INCLUSIVE

#04 INCLUSIVE

WHAT IS INCLUSIVE?

Creating an inclusive Northcote is an integral part of not only a happy, healthy and livable place, but also a community that holds a united front when targeting issues such as climate change. Thus, inclusivity will create a flow of effect to enhance Northcote’s climate resilience in the future. and reiterates the focus of creating a collective community across Northcote.

OBJECTIVE 4.1

Create opportunities for community interaction.

Place making and place attachment theory outlines that by fostering a community sense to place, residents are more inclined to hold integrity and be invested in the outcomes and prosperity of an area (Stevenson-Hinde, 1982). By fostering opportunities for community interaction, Northcote can facilitate a place based community where residents can harbour a sense of place and place attachment. This will enhance residents’ investment in the adaptability and prosperity of Northcote and thus, at a human level increase Northcote’s climate resilience.

NORTHCOTE’S FUTURE INTIATIVES FOR INCLUSIVITY.

KEY

ENHANCED AGED CARE FACILITY SPACE

FOCUS OF AFFODABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS

COMMUNITY SPACE DEVELOPMENT

AREAS FOR TRADITIONAL NAMING

Revitalise the existing Northcote Townhall Civic Square as vibrant and attractive community spaces.

The existing Townhall square serves as a commemorative space for Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander art and traditional ceremony. Thus, rather than redevelopment this space and remove its cultural significance this action aims to bring new life into an area that is currently underutilised. This action strategies that community activities, markets and pop up activities can be integrated into the square to create a communal area for the community. This can also instil further sense of place for the community as it runs adjacent to Northcote Townhall, a defining landmark for the suburb. Find on objective map

PRECEDENT BETTER BLOCK

Better Block movement is an engaging place making foundation. Its main focus is creating community engagement projects that transform a chosen space , while also involving te community in the design process. Commonly these projects are pop-up based and stand for a short time period to breath new life into an area. Better Block most commonly works within Brunswick, highlighting the capacity for such initiatives to be adapted in the neighbouring suburb of Northcote

Allocate nature strips as garden streets that allow opportunities for sustainable community gardens.

This action aims to encourage and enhance community attitudes toward vegetable garden and creative nature strips. This action offers revisions to existing nature strip guidelines in designated areas. Designated areas for such peramtres (see map page 58) have been selected as they highlight an existing attitude toward garden nature strips ad are focussed in residential areas off main roads. Figure 48 below highlights how these areas will no longer need to apply for a permit to build planter boxes on their nature strips. Revised standards also allow these specified areas to build planter boxes above 30cm in height and can cover 80% of their nature strip, following an application process and administration of a free written permit. Find on objective map

Re-establish the High Street and Separation Street intersection as a communal civic space at the heart of Northcote.

This action aims to enhance community interaction and sense of place though the reconfiguration and redesign of the Separation Street, High Street intersection. This aims to create an attractive place for residents and visitor to ponder rather than pass through. This will be achieved through the removal of the slip lane in the north west corner of the intersection, and enforcement of future buildings setbacks to allow for a seated area and an attractive civic space. This will also be enforced by reducing car speeds through the implementation of traffic calming devices such as raised pedestrian crossings and increased canopy cover. Find on objective map

PRECEDENT KLYDE WARREN PARK, DALLAS TEXAS

This project highlights how the a public square was revitalised through increased canipy cover, street design and attractive surface finishes to enhance the use and attractiveness of the previously concrete dominated public

space. Removal of slip lane to make way for open blic square space.

Setback of building in north- western corner of the intersection.

Stones uses for public areas to allow for permeable street finishing, maximinsing cooling of the area.

ARTHURTON ROAD

Increased canopy cover along each street, creates passive traffic calming effect.

Canopy cover also enhances street aesthetics, urban cooling and walkability. HIGH STREET

HIGH STREET

Increased greening and canopy cover outside of Northcote Plaza, to minimse existing dominance of ashpalt and concrete within the intersection.

Clearer street signage highlighting where bike lanes are.

Raied pedestrian crossing to create speed bump effect for cars, thus diffusing car speeds at the intersection.

SEPERATION STREET

Street hierarchy reconfigured to prioritise pedestrians and cyclists and allow for disability access onto trams. (Same street hierarchy adopted at tram stops north of this intersection along High Street.)

Repurpose existing large-scale carpark adjacent All Nations Park as communal civic spaces and opportunities for weekend markets and inclusive community activities

The All Nations Park car park is currently an underutilised, large land parcel within the suburb. Due to the high proportion of people that access both Aldi and Northcote Plaza shopping centre, the car park is exposed to a considerable about of people and foot traffic. Thus, the land parcel is projected to be a perfect host to future interactive activities and community markets for the area. Both Alphington and Coburg offer Sunday Farmers Market activities, and highlights how such activities could be adapted into the Northcote context.

Find on objective map

PRECEDENT POINT COOK REGENERATIVE PROJECT

This project focuses on creating socio-ecological connection through placemaking in areas within Point Cook. One of the major projects was a 2020 pop-up park and an integrative activity space for community members to come together. The project invites temporary design initiatives such as a popup parks, cinemas and markets to revitalise or give new meaning to public spaces.

ACTION 4.2

Ensure the inclusion of social minorities.

This objective considers that while Northcote is continually becoming gentrified and more attractive to working professionals, it is important to consider the disadvantaged in the formation of the precinct in the future. Social cohesion and inclusion of minorities is a key aspect or establishing a community’s resilience (Arup, 2014).

Ensure a social housing uplift , which enables developers to exceed the defined Dwelling Density Ratios in exchange for the provision of a defined public housing.

This action considers that while Northcote is continually becoming gentrified and more attractive to working professionals, it is important to consider the disadvantaged in the formation of the precinct in the future. This can be ensured through a housing uplift program, where any building above 4 storeys must include 15-20 % social housing. This action coincides with smart growth initiatives (Addison et al, 2013) as outlined 2003 ‘Melbourne 2030—Planning for Sustainable Growth’ strategy, outlining the need to support affordable housing within future high density development (Beer et al, 2007).

Single storey housing Mid-storey housing 20% Affordable housing

Find on objective map

PRECEDENT FISHERMANS BEND FRAMEWORK

This is influenced by actions within the Fishermans Bend Framework (2019) outlines a social housing uplift program that “enables the developer to exceedas it the defined Dwelling Density Ratios in exchange for the provision of a defined public benefit.” This enable developed construct an additional eight dwellings for private sale for every social housing unit delivered and transferred to a registered housing association. Replenish green landscaping of St Josephs Aged Care facility to reduce urban heat rating and its effects on vulnerable residents.

This action targets the highest rated heat vulnerability area within the suburb, being the St Joseph’s aged care home. Through government funding the now gravel carpark will be replenished into a large- scale garden. Funding will go toward significant increases in vegetation and canopy cover within the designated land parcel and create an inclusive outdoor space for aged care residents and visitors.

Find on objective map

Continue to promote Indigenous, health, housing and community facilities within the suburb to emulate the importance of the indigenous community.

A valued part of Northcote’s community is its indigenous population and the high concentration of Indigenous health, wellbeing and cultural facilities within the suburb. This action outlines the protection of existing facilities within the suburb by ensuring such facilities are eligible for increased government funding on an annual basis, to protect these programs from increase density development and demands of gentrification.

ACTION 4.2.4

Create opportunities to embed Aboriginal language, design and names in streets, parks and public buildings in consultation with Traditional Custodians.

Batman park was recently renamed to Gumbri park to highlight Northcote’s consideration and respect to their indigenous community. This is an integral piece in the suburbs history and highlights there is always opportunity to integrate indigenous language, culture and ecology within future naming, design and urban planning. This action outlines that the council will make significant efforts to include Traditional Custodians in the shaping of the community through direct consultation. This can be encorporated to projects such as the Mernda Line Upgrade, where new sports spaces and parks will be created and need to be named and deisgned.