb the danger, although Moonee Valley may. As a result, to reduce danger and improve safety, it is ultimately the culture that needs to be reformed. Safety greatly contributes to a healthy city, the most wanted theme in Moonee Valley and Wingate Avenue Estate. Planning has not provided Wingate Avenue with a safe atmosphere due to its design and layout and limited parkland around the estate. However, extrapolated to the whole of Moonee Valley, there is sufficient parkland to provide residents with a feeling of safety and to improve their social and physical health, therefore planning has succeeded on this larger scale. Conversely, it is not only planning that influences the safety and atmosphere of a community. Focussing on the cultural problems of the community may be more beneficial than planning.
References Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute. (2003). Social Exclusion and Housing (p. 6). Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute. Retrieved from https://www.ahuri.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/2070/AHURI_Final_Re port_No51_Social_exclusion_and_housing.pdf Ascot Housing Commission Estate. (2014). Moonee Valley Post-War Thematic Precincts Heritage Study 2012 - 14, 24-44. Baum, S., & Gleeson, B. (2010). Space and Place: Social Exclusion in Australia's Suburban Heartlands. Urban Policy And Research, 28(2), 135-159. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08111141003693133 Google Earth. (2017). Ascot Vale Housing Estate edited by Osborne. S. Heissenbuttel, K., & Fleckney, P. (2017). Cities; from Local to Global 2017: Site Visit 2 Survey Data Presentation. Lecture, The University of Melbourne. History of the Ascot Vale public housing estate - Waking up in Geelong. (2017). Waking up in Geelong. Retrieved 1 May 2017, from https://wongm.com/2012/10/history-ascot-vale-public-housing-estate/ Jacobs, J. (1965). The death and life of great American cities (1st ed., pp. 32-33). Penguin Books. Landry, C. (2008). The Creative City (1st ed., p. 3). London: Taylor and Francis. Ly, L. (2015). Single mum fears for safety of her children in Ascot Vale housing estate unit. Leader, Herald Sun. Retrieved from http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/north-west/single-mum-fears-for-safetyof-her-children-in-ascot-vale-housing-estate-unit/newsstory/684556beb36dfbae21c7edaf92ecd5df Osborne, S. (2017). Locational Advantage of Ascot Vale Housing Estate. Parks & playgrounds | Moonee Valley City Council. (2017). Mvcc.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 7 May 2017, from http://www.mvcc.vic.gov.au/experience-mooneevalley/parks-and-playgrounds.aspx safe - definition of safe in English | Oxford Dictionaries. (2017). Oxford Dictionaries | English. Retrieved 5 May 2017, from https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/safe Site Visit 2 Survey Data. (2017). Services needed by residents of Wingate Avenue within a 20-minute radius. Wolch, J., Byrne, J., & Newell, J. (2014). Urban green space, public health, and environmental justice: The challenge of making cities ‘just green
enough’. Landscape And Urban Planning, 125, 234-244. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2014.01.017
Figures: Figure 1: (Heissenbuttel, & Fleckney, 2017) ............................................................................ 2 Figure 2: Locational Advantage of Ascot Vale Housing Estate Osborne, S. (2017). Locational Advantage of Ascot Vale Housing Estate………………………..2 Figure 3: Services needed by residents of Wingate Avenue within a 20-minute radius (Site Visit 2 Survey Data, 2017) ............................................................................................... 3