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City of Belmont

Community Infrastructure Plan for the City of Belmont | Final Report

Community Infrastructure Plan

for the City of Belmont

Final Report

City of Belmont


Project Partners

Final Report

Thao Ashford Planning Consultant

Date of Report: 28th May 2013

Document Owner: Thao Ashford, Principal, Thao Ashford Planning Consultant

Contact Details: PO BOX 1714 Capalaba Q 4157| 0419840390 | [email protected]

Document History

VERSION DATE OF ISSUE PERSON ACTION

0.1 02/05/13 Thao Ashford Final Report

Prepared for:

The City of Belmont

City of Belmont


COPYRIGHT

Thao Ashford Planning Consultant 2013

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Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the

Copyright Act 1968, no part of this report may be reproduced, transmitted, stored in a retrieval system or adapted in

any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without written permission.

Enquiries should be addressed to Thao Ashford Planning Consultant.

City of Belmont


Tab le o f Conten ts

1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 1

1.1 Project Background ....................................................................................................................... 1

1.2 Scope and Project Method ............................................................................................................ 1

1.3 Report Structure ............................................................................................................................ 3

2.0 Community Infrastructure Planning in City Centres ................................................................................... 4

2.1 Planning for Community Infrastructure in the City of Belmont ....................................................... 4

2.2 The Role of Community Infrastructure .......................................................................................... 5

2.3 Community Infrastructure Defined ................................................................................................ 6

2.4 Hierarchy of Community Facilities ................................................................................................. 6

2.5 Desired Standards of Services (Benchmarks) .............................................................................. 8

2.6 Community Infrastructure Delivery Models & Case Studies ........................................................ 10

2.6.1 Findings from Case Studies ............................................................................................ 10

2.6.2 Models of Delivery .......................................................................................................... 10

2.7 Guiding Principles ....................................................................................................................... 12

3.0 Overview of the City of Belmont ............................................................................................................... 15

3.1 Locational Context ...................................................................................................................... 15

3.2 Policy Context ............................................................................................................................. 16

3.2.1 The Role of the City of Belmont ...................................................................................... 17

3.2.2 Implications of Workers on Community Infrastructure .................................................... 17

3.3 Population and Demographic Characteristics ............................................................................. 18

3.4 Summary and Implications .......................................................................................................... 23

4.0 Existing Community Infrastructure ........................................................................................................... 25

4.1 Existing Facilities and Services ................................................................................................... 25

4.2 Capacity of Existing Facilities and Services ................................................................................ 28

4.2.1 Education ........................................................................................................................ 28

4.2.2 Cultural ........................................................................................................................... 29

4.2.3 Health ............................................................................................................................. 29

4.2.4 Sport and Recreation ...................................................................................................... 30

4.2.5 Special Interest Groups .................................................................................................. 30

4.2.6 Community Centres/Space ............................................................................................. 33

4.2.7 Churches and Religious Organisation ............................................................................ 34

4.2.8 Emergency and Safety ................................................................................................... 35

4.3 Opportunities within Existing Facilities ........................................................................................ 35

5.0 Analysis of Community Infrastructure Needs (Needs Assessment) ......................................................... 37

5.1 Benchmark Analysis ................................................................................................................... 37

5.2 Consultation ................................................................................................................................ 39

5.2.1 Education ........................................................................................................................ 40

5.2.2 Cultural ........................................................................................................................... 41

5.2.3 Health ............................................................................................................................. 41

City of Belmont


5.2.4 Sport and Recreation ...................................................................................................... 42

5.2.5 Special Needs Groups .................................................................................................... 42

5.2.6 Community Centres/Space ............................................................................................. 46

5.3 Summary of Needs ..................................................................................................................... 47

5.3.1 Facilities Needs .............................................................................................................. 47

5.3.2 Services Needs .............................................................................................................. 48

5.4 Verification & Opportunities Workshop Overview ........................................................................ 50

5.4.1 Key Findings and Outcomes ........................................................................................... 50

6.0 Recommended Community Infrastructure Provision ................................................................................ 53

6.1 Multipurpose Community Hub ..................................................................................................... 55

6.1.1 Library ............................................................................................................................. 57

6.1.2 Seniors Centre ................................................................................................................ 58

6.2 Education Hub ............................................................................................................................ 59

6.3 Community Health & Wellbeing Centre ....................................................................................... 61

6.4 Mosque ....................................................................................................................................... 63

6.5 Aged Care & Respite .................................................................................................................. 64

6.6 Child Care Centres ..................................................................................................................... 65

6.7 Youth Hub ................................................................................................................................... 66

6.8 Summary of Recommended Facilities Provision ......................................................................... 69

7.0 Implementation ........................................................................................................................................ 72

7.1 The Role of the City of Belmont .................................................................................................. 72

7.2 Funding Mechanisms .................................................................................................................. 73

7.3 Monitoring and Review ............................................................................................................... 74

7.4 Recommended Actions ............................................................................................................... 74

8.0 References ............................................................................................................................................... 78

I ndex o f F igures

Figure 1. Project Method .............................................................................................................................. 2 Figure 2. Community Infrastructure Hierarchy for the City of Belmont ......................................................... 7 Figure 3. City of Belmont and Suburbs ...................................................................................................... 15 Figure 4. Direction 2031 Activity Centres Hierarchy ................................................................................... 17 Figure 5. Population Growth, Local Catchments, 2011 .............................................................................. 19 Figure 6. Existing Community Services...................................................................................................... 27

I ndex o f Tab les

Table 1. Hierarchy of Community Infrastructure ......................................................................................... 7 Table 2. Recommended Benchmarks for Community Facilities .................................................................. 9 Table 3. Recommended Benchmarks for Sport and Recreation Facilities .................................................. 9 Table 4. Planning Principles ..................................................................................................................... 12

City of Belmont


Table 5. Adjusted Population Projections ................................................................................................. 20 Table 6. Existing Community Facilities ..................................................................................................... 26 Table 7. District Catchment, Additional Needs to 2026 ............................................................................. 38 Table 8. Local Catchments, Additional Needs to 2026, All Scenarios ...................................................... 39 Table 9. Identified Facilities Needs ........................................................................................................... 47 Table 10. Identified Services Needs ........................................................................................................... 48 Table 11. Recommended Additional Infrastructure Provision ..................................................................... 53 Table 12. Indicative Specifications for Multipurpose Community Hub ........................................................ 56 Table 13. Indicative Specifications for Library ............................................................................................. 57 Table 14. Indicative Specifications for Seniors Centre ................................................................................ 58 Table 15. Indicative Specifications for Education Hub ................................................................................ 60 Table 16. Indicative Specifications for Community Health & Wellbeing Hub .............................................. 62 Table 17. Indicative Specifications for Islamic Mosque ............................................................................... 64 Table 18. Indicative Specifications for Aged Care & Respite ...................................................................... 65 Table 19. Indicative Specifications for Child Care Centres ......................................................................... 65 Table 20. Indicative Specifications for Youth Hub ....................................................................................... 67 Table 21. Summary of Community Infrastructure Provision for the City of Belmont ................................... 69 Table 22. Recommended Actions ............................................................................................................... 75

City of Belmont

Community Infrastructure Plan for the City of Belmont | Final Report Page | 1

1.0 In t roduc t ion

1 . 1 P r o j e c t B a c k g r o u n d

Cities worldwide, including the City of Belmont, are in a process of transformation as they adapt to globalisation

and the new world economy. Most major cities have experienced a growth in service activity, bringing more

people (high and low income) to work in the central city areas. Rapid gentrification in inner city areas has

accompanied this growth, providing convenient locations for high-income earners to live, with a corresponding

displacement of low income people from these areas to outer suburbs where housing is more affordable. Over

the past decade, Australian cities have also become increasingly multicultural, attracting students, workers and

migrants from all corners of the world. As a community, we are still coming to terms with what these global

trends mean for the City, and with direct relevance to this study, how to plan most effectively for emerging

community needs in a diverse and rapidly changing environment.

In 2009, the City of Belmont embarked on a comprehensive study to identify and plan for the City’s future

community infrastructure requirements. In 2010, City of Belmont engaged Catalyse to undertake an extensive

audit of the existing community infrastructure in the City. The purpose of the audit was to identify what community

infrastructure is currently operating in the City of Belmont, who it serves and how well it is working. Following on

from the audit, in 2012, the City of Belmont engaged a consortium of consultants led by Thao Ashford Planning

Consultant, and including Kate Morioka and CChange Sustainable Solutions Pty Ltd (The Project Team), to

prepare the Community Infrastructure Plan (CIP) for the City of Belmont.

This report builds on the work completed to date by Catalyse to identify the City’s future community infrastructure

requirements. The CIP is considered a high-level analysis based on desktop research, analysis, and

consultation with stakeholders and the community. It is envisaged that the CIP will provide direction for the

provision of community infrastructure needs for the City both now and into the future. And while a proactive

perspective regarding planning for current and future populations is required, it is also important to remember that

people today cannot know for certain the needs and requirements of the populations of tomorrow. As such, it is

essential that any arrangements put in place are flexible and that future populations can have their say in tailoring

the rates and quality of provision of community infrastructure to ensure that their needs are best met.

1 . 2 S c o p e a n d P r o j e c t M e t h o d

The aim of this project is to develop a knowledge base so that the City of Belmont can ensure that planning for

future services and facilities can be streamlined, adequately resourced and appropriately facilitated. This will

assist the City to strategically plan for the needs of the community either directly, and/or by working together with

service providers, to ensure the integrated delivery of community infrastructure.

The two main objectives of this project were to:

» Assess whether the current level of community infrastructure and service provision meets the

requirements of the local population. This assessment will inform the City as to whether its expenditure

on infrastructure and support for service delivery is appropriate, adequate and consistent with the

identified community needs.

City of Belmont


» Determine the likely need and provision of infrastructure and services over the next 15 years. The

project will see a set of recommendations developed around the type, the location and the staging of

future infrastructure provision.

The project also fulfils the requirements of Section 3.18 (3) of the Local Government Act (1995). Section 3.18 (3)

states that local government must ensure that their facilities and services are provided in an integrated and

coordinated manner with other levels of government, avoid duplication and are managed efficiently and

effectively.

The method used to guide the development of the CIP is shown below (Figure 1) and Appendix A provides a brief

description of these steps as they pertain to the CIP.

Figure 1. Project Method

Situation Analysis (Normative & Expressed Need)

Leading Practice & Guiding

Principles

Benchmarks Analysis

(Comparative Need)

Identify Felt Need

(Consultation)

Undertake Needs Assessment

Verification & Opportunities

Workshop

Recommended Community

Infrastructure Provision

Community Infrastructure

Plan

City of Belmont


1 . 3 R e p o r t S t r u c t u r e

This report documents the findings and outcomes of the Community Infrastructure Plan. It includes the following

components.

Section 1 Outlines the purpose of this report, project method including scope and objectives.

Section 2 Articulates the role of community infrastructure in city centres and challenges associated with

planning for community facilities in a city centre context. This Section also provides the

definition of community infrastructure within the context of this report. It further includes a

discussion on community infrastructure planning including the use of benchmark analysis,

leading practice models of delivery and case studies as well as guiding principles.

Section 3 Provides an overview of the City of Belmont, including a brief overview of the current

demographics as well as projected future population. In addition, this section summarises the

policy environment for this project.

Section 4 This section provides a detailed discussion on the current existing facilities in the City of

Belmont in regards to capacity and demand. It further identifies potential opportunities within

existing facilities to cater for future demand.

Section 5 Summarises the needs assessment including findings from the benchmarks analysis as well as

through consultation and provides analysis of overall needs. This section further provides a

summary of the outcomes of the Verification and Opportunities Workshop which was used to

validate initial findings.

Section 6 Details the recommended community infrastructure provision for the City of Belmont for the

next 15 years.

Section 7 Provides guidance on implementation for the CIP.

City of Belmont


2.0 Communi ty In f ras t ruc tu re

P lann ing in C i t y Cent res

2 . 1 P l a n n i n g f o r C o m m u n i t y

I n f r a s t r u c t u r e i n t h e C i t y o f

B e l m o n t

Within the context of globalisation and regional growth, the City of Belmont has transformed significantly over the

last ten years and has seen an increase in both residential and commercial developments. Located some five km

from Perth’s CBD and including the key activity node of the airport plus other significant tracts of industrial land,

economic growth and investment has been a key focus within the Mixed Use and Mixed Business Zones in the

City of Belmont. The Perth Airport alone has over 6,000 people working in the airport estate and this is estimated

to increase considerably into the future.

As well as growth in the industrial/commercial sector, over the past ten years, the process of urban renewal has

seen substantial residential growth take place in the City of Belmont. Infill development has and is still occurring

within residential suburbs and the upgrading of existing housing stock is occurring within low density suburbs.

Together with the creation of large residential neighbourhoods such as The Springs, Ascot Waters and Golden

Mile, the City of Belmont is in a constant state of change, which can also impact on community needs and

expectations. The expanding resident and worker populations are generating new investment opportunities and

at the same time place more demands on community infrastructure. The investment in appropriate community

infrastructure will build social capital that will allow the City’s rich and diverse social makeup to be integrated,

embraced and celebrated.

The City of Belmont is characterised by a diverse population. Therefore, the community infrastructure needs will

vary significantly between the different population groups that populate the City of Belmont. Key groups of people

needing to be accommodated with community infrastructure include:

» Families with children, including single parent families requiring access to child care, primary schools,

health services and community facilities like libraries.

» Younger people needing secondary schools, entertainment and leisure facilities and access to a range

of education and training facilities.

» Students needing access to health services, education and training facilities.

» People in older age groups needing access to suitable support services, health care and a range of

community and cultural facilities particularly places to meet and the type of leisure and recreational

facilities that support healthy ageing.

» Culturally diverse groups needing access to places of worship, support networks and culturally

responsive services.

» Aboriginal people requiring services that are delivered holistically and respect their independence and

self-determination.

» People with disabilities needing a whole range of services that support their access, participation and

inclusion.

» Transient worker population created by the presence of Perth Airport.

City of Belmont


2 . 2 T h e R o l e o f C o m m u n i t y

I n f r a s t r u c t u r e

Investment in community infrastructure is essential for the health, social wellbeing and economic prosperity of

communities and has been described as the cornerstone of wellbeing in a community1. The National Health

Services (NHS) Healthy Urban Development Unit (2008) states that “Community infrastructure has a key role to

play in promoting social cohesion, bringing different socio-economic and ethnic groups together, and creating a

true sense of community belongingness”.

In addition, there is growing international recognition that investment in human and civic assets are core

foundations to economic prosperity, reflected in the social inclusion movements in the United Kingdom, Europe

and Canada. Communities that offer opportunities for human development have strong social capital, and act as

magnets for investment, growth, and economic development.

Community infrastructure can provide focal points for community activity and places for people to meet and

connect. Likewise community infrastructure can act as an ‘attractor’ which encourages people to live in or visit a

particular area. Given that a key component of a sustainable community is diversity, providing a range of quality

community infrastructure can help to attract/retain a diverse population – community infrastructure should be

provided to suit different ages, cultures and socio-economic backgrounds. The NHS London Healthy Urban

Development Unit (2008) suggest that “People want to live in areas that are served by good schools, good health

services, high quality open spaces and recreational activities, all in accessible and convenient locations”.

Over the past decade there has been a reduction in government funding in real terms and an increasing

reluctance for public borrowing, resulting in competing priorities for scarce funds. This, combined with the limited

ability to commit to future recurrent funding by all levels of government is a compounding factor in assisting the

provision of community infrastructure and essential services. However, on the positive side, this funding

environment has seen a trend to more innovative and cost effective models of infrastructure delivery, including

co-location, joint ventures and cross subsidy developments2.

These trends present a number of challenges for community infrastructure planning for the City of Belmont,

including the need to:

» Ensure that existing facilities and services are utilised effectively wherever appropriate.

» Pay for renewals and upgrades of existing and future facilities.

» Address existing undersupply where population growth has outstripped the capacity of existing

community infrastructure, while also meeting new demand fuelled by population growth.

» Maximise resource use efficiencies, including the capacity for integrated service and facility planning

and development between the range of providers (i.e. the Commonwealth, State and Local, and the

community and private sectors).

» Secure funding commitments for providers in a timely and co-ordinated way.

» Provide adequate levels of infrastructure to support the needs of lower income household families

settling into the area.

» Build the capacity of communities to manage community infrastructure where there are high levels of

aged, socially disadvantaged and/or commuting populations.

1 Queensland Government Office of Urban Management & The Coordinator-General, 2006, Social Infrastructure Planning

Implementation Guidelines No.5

2 ibid

City of Belmont


2 . 3 C o m m u n i t y I n f r a s t r u c t u r e

D e f i n e d

Although the definition of community infrastructure encompasses both community facilities and services, it

should be noted that they are different elements of community infrastructure. A community facility is generally a

physical structure or centre, whereas a service is often a program or activity that is delivered to the community

(either within a community facility or as an outreach service). Thus, a community facility – provided it is designed

and managed properly – can be used to house and deliver a number of community services, programs, and

activities. Often communities do not express an explicit need for an actual physical centre; rather they will

express their need for services such as arts and crafts activities, dance classes, or a Meals on Wheels service to

be provided. In community infrastructure planning, these service ‘needs’ must then be converted to physical

community facility ‘provision’. The process to convert needs into provision is described in detail in Section 6.

Understanding the service needs in a community is fundamental to determining the appropriate extent and

design of community facilities required to support the (often-diverse) range of activities people wish to see

provided in a community.

Community infrastructure for this study is defined as the structures and facilities that help communities and

neighbourhoods to function effectively (WAPC 2009). These can include:

» Universal facilities and services such as education, health, active open space, recreation and sport,

safety and emergency services, religious, arts and cultural facilities, community centres and meeting

places.

» Lifecycle targeted facilities and services such as those for the elderly, youth and children.

» Targeted facilities and services for groups with special needs such as families, people with a disability

and Aboriginal and culturally diverse people3.

Please refer to Appendix B for list of facilities and services definition.

2 . 4 H i e r a r c h y o f C o m m u n i t y

F a c i l i t i e s

Community facilities generally operate within a hierarchy of provision, with different scales of infrastructure

servicing varying sized catchments in terms of the area and number of people serviced. For example, local

community halls generally service local catchments; youth centres and branch libraries generally service district

catchments; and Regional Art Galleries and Performing Arts Centres will service a larger region.

The following Table (Table 1) is a basic model of community facility provision comprising of three levels or

hierarchy and Figure 2 shows the hierarchy and corresponding catchments for the City of Belmont. Catchments

were defined for the purposes of this study through discussions with City of Belmont officers and further informed

through reference to City of Belmont’s online Profile ID.

3 Queensland Government Office of Urban Management & The Coordinator-General, 2006, Social Infrastructure

Planning Implementation Guidelines No.5

City of Belmont


Table 1. Hierarchy of Community Inf ras tructure

Hierarchy Description Expected Population

Catchment

Local

At a local or neighbourhood level, community infrastructure is

provided to meet health, learning, and support needs and

foster participation and social capital at a local level.

The local catchment includes Ascot, Belmont,

Cloverdale, Kewdale, Redcliffe and Rivervale

This catchment caters

for up to 10,000 people.

District

Across a district, community infrastructure is expected to

address the range of universal and lifecycle needs, foster

community participation and cultural expression.

The district level is defined as the entire City of Belmont

This catchment caters

for up to 50,000

Sub-

regional/Regional

Community infrastructure that provides for a significant

population including comprehensive care for health,

education, and community support needs. This includes

hospitals, tertiary education, the full range of government

services and major cultural and sporting facilities.

It has been assumed that the regional catchment

incorporates the Central Metropolitan Perth Sub-region

This catchment can

cater for a population in

the order of 150,000 +

For the purpose of this analysis the focus will be on local and district catchments. Furthermore given the role of

the City of Belmont (i.e. as a secondary centre, not a metropolitan centre) and its proximity to the Perth CBD and

other higher order centres, the study does not indicate a need for sub-regional/regional level community

infrastructure (this is explained further in Section 3.2.1).

Figure 2. Community Inf ras tructure Hierarchy for the Ci ty of Belmont

Source: Thao Ashford Planning Consultant, 2012

City of Belmont

Ascot

Belmont

Cloverdale

Kewdale

Redcliffe

Rivervale

Central Metropolitan

Perth Subregion

Sub-regional/

Regional

District Local

City of Belmont


2 . 5 D e s i r e d S t a n d a r d s o f S e r v i c e s

( B e n c h m a r k s )

Desired Standards of Service (DSS) for community infrastructure are a set of benchmarks that help define the

minimum performance requirement of an infrastructure item to meet the demand generated by a planning area,

catchment, network, or community. Benchmarks represent a theoretical approach to assessing need only.

Therefore, while important, it is necessary to note that benchmarking alone is not considered an accurate

reflection of needs for the City of Belmont. Benchmarks are therefore considered to be only one of the many

inputs required to identifying overall need.

The basis for the recommended benchmarks was determined through a review of benchmarks used in other

areas. The following studies were used as a basis for the recommended benchmarks:

» Community infrastructure Planning Implementation Guidelines No. 5 undertaken by the Office of Urban

Management for the Department of Planning in QLD

» Rockingham Community Infrastructure Plan 2011

» Planning for Community Infrastructure in Growth Area Communities, 2008

» Parks and Leisure Australia WA – Guidelines for Community Facilities 2012

» City of Waneroo Community Infrastructure Plan

» Green Square Redevelopment City of Sydney

The proposed benchmarks for the City of Belmont have been primarily based on benchmarks established by

Parks and Leisure WA (Guidelines for Community Facilities 2012). It was determined by the Project Team that

the Parks and Leisure WA benchmarks are the most appropriate for this analysis given the currency of the study

and specifically relating to the Western Australia context. Where no benchmarks were provided by Parks and

Leisure WA other reliable sources were used. In addition, benchmarks for education facilities (primary, secondary

and TAFE) are based on standards established by the Department of Education. It should be noted that these

benchmarks are based on residential population and are provided as a ratio of one community facility to ‘x’

thousand people. Table 2 and Table 3 outline the recommended benchmarks for the provision of community

facilities in the City of Belmont.

There are certain infrastructure types that are used by the community where no benchmark exists due to the

changing requirements of the communities’ needs with regard to the infrastructure between different areas and/or

over time. The following infrastructure has been identified through the audit as serving a community need where

no benchmarks have been established in this study:

» Private Colleges - Private Colleges are led by the private market and have their own set of criteria for

determining demand for this type of facility.

» Sports Clubs – Similar to private colleges, sports club are generally led by the private sector.

» Churches – Worshipper demand driven, which is difficult to benchmark.

» Community Office Space - The need for community office space is required to be based on consultation

outcomes and delivery of this need is through facilities such as multipurpose community centres.

» Services – Community services are difficult to benchmark as they differ according to location, provider,

type of services, available funding and target clients. Therefore the assessment of need for community

services is derived from consultation outcomes along with the findings from the demographic analysis,

which together identify what services are lacking or missing.

City of Belmont


Table 2. Recommended Benchmarks for Community Fac i l i t ies

Primary and High School figures have been based on WA Planning Commission Policy No DC 2.4 which requires one primary school to be provided for every 1500-1800 dwellings. High

schools are required at the rate of approximately one per 6500 – 7000 dwellings.

Using the high end range, dwellings were converted to population by using 2.4 persons per dwelling household

o Primary School - 2.4 person per dwelling * 1800 dwellings = 4,320

o High School - 2.4 person per dwelling * 7000 dwellings = 16,800

Table 3. Recommended Benchmarks for Spor t and Recreat ion Fac i l i t ies

Indoor Recreation Centre 20,000 30,000 50,000-150,000 25,000-50,000 30,000-50,000 50,000

Youth Recreation Space 25,000-50,000 25,000

Aquatic/Leisure Centre 40,000 75,000 75,000-10,0000 75,000

1 per x People

Level Facility

District

Planning for

Community

Infrastructure in

Growth Areas (Victorian Government)

Proposed

Benchmarks

for the City of

Belmont

Guidelines for

Community

Facilities(Parks and Leisure

Western Australia)

Green Square

Redevelopment (City of Sydney)

Rockingham

Community

Infrastructure

Plan (City of Rockingham)

City of Waneroo

Community

Infrastructure Plan(City of Waneroo)

Community Centre 6,000-10,000 5,000 10,000-15,000 3,500-15,000 5,000

Childcare Centre 4,000-8,000 4,000-8,000 4,000 4,000

Primary School (Public) 7,500 1,500-1,800 dwellings 4,320

Multi-purpose Community Centre 20,000-50,000 15,000-25,000 20,000-50,000 15,000

Youth Centre 20,000-50,000 20,000-30,000 10,000-15,000 10,000-20,000 20,000

District Library 15,000-30,000 15,000-30,000 25,000-50,000 25,000

Aged Care Service/Respite 20,000 30,000-40,000 30,000

Community Health Clinic/Centre 20,000-30,000 20,000

Maternal and Child Health 30,000-50,000 30,000

Arts and Cultural Centre 30,000 50,000 20,000-30,000 50,000

Seniors Centre 20,000-30,000 10,000-15,000 15,000-20,000 20,000

High School 20,000 6,500-7,000 dwellings 16,800

Social

Infrastructure

Guidelines(Office of Urban

Management South East

Queensland)

1 per x People

WA Department of

Education(WA Planning

Commission Policy No

DC 2.4 )

Level Facility

Local

District

Proposed

Benchmarks

for the City of

Belmont

Rockingham

Community

Infrastructure

Plan (City of Rockingham)

Guidelines for

Community

Facilities(Parks and Leisure

Western Australia)

Green Square

Redevelopment (City of Sydney)

City of Belmont


2 . 6 C o m m u n i t y I n f r a s t r u c t u r e

D e l i v e r y M o d e l s & C a s e S t u d i e s

A review of innovative delivery models for community facilities was undertaken to identify leading practice

examples of how community infrastructure is currently being delivered in urban environments across Australia.

An analysis of the case studies provide important lessons from past experiences plus guidance for future

planning and delivering of community infrastructure areas such as the City of Belmont (Refer to Appendix C for

case study examples). It should be noted that the case studies utilised in this analysis, where possible, have be

chosen for their approach and innovation to delivering community infrastructure in similar urban environments to

the City of Belmont. As noted at the outset, the City of Belmont is undergoing the process of Urban Renewal in

existing residential areas as well as increase densities in others and this provides opportunities for innovative

delivery of community infrastructure.

2 . 6 . 1 F i n d i n g s f r o m C a s e S t u d i e s

The case studies reviewed highlight that many of the community facilities that are delivered in high density urban

environments are characterised by:

» Integration with residential, commercial and other uses for example, community facilities integrated into

ground floor of multi level buildings.

» Central, accessible and convenient locations.

» Clustering and co-location to provide a ‘one stop shop’ environment that maximises convenience and

reduces the need for multiple trips.

» Inclusion of commercial opportunities to provide on-going revenue.

» Flexible use of space such as roof tops of car parks.

» Funding and delivery is often through partnerships.

As such, the models of delivery noted below in section 2.6.2 are considered applicable for the Belmont

environment.

2 . 6 . 2 M o d e l s o f D e l i v e r y

A review of the literature, case studies, and policy directions strongly support the move towards a holistic

approach to integrated community infrastructure. Such an approach brings together the three critical components

of community infrastructure (community facilities, human services, and social networks) as part of an interrelated

system where each component links to, supports, and relies on each other. The following models of delivery have

been identified as relevant to the City of Belmont:

» Community Hubs: The hub concept has been around for a number of years and increasingly,

governments and communities are realising the benefits of co-locating and integrating services and

facilities through creation of hubs. A community hub is essentially a multipurpose building or cluster of

co-located buildings catering for a wide range of needs. The primary objectives of community hubs are

City of Belmont


service coordination and delivery, place making, community building and access for activities, programs,

and services to address social needs4.

The characteristics of a community hub include5:

» Respond to, and are shaped by, the unique circumstances, needs and assets of their

community;

» Co-locate or cluster a range of community facilities and human services;

» Include a variety of uses (including residential, retail and commercial) that attract different

groups of people at different times of the day for a variety of purposes and meet a wide range

of community needs and support community strengths;

» Attract people and are identified as a focal point and gathering place for the community;

» Are readily accessible to ensure all members of the community can utilise them;

» Have a civic quality, sense of stability and level of amenity that marks them as an important

place in the community; and

» Include an inviting public domain that encourages people to interact in the public realm.

» Community Precincts: Community precincts are areas where a number of facilities are co-located. In

most cases, precincts are envisaged around anchor facilities, such as, schools, sporting clubs and

community based facilities. To make these precincts work more effectively, dedicated community

development is required to establish programs, support community groups and networks, link groups

and programs with existing facilities. To ensure that community precincts are successful, it is important

to consider synergies between uses to avoid potential conflicts with user groups and uses.

» Shared use of School Facilities: Schools are critical community infrastructure providing not just

education and learning facilities, but vital local employment and community building opportunities within

their local communities6. How schools are built and managed is changing in many areas. In the United

Kingdom, schools are being reshaped as hubs for community services supporting a wide range of

activities and services. In the State of Victoria, schools are being opened up for shared community use

in partnership with local communities. Some non-Government schools also provide a range of services

in proximity to or within the school site including recreation programs and social support. In Western

Australia, the Department of Education supports this notion through its Community Use of School

Facilities and Resources Policy7. The Policy states that “School facilities and resources must be made

available for use by the community...”.

» Public Private Partnerships or Joint Ventures: Where they have been successful, public private

partnerships can be effective in reducing duplication and maximising facility use. Public private

partnerships involve the public sector providing incentives for private sector investment in the delivery of

community infrastructure. Schools are one example of public private partnerships where education

providers provide collocation of education services and the sharing of facilities. Development incentives

and agreements are another form of public private partnership which can be used to encourage private

contributions for community infrastructure on government owned land.

4 Elton Consulting (2007), Feasibility Study of Community Hubs for the Parramatta Local Government Area – Briefing Paper, 25 September 2007, p.2

5 Elton Consulting (2011), Planning for Community Infrastructure and Community Services in Urban Growth Areas.

6 Fine M., Pancharatnam, K. and Thomas, L (2005) Coordinated and Integrated Human Service Delivery Models, SPRC Report 1/05, Sydney: Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales

7 Department of Education and Training Community Use of School Facilities and Resources Policy

City of Belmont


» Mixed Use Development: Mixed land use development encourages compatible uses to be located in a

central location. In addition, the mixed use building model offers the opportunity for residential and other

uses to be used to help to subsidise or support the capital and/or operational costs of a community

facility. The range of activities in the development has the added benefit of encouraging social

interaction as people are able to meet and also undertake other activities in the same place.

Vertical integration of community facility space with residential, retail and other uses within the one

building is an important model and one that is very suited to the urban growth context. The conception of

community facilities as positive, active and vibrant community hubs positions them well to act as the

active ground floor use of a mixed use building8.

» Commercial Ventures: In the past, community facilities have often operated on a not for profit basis

and rely on grants and revenue (generally from hiring space) to maintain on-going operational costs.

Often tenants are small community groups (e.g. arts group) who have limited capacity to pay and

therefore revenues collected falls short of what is actually required to make a full cost recovery should

subsidies cease at any given time.

Over the past decade there has been a reduction in government funding in real terms and reluctance for

public borrowing, with increasingly competing priorities for scarce funds. This, combined with the limited

ability to commit to future recurrent funding by all tiers of government, has seen a trend towards more

innovative and cost effective models of delivery to alleviate both the upfront capital investment and the

ongoing operational costs of facilities. Community facilities are increasingly being designed to include

commercial spaces, such as cafes and function space as a means to off-set on-going costs.

2 . 7 G u i d i n g P r i n c i p l e s

Through the background review, models of delivery and case study analysis, guiding principles have been

developed for the City of Belmont to assist in converting service ‘needs’ to the ‘provision’ of facilities (i.e.

converting needs to provision). This study has used the identified principles below to inform and underpin the

planning and provision of community facilities in the City of Belmont wherever possible.

Table 4. Planning Pr inc iples

Planning Principles for the City of Belmont

P1

Maximising usage of

existing community

facilities and maximising

access to existing

services

In providing new community infrastructure it is important to understand

the capacities and performance of existing infrastructure in the City of

Belmont. Existing infrastructure may be underutilised for a range of

reasons that include poor awareness (promotion), restricted access by a

controlling organisation or poor facilities management. If this is found to

be the case, steps must be taken to ensure that the existing capacity in

existing facilities is utilised prior to new facilities being provided.

P2 Shared use of community

infrastructure

Under the current funding environment and scarce resources, more

innovative models of infrastructure delivery are being considered. One

such model is the shared use of community infrastructure where

community groups are able to use schools, clubs, libraries etc outside of

8 Elton Consulting (2011), Planning for Community Infrastructure and Community Services in urban growth areas.

City of Belmont



core hours.

Where possible facilities such as schools, churches and clubs should be

developed under a model of shared use with main users and the general

community.

P3

Developing flexible,

multipurpose community

facilities, which can

incorporate a range of

commercial and

community services and

change over time as the

community matures

In many cases, it is not feasible or appropriate to provide stand-alone

community facilities for the exclusive use of specific community or socio-

demographic groups. Wherever possible and appropriate, several

services and needs should be delivered via a flexible multipurpose

facility.

In addition to providing multiple community services and functions in the

City of Belmont, consideration should be given to the ability and

appropriateness of incorporating commercial functions such as office

space, function venues and café/coffee shops that can be leased to

community organisations, government agencies or the private sector and

can assist in offsetting the capital and operating costs of a community

facility.

P4 Build social capital

The development of social capital is both a determinant and outcome of

community capacity. Social capital refers to the collective value of all

'social networks' and the inclinations that arise from these networks for

people to do things for each other.

Community activities and events provide important opportunities for

residents to meet, interact socially and create new friendships and

support networks. The development of community infrastructure in its

own right will enable the programming of activities and events such as

arts and crafts and dance classes held in a community centre or an

outdoor concert held at a local park. Building social capital will in turn

create a desirable environment where people want to live, visit and work.

P5

Engaging in partnerships

with the private and

public sector to deliver

affordable and accessible

community facilities.

The development of innovative pathways for the delivery of community

facilities should consider a range of public and private mechanisms. For

example, partnerships with other spheres of government, the private

sector and community organisations to achieve an integrated service

system and facility network across the City of Belmont.

P6

Locating community

facilities as part of a

functional major centre

with public transport

access where

appropriate.

Community facility location is one of the primary determinants of function

and usage. Maximum patronage is facilitated by integrating community

facilities within the broader range of uses found in an Urban Centre.

An active, high profile location will also increase real and perceived

safety for potential community facility users.

The location should also maximise accessibility to the community

facility’s target market through good access to public transport.

P7

Inclusive design of

community facilities and

planning for program and

service delivery, not just

space.

To create a socially inclusive community, design places that cater for

multiple users and which encourage active lifestyles and social

interaction. It is important that the design of community facilities takes

into account the purposes for which they will be used through careful

planning and engagement with end users and that the design adopted is

flexible to allow adaptation as needs change over time.

P8 Supporting the service Having a robust and responsive service system is essential for

City of Belmont



system

maintaining and enhancing quality of life for local communities.

Governments and planners are recognising the need for better planning

and integration of services, with government, private and community

sectors working together to better coordinate and address gaps. The

introduction of case managers, one-stop shops and service hubs are all

examples of recent attempts to create a ‘seamless service system’.

P9

Create community

facilities appropriate to

the level of service

demanded

The City of Belmont will be expected to serve a number of functions for

community infrastructure including district, and local.

Generally, community facilities serving a local catchment should have a

‘neighbourhood’ feel, provide relatively informal spaces, have pedestrian

access, and ideally be managed by the local community.

District level community facilities should be accessible by public transport

and provide a broader range of structured and semi-structured spaces

for community use. This should include the provision of spaces to

support a range of program and service delivery needs.

P10

High quality urban design

outcomes for community

facilities

The development of community facilities should incorporate high quality

urban design outcomes.

Buildings should address and enhance public streets, spaces and views

and be designed to be energy and water efficient and include best

practice principles in crime prevention through environmental design, as

well as ensure all ‘abilities access’ in its detailed design and fit out.

P11 Supporting innovation

Leadership in developing and supporting new concepts, innovative

practices, and successful models of delivery.

Regular evaluation of initiatives and provision levels to ensure desired

outcomes are achieved.

P12 Intergenerational equity

The need to invest and plan for intergenerational communities where

residents of all ages have access to the full range of opportunities to

participate in community life.

P13 Culturally appropriate

facilities

Recognising the needs of cultural groups in the planning and design of

community facilities to ensure that the facilities are appropriate for the

use they are being designed for.

P14 Access and Inclusion

To create a socially inclusive community, design places that cater for

multiple users (all ages and abilities) and which encourage active

lifestyles and social interaction.

City of Belmont


3.0 Overv iew o f the C i t y o f

Be lmont

This section provides baseline information, such as locational context, demographics trends and policy

environment, which is required to properly determine the needs of the City of Belmont. Demographic and social

trends can inform normative needs and are key to understanding the community in which this study is currently

being undertaken. A demographic trends analysis including population projections for the City of Belmont is

presented below in Section 3.3.

3 . 1 L o c a t i o n a l C o n t e x t

The City of Belmont is a Local Government Area that lies within the Central Metropolitan Perth sub-region and is

in the inner eastern suburbs of the Western Australian capital city of Perth. It is located about five kilometres east

of Perth's central business district on the south bank of the Swan River. The Perth domestic and international

airports form the eastern border and significant industrial land forms the southern border.

The City of Belmont consists of 6 residential suburbs including Ascot, Belmont, Cloverdale, Kewdale, Redcliffe

and Rivervale. The Perth Airport forms its own suburb and has a mixture of commercial and industrial uses

(Refer to Figure 3).

Figure 3. City of Belmont and Suburbs

Source: Thao Ashford Planning Consultant, 2012

City of Belmont


3 . 2 P o l i c y C o n t e x t

A detailed policy review was conducted (Refer to Appendix D) and the implications for community infrastructure

provision from this review are summarised below. These have been noted throughout the development of the

CIP:

» National policy indicates that successful regions have a large concentration of highly skilled knowledge

workers. Most often these workers migrate to regions that have a diversity of community infrastructure

as well as cultural and lifestyle choices. Thus the provision of community infrastructure and lifestyle

opportunities can be paramount to having a successful region.

» One of the main challenges from a national policy perspective is the uneven distribution of, and

accessibility to, education, health, employment, cultural and recreational opportunities within cities. This

contributes to socio-economic disparities between locations.

» The Central Metropolitan Perth Sub-regional Strategy is one of two sub-regional strategies that support

the implementation of Directions 2031. The Strategy focuses on development opportunities within the

inner and middle sectors of the Perth metropolitan area which includes the City of Belmont and 18 other

local government areas. The following strategies/actions have been identified as important

considerations for community infrastructure provision:

- Plan for a diverse mix of services, facilities, activities, amenities and housing types in centres to

facilitate economic development and employment.

- Maximise urban infrastructure efficiency and equity and coordinate the planning of new capital

works to support future population growth.

- Involve service authorities and agencies in planning for growth and sharing information to

improve sub-regional infrastructure coordination and land use planning.

- Review and monitor infrastructure capacity for areas subject to increased residential

development such as transit oriented developments and key urban corridors, activity centres

and key planned urban growth areas and update infrastructure coordination and land use plans

accordingly.

» It is important to consider the local context in which the current CIP is being developed. This ensures

that the CIP is integrated with existing local policies and achieves broad outcomes and objectives set by

the local authority. From the policy review, the following broad objectives were also identified in relation

to the provision of community infrastructure:

- Promote long term sustainability of the City through a sense of belonging, community

ownership, engagement, and diversity;

- Ensure well planned facilities and amenities to inspire confidence and enable communities to

thrive;

- Community facilities, together with business, transport, residential diversity, and location

contribute to make the City of Belmont a true ‘City of Opportunity’;

- Demonstrate leadership in community development through a facilitative and consultative

approach including partnerships and alliances;

- Recognise the commonalities and differences in the needs and aspirations of diverse

segments of the community;

- Ensure equal opportunity and access to services and facilities;

- Develop community capacity and self reliance, and encourage a high standard of community

health and wellbeing;

- Create a City that evokes feelings of wellbeing, security and safety;

- Ensure that the cultural and historical significance of the City is identified and captured;

- Manage the City’s infrastructure and assets in a way that ensures appropriate levels of service

are provided to the community; and

- Community development and engagement remains a whole of City of Belmont priority.

City of Belmont


3 . 2 . 1 T h e R o l e o f t h e C i t y o f B e l m o n t

The Activity Centres Hierarchy outlined in Direction 2031 and Beyond (WAPC, 2010) indicates that the City of

Belmont is a Secondary Centre. A Secondary Centre shares similar characteristics with strategic Metropolitan

Centres but serves smaller catchments and offer a more limited range of services, facilities, and employment

opportunities. Given this status, is not expected that the City of Belmont will provide regionally significant

community infrastructure into the future.

As a Secondary Centre, the City of Belmont is expected to cater for the local community and offer a range of

infrastructure, including community infrastructure that supports the needs of the local area. Understanding the

level of need of residents, workers and visitors is essential in ensuring that the City performs its intended role.

Figure 4. Direct ion 2031 Act iv i ty Centres Hierarchy

Source: Direction 2031

Source: Direction 2031, WAPC, 2010

3 . 2 . 2 I m p l i c a t i o n s o f W o r k e r s o n

C o m m u n i t y I n f r a s t r u c t u r e

As noted previously, the City of Belmont is home to the Perth Domestic and International Airports as well as

significant industrial areas, which means there is a large worker population present in the community. An

analysis of ABS Journey to Work data, which shows how many workers live locally, how many commute from

other areas and from which areas they commute, revealed that in 2011 there was an estimated 33,639 people

working in the Belmont LGA and of this number approximately 3,905 people or 11.6% lived in the City of

Belmont.

City of Belmont


The presence of a large worker population will have implications for community infrastructure demand in the City

of Belmont. As noted at the outset, however, at the time of this study there was limited available information on

workers use or desired use of community infrastructure. Therefore worker demands and needs on community

infrastructure could not be determined.

Studies conducted by the Project Team into workers use of community infrastructure in other jurisdictions

indicate that workers primarily use childcare facilities as well as private gyms close to their place of work. In

highly dense areas such as a city centre, workers are also known to use libraries where they are conveniently

located and easily accessible.

It is a recommendation of this report that further work be carried out in the City of Belmont to understand workers

needs in regards to social infrastructure.

3 . 3 P o p u l a t i o n a n d D e m o g r a p h i c

C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s

In planning for community infrastructure it is important to understand the demographics of the study area9. This

in turn provides insights into better understanding the likely key areas of demand and future need. An

examination of the demographic characteristics of the City of Belmont and local catchments has resulted in the

identification of some key considerations for infrastructure provision (Appendix E).

The City of Belmont is located to the east of the Perth CBD and as of June 2012 was home to an estimated

resident population of 38,570 people. As noted, the City of Belmont includes the localities of Ascot, Belmont,

Cloverdale, Kewdale, Redcliffe and Rivervale. The Perth Airport is considered as its own category. The following

overview of each catchment area has been taken from the City of Belmont Business Profile:

» Ascot - The population of Ascot has increased substantially since the mid 1990s a result of new

dwellings being added to the area, particularly from the Ascot Waters, Ascot Vale and Tibradden

developments. Key features include Ascot Racecourse, the Ascot Waters Marina Village and Perth’s

only metropolitan Residential and Stables zone.

» Belmont - Belmont is an established mixed use area with residential, commercial and industrial land

use. Major features of the area include the Belgravia Residential Estate, Centenary Park, Signal Hill

Bushland, Mixed Business zone, Adachi Park, Belmont City College and Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre.

» Cloverdale – The population in Cloverdale declined during the 1990s, and then increased slightly

between 2001 and 2006, a result of new dwellings being added to the area. Cloverdale is a residential

area with a significant retail and commercial presence in its south-west. Major features include Belmont

Forum Shopping Centre, PJ Faulkner Park (partly in Belmont), Forster Park, Middleton Park, Miles Park,

Belmont Sport and Recreation Club, Gerry Archer Athletics Centre, the Belmont Civic Centre and the

Belmont Youth and Family Services.

» Kewdale –Similar to Cloverdale, the population of Kewdale declined during the early 1990s, and then

was relatively stable between 1996 and 2006, a result of some new dwellings being added to the area,

but a decline in the average number of persons living in each dwelling. Kewdale is primarily a residential

and industrial area. Major features include the Kewdale Freight Terminal, Peet Park, Tomato Lake,

Tomato Lake Reserve, and the Australian Islamic College.

9 For the purposes of the demographic analysis the geographic area used is the City of Belmont Local Government Area

(LGA). The data for the local catchments are based on suburb boundaries (SA2) as classified by the ABS. The analysis takes into consideration recently released 2011 Census data and where possible, comparisons were drawn between the 2006 and 2011 census periods. At the time of writing this report the ABS had not yet released date for Socio Economic Indicator for Advantage (SEIFA).

City of Belmont


» Redcliffe – Redcliffe is an industrial and residential area with significant redevelopment. Major features

of the area include the Perth Mint International Gold Refinery, Lakeside Aged Care Facility, Parkview

Aged Care Facility and St Marie Goretti Catholic School.

» Rivervale - Rivervale is bounded by Belmont Avenue in the north, Sydenham Street in the east, Orrong

Road and the Graham Farmer Freeway in the south and the Swan River in the west. Rivervale is a

residential area with a commercial strip along Great Eastern Highway. Major features of the area include

the Eastgate Commercial Centre, The Springs, Cracknell Park, and Wilson Park.

» Perth Airport – Most of the Perth Airport (International and Domestic) including commercial and

logistics businesses on the Airport estate, lies within the boundaries of the City of Belmont, however a

significant area also falls within the City of Swan and a small area in the Shire of Kalamunda.

Understanding the projected demographic environment is also important in community infrastructure planning. At

the time of this study, small area population projections – that is local catchments or suburbs such as Ascot,

Kewdale, Redcliffe etc – were not available. In the absence of any available projections for the small areas and

for the purpose of the Community Infrastructure Plan for the City of Belmont, the Project Team produced

forecasts of population projections for the small areas within Belmont LGA (Refer to Appendix F).

Existing Resident Population

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Estimated Resident Population (ERP)10 for the City of

Belmont, in 2011 there was an estimated resident population of 37,350 in Belmont LGA. This represented an

increase of approximately 5,528 people or 17% between the two census period of 2006 and 2011. Over the five

year period to 2011, the average annual growth rate of Belmont LGA was 3.5%, higher than Greater Perth rate of

2.8%.

Figure 5 shows the population change in the local planning catchments of Belmont for the 2006 to 2011 census

period. The local catchment that experienced the highest proportional change over this time was Belmont, which

increased by 23.3%, this was followed by Rivervale with 18.9%. Redcliffe recorded the smallest population

increase at 11.2% over the five year period.

Figure 5. Populat ion Growth, Local Catchments , 2011

2006 2011 % Change

Ascot 1987 2269 14.2%

Belmont 5079 6263 23.3%

Cloverdale 6457 7272 12.6%

Kewdale 5438 6189 13.8%

Redcliffe 4279 4757 11.2%

Rivervale 7069 8402 18.9%

Source: ABS Census Basic Community Profile, 2006 and 2011

10 The most comprehensive population count available in Australia is derived from the Census of Population and Housing

conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics every five years. However the Census count is not the official population of the

City of Belmont. To provide a more accurate population figure which is updated more frequently than every five years, the

Australian Bureau of Statistics also produces "Estimated Resident Population" (ERP) numbers for the City of Belmont. For the

purpose of this report the ERP has been used as the official population count for Belmont LGA. It should be noted that ERP is

not available at the suburb boundary (SA2) level (i.e. local catchments) and therefore resident population for the local

catchments are based on ABS Census Basic Community Profiles (actual count on census night).

City of Belmont


Resident Population Projections

As noted previously, at the time of this study, population projections for the local catchments were not yet

available and in this regard, the Project Team undertook a population forecasting exercise to develop population

projections for the local catchments within Belmont LGA (Refer to Appendix F).

Two sets of population projections were developed for the purposes of this study. The base population

scenario which takes into consideration historical marginal growth rate for each of the local catchments based on

ABS Census data and consistent with the overall population projection numbers, form the WA Tomorrow

projections for Belmont LGA. Approved and potential local residential development projects have also been taken

into account to provide a more realistic population projection, resulting in an adjusted population scenario.

This report uses the adjusted population scenario as the preferred scenario for purposes of determining

community infrastructure needs based on population growth.

Table 5 shows the expected population increase over the next 15 years for the Belmont LGA and local

catchments. As can be noted, by 2026 it is expected that the resident population of the area will increase by an

estimated 23,000 people, which is an annual average growth rate of 4.36%.

Table 5. Adjusted Populat ion Project ions

2012 2016 2021 2026 Annual Average

Growth Rate

Ascot 2540 3762 7065 8036 15.46%

Redcliffe 5211 5738 8261 9121 5.36%

Belmont 6674 7103 7803 10348 3.93%

Cloverdale 7905 8287 8650 10958 2.76%

Rivervale 9065 9655 12527 13847 3.77%

Kewdale 6605 6769 6858 8864 2.44%

Belmont LGA 38000 41313 51163 61175 4.36%

Source: Thao Ashford Planning Consultants, 2012

The following key points have been highlighted:

» Kewdale will see the least amount of growth over the study period, growing by an estimated 2,200

people.

» The majority of growth is expected to occur in Ascot, which will see the largest increase in overall

population numbers from an estimated 2,540 people in 2012 to 8,036 people in 2026.

» By 2026 Rivervale will have the largest concentration of the City of Belmont population with 13,847

people.

» By 2026 Ascot will have the smallest concentration of the City’s population at an estimated 8,036

people.

Age Profile

The current population of Belmont LGA according to the ABS 2011 Census is characterised by a large proportion

of people in the 20 to 39 age bracket (35.2% of the total population) and this trend is expected to be maintained

into the future. Between 2006 and 2011 the median age of Belmont LGA has slightly decreased from 37 to 35.

Other notable findings that will impact on future requirements for community infrastructure include the ageing of

the population as well as an expected increase in young children. Analysis of the WA Tomorrow Population

City of Belmont


projections shows expected increase in people aged over 60 years as well as young children aged between 0

and 9.

» Between 2006 and 2011, people aged 60 and over increased by 5.7%. In 2011, people aged 60 and

over accounted for 18.5% of the total population and according to the WA Tomorrow Population

projections by WAPC, it is expected that by 2026 the 60+ age group will account for between 25% and

26% (depending on Band) of the total population. This will lead to long term increase in aged care

services.

» Between 2006 and 2011, the number of young children (0-9) increased from 3,473 to 4,208 or by 41%.

In 2011 young children (0-9) accounted for 12% of the total population, the analysis suggests that this

age group is expected to increase over time. It is expected that by 2026 the number of children aged 0-9

will increase to 4,400 and 4,800 (depending on Band) from an estimated 4,208 at 2011. This will result

in a requirement for appropriate children’s and family services.

A review of the age profile for the local catchments indicated the following key trends:

» Redcliffe and Cloverdale have the highest proportion of young children aged 0 to 9 years 13.6% and

13.0% respectively.

» Rivervale has the highest proportion of young adults aged 20 to 29 years, 23.2%.

» Ascot has the highest proportion of people 50 years and over. This age group accounted for 36.6% of

the total population of Ascot.

» Consistent with an older population, Ascot has a higher median age (40 years) when compared to the

other catchments.

Family and Household Type

The dominant family type in Belmont LGA in 2011 is ‘couples families with children’ with Kewdale having the

highest number of families in this category at 53.6%. ‘Couple families without children’ is most common in Ascot.

Cloverdale and Redcliffe have more ‘one parent families’ when compared to other catchments in the study area.

Between 2006 and 2011 the proportion of ‘couple family without children’ in Belmont LGA has decreased by

1.1% whilst the number of ‘couple family with children’ has increased by 3.7%. There are more ‘one parent

families’ in Belmont LGA (22.9%) when compared to Greater Perth (18.2%).

Analysis of the number of people who usually reside in a given household in both the Belmont LGA and Greater

Perth in 2011 shows two person households (this includes family and non family households) was the dominant

household size in Belmont LGA and Greater Perth. There is a proportionally higher rate of single person

households (30%) in Belmont LGA, when compared to Greater Perth (24%). However, there is also a

proportionally lower occurrence of households with four or more residents in the Belmont LGA.

Notwithstanding the above information, comparisons between 2006 and 2011 shows that the average household

size has increased in Belmont LGA from 2.2 persons per household in 2006 to 2.4 persons per household in

2011, indicating that a number of larger households have been moving to the area. This was confirmed by the

City of Belmont, which indicated that policy decisions to promote and enhance Belmont as a family oriented

community has been successful.

Cultural Profile

Analysis of the country of birth of the population in 2011 indicates that the Belmont LGA is a highly diverse

community with a relatively large number of people born overseas and from non-English speaking backgrounds.

Overall, 37.2% of the population was born overseas and consistent with this, Belmont LGA also exhibited higher

proportions of people who spoke a language other than English at home, when compared to Greater Perth

(23.8% for Belmont compared to 16.7% for Greater Perth). Data indicates there is a significant Asian population

City of Belmont


in Belmont, particularly for people born in India, China and Philippines, with many of these people predominantly

living in Rivervale.

An analysis of the number of people who were either born in Australia or overseas in 2011 for the local

catchments showed Kewdale and Rivervale having higher proportions of people born overseas when compared

to other catchments in the study area. Significantly, 40.6% of Kewdale residents indicated they were born

overseas compared to 53.7% who indicated they were born in Australia, 5.7% did not state their country of birth.

This proportional split is significant when compared to other local catchments such as Ascot, which shows a split

of 31.4% born overseas and 60.8% born in Australia.

According to the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship (2012), there were a total of

5,068 overseas settlers arriving in the Belmont LGA between 1 January 2002 and 1 January 2012. Of these,

3,262 persons or 64.4% arrived as skilled migrants, 1,271 or 25.1% as family-sponsored migrants and 533 or

10.5% as humanitarian entrants. A closer examination of the migration data indicates that people from Asia are

well represented in all migration stream categories for the stated period. The data showed the following:

» Of all settlers arriving in Belmont LGA on skilled migration visas, 901 or 27.6% were from Southeast

Asia (e.g. Philippines, Indonesia), 825 or 25.3% from Southern Asia (e.g. Afghanistan and India), 524 or

16.1% from Northeast Asia (e.g. China and Korea) and 440 or 13.5% from Southern and East Africa

(e.g. South Africa).

» Those arriving through family-sponsored migration were also predominantly from Asian regions,

including Southeast Asia (348 persons; 27.4%), Northeast Asia (228 persons; 18.0%) and Southern

Asia (197 persons; 15.5%).

» Humanitarian entrants from Southern Asia accounted for 27.6% (147 persons) of refugees settling in the

Belmont LGA. They were closely followed by refugees from Central and West Africa (140 persons;

26.3%) and Southern and East Africa (103 persons; 13.5%). Of all humanitarian entrants, 54.5% were

from Africa.

Followers of religions other than Christianity have shown the largest proportional increases since the 2006

census. The number of persons affiliated with Islam increased by 2.4%, Hinduism by 1.2% and Buddhism by

1.0%. The most prominent religion other than Christianity is Islam with 2.9% of the population affiliated with this

religion in 2006 and 5.3% in 2011. This was considerably higher when compared to Greater Perth in 2011

(2.1%).

Indigenous Profile

According to the ABS Census the number of Indigenous people in Belmont LGA has decreased by 0.3% or 942

people between 2006 and 2011. In 2006 the estimated number of Indigenous people was 1,994 or 3.3% and in

2011 the census recorded 1052 or 3.0% Indigenous people living in the Belmont LGA. When compared to

Greater Perth, Belmont LGA has nearly doubled the proportion of Indigenous people (3.0% in Belmont LGA and

1.6% in Greater Perth). The highest concentration of Indigenous people in the study area is Cloverdale, which

showed 4.1% of people who identified themselves as Indigenous. Ascot and Kewdale have the smallest

proportion of Indigenous people living in these areas, 0.6% and 1.9% respectively.

It is important to note, however, the actual number of Indigenous people living in Belmont LGA is likely to be

significantly higher for two reasons. First, Indigenous people are often undercounted because they may lack

information, literacy skills and support required to fully complete the census form. Second, people living in state

or community housing arrangements, including those provided by the Department of Housing, may purposely

undercount how many people (e.g. extended family members) are living in their dwelling to avoid potential

eviction or loss of tenure. Therefore, Census figures provide a lower enumeration count than the actual number

of Indigenous population living in an area.

Core Needs for Assistance

City of Belmont


Need for assistance is defined as people requiring assistance in their core activities such as self-care, body

movements or communication as a result of a profound disability, long-term health condition, or old age. Between

2006 and 2011 the number of people needing assistance in Belmont LGA has increased from 1,395 people to

1,464 people or by 0.4%.

The Belmont LGA community reported high proportions of people requiring assistance with core activities due to

a disability when compared to Greater Perth in 2011, 4.6% compared to 3.6%. Across the Belmont LGA, the age

groups that require assistance with core activities is predominantly those aged 55 and above accounting for

69.7% of total people needing assistance.

Socio-Economic Indexes for all Areas (SEIFA)

The Socio-Economic Indexes for all Areas (SEIFA) measure the relative level of socio-economic disadvantage

based on income, educational attainment, unemployment and occupation data from the ABS Census. At the time

of writing this report, the 2011 SEIFA figures from the ABS had not yet been released, therefore SEIFA data

reported on is 2006. The most recent SEIFA figures available from the 2006 Census indicate the City of Belmont

was the second most disadvantaged local government area within the Greater Perth Region (after Kwinana).

Within the City, Rivervale was the most disadvantaged with a SEIFA index of 941, followed by Belmont (947.9)

and Cloverdale (948.4). In contrast, the locality with least disadvantage was Ascot with a SEIFA index of 1074.5,

which was better than the average for the Greater Perth Region and Western Australia.

3 . 4 S u m m a r y a n d I m p l i c a t i o n s

The policy, context and demographic review for the Belmont area have highlighted a number of key implications

for this study:

» Given the City of Belmont’s proximity to City of Perth and its secondary centre status, it is not

anticipated that the City of Belmont will provide regionally significant community infrastructure (i.e.

Hospital, Universities, Regional Art Galleries etc).

» As a Secondary Centre, the City of Belmont is expected to cater for the local community and offer a

range of infrastructure, including community infrastructure that supports the needs of the local area.

» Based on the population forecasts produced for the study, it is likely that Ascot and Redcliffe local

catchments will be the focal point for the majority of residential growth over the next 15 years.

» Expected resident population increase in the Belmont LGA will mean a general increase in demand for

community services and facilities in the short to medium term.

» The population is expected to age overtime (60 years and over) which will lead to long term increase in

the need for aged care services and facilities.

» The overall proportion of young children (0-9) has significantly increased over the last five years and the

analysis suggests that this age group is expected to increase overtime. The result is likely to be an

increased requirement for appropriate children’s and family services.

» The dominance of ‘lone person households’ and ‘one parent families’ will increase the demand for

programs and services aimed at promoting social interaction.

» The increase in the number of people requiring assistance for ‘core activity needs’ (i.e. people with a

profound disability) will mean a requirement for more services and facilities to support people with a

disability, this also extends to access and inclusion.

» The Belmont LGA is a culturally diverse community which includes people from Aboriginal backgrounds,

Asian heritage and a prominent Islamic community which will mean a demand for culturally specific

services.

City of Belmont


» There is evidence of a high migrant population in the City of Belmont, including skilled migrants, family

sponsored and humanitarian entrants. Consideration will need to be given to this demographic to ensure

appropriate services and facilities are available, to ensure migrants can successfully transition into the

community.

» Consistent with the high number of people born overseas, there is a high proportion of people who

speak a language other than English at home. This will mean requirements for interpreting and

translation services need to be catered for.

City of Belmont


4.0 Ex is t ing Communi ty

In f ras t ruc tu re

4 . 1 E x i s t i n g F a c i l i t i e s a n d S e r v i c e s

A detailed audit including demand and capacity of existing community facilities and services within the City of

Belmont was undertaken (Refer to Appendix G). The audit was primarily informed by the City of Belmont

Community Services and Events Guide 2012 and supplemented with consultation with facility managers and

service providers.

The following should be taken into consideration when noting the audit of community facilities:

» The audit has been primarily based on the City of Belmont’s Community Services and Events Guide

2012 and further supplemented where possible by the project team.

» It should be acknowledged that the audit was taken at a point in time (November 2012) and therefore

does not include any facilities that may have come on line since this time.

The audit indicated that at November 2012 there were approximately 68 community facilities located in the City of

Belmont. These facilities vary from those that are owned and operated by the local government authority,

privately owned and operated, and state owned facilities. Table 6 sets out the identified facilities in each of the

catchment areas in the City of Belmont.

As illustrated in Table 6 the majority of community facilities are located in the Cloverdale catchment. Local level

community facilities are equally spread across the local catchments, with the exception of Ascot which seems to

have limited facilities.

City of Belmont


Table 6. Exist ing Community Fac i l i t ies

Level Facility

Ascot Belmont Cloverdale Kewdale Redcliffe Rivervale Perth Airport Belmont LGA

Community Centre/space 1 2 2 2 1 8

Childcare Centre 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7

Pre-Primary and Kindergarten 1 2 2 1 1 7

Primary School (Private) 1 1 2

Primary School (Public) 1 2 2 1 2 8

Special Needs School 2 2

Multi-purpose Community Centre 1 1 2

Youth Centre 1 1

Youth Recreation Space 1 1

Indoor Recreation Centre 1 1

Aquatic/Leisure Centre 1 1

District Library 1 1

Toy Library 1 1

Aged Care/Respite 1 1

Community Health Clinic/Centre 1 1 2

Maternal and Child Health 3 3

Arts and Cultural Centre 1 1

Museum 1 1

Seniors Centre 1 1

High School (Public) 1 1

Private Colleges 1 1 2

Religious Places 5 3 1 3 12

Police 1 1

SES 1 1

Ambulance 1 1

1 15 25 9 9 8 1 68

Existing

Local

TOTAL

District

City of Belmont


The audit of services showed that the City of Belmont is catered for by a range of services (refer to Appendix G

for full list of services), including family support and children’s services. Figure 6 illustrates the concentration of

existing services across the local catchments in Belmont. As can be seen, services are generally located in

Cloverdale and Rivervale, and to a lesser extent in Belmont. Only a few services are provided in Ascot and

Redcliffe.

Through the audit it was noted that there is generally a lack of disability services and services for the CALD

population operating in the City of Belmont.

Many services were identified that were utilised by the City of Belmont population, but were located out of the

area e.g. Cannington and Perth (Section 4.2 provides a detailed snapshot of the services currently operating in

the City of Belmont).

Figure 6. Exist ing Community Services

Source: Thao Ashford Planning Consultant 2012

City of Belmont


4 . 2 C a p a c i t y o f E x i s t i n g F a c i l i t i e s

a n d S e r v i c e s

4 . 2 . 1 E d u c a t i o n

The audit shows 11 existing primary schools in the City of Belmont (both public and private), and one public

secondary school (Belmont City College). Information received from the Department of Education (DOE)

indicated that there is sufficient capacity in the current public primary schools to cater for additional schooling

needs to 201511 with the exception of Redcliffe Primary School. Data provided by the DOE suggests that

Redcliffe Primary has an ultimate capacity of 265 students, enrolment projections for this primary school is

expected to reach 303 students by 2014.

According to data provided by the DOE, Belmont City College has an ultimate capacity of 960 students and

current enrolments, based on information received from the Principal of Belmont City College, is 580 students

with another 20 students enrolled for 2013. DOE projections for the high school show the College is expected to

reach 623 students by 2015.

There are also a number of Private Colleges in the City of Belmont, which include the Australian Islamic College

(AIC) and Harvest West Bible College. Discussions with the Principal and other representatives of the AIC

indicated that the college currently has an enrolment of 1,100 students and it has capacity to accommodate more

students. AIC is open to all students and currently there are few non-Muslim students that attend the school.

Approximately 55 cultures are represented at the AIC and the main cultural groups include: Somalia, Iraq,

Afghanistan, and African. The school teaches the Australian curricula plus Islamic studies. It offers English as a

Second Language program and English transition classes. It was further noted that some students are travelling

more than 100km to come to AIC due to lack of affordable housing in the area.

AIC indicated that they would like to offer its 50 metre swimming pool for public use, particularly as a ‘ladies only’

pool for women wanting privacy when swimming. The pool can be used after school and on weekends. However,

the pool requires maintenance work (approximately $350,000) for it to be functional.

The Harvest West College offers fully accredited training for all forms of ministry, including youth, children,

chaplaincy and pastoral. Austudy and VET FEE-HELP (Centrelink approved) Certificate IV, Diploma and

Bachelor degrees.

There are no TAFE campuses or Universities in the City of Belmont and the closest tertiary facilities are located

in the surrounding LGAs of City of Perth and Victoria Park.

11 The Department of Education forecast period is from 2012 to 2015

City of Belmont


4 . 2 . 2 C u l t u r a l

The City of Belmont is serviced by a central library, a museum, a community-run toy library, a Latvian Library

catering for the Latvian Lutheran Congregation, and an Arts and Crafts Resource Centre.

The Ruth Faulkner Library and the Belmont Museum are the only major cultural facilities within the City of

Belmont. Both the library and the museum are located next to PJ Faulkner Park in Cloverdale, near the City of

Belmont Civic Centre.

The library houses a diverse collection of books, magazines, audio-visual materials and online resources. It runs

regular activities for children, young people and adults, including a book club, a homework club, English

conversation classes, children’s story time and movie session for young adults. Computer and printing facilities

are available for public use for a nominal fee. Aside from computer stations and study desks, the library also has

an events room and a meeting room (catering for 30-50 people depending on seating configuration), which are

regularly used by community groups to run meetings and activities. Library patronage averages 500-600 people

per day. Discussions with the Library co-ordinator indicated that the library was currently operating at full capacity

in terms of physical space, electricity demand and holding stock.

The Belmont Museum is owned by the City of Belmont. Previously, the museum was managed by the Belmont

Historical Society and is now being managed by City of Belmont staff. It is a purpose-built building housing a

collection of artefacts and items of high local historical significance. The building consists of a main exhibition

area, an administration office, kitchen, toilets and courtyard. According to City of Belmont information, issues

associated with the existing museum building include:

» Lack of storage and exhibition areas

» No quarantine area for processing of artefacts

» No temperature/humidity control

» Lack of public access to research facilities

The Arts and Crafts Resource Centre in Cloverdale is a building owned by City of Belmont and utilised by

Belmont Potters Group, Belmont Districts Family and Individual Support Association (monthly) and Amphitheatre

Arts (twice monthly). The building consists of a multipurpose arts and crafts space, pottery room, kiln room and

storage. According to City of Belmont information, the building is outdated and underutilised, and the kiln needs

to be replaced. An opportunity exists to improve usage of this facility to grow art and craft activities in the

community.

4 . 2 . 3 H e a l t h

Bentley Armadale Medicare Local is one of the largest health provider in the area. Discussions with the Bentley

Armadale Medicare Local branch identified a new Medicare Local Clinic opening up in Redcliffe in Belvedere

Street. Whilst this facility is still in its early days and further discussion is needed with potential service providers

to determine the types of services that could run out of the facility, it was noted that the clinic will initially provide

general clinical services, multi-cultural services including interpreters two days a week, podiatry and iron infusion

for anaemic patients requiring blood transfusion. In addition to having a physical presence in the City of Belmont,

there are a number of community health programs and services that the Bentley Armadale Medicare Local offers

through outreach:

» Aboriginal Health Services which includes a range of services and programs including Aboriginal

outreach worker, care coordinator, health check programs GP Links Program, a number of workshops

and information services.

City of Belmont


» Mental Health Program which offers a counselling service for people who could benefit from short-

term counselling, predominately in areas such as: depression and anxiety, prenatal depression, suicide

prevention and self-harm.

» Chronic Disease Programs which includes Chronic Disease Self Management Workshops, Chronic

Pain Self Management Program, Diabetes Self Management Program and Healthy Lifestyle Program.

There is a Child Health Centre operating in Belmont which is funded by the Department of Health. Located in

Cloverdale, the Child Health Centre is staffed by registered nurses with qualifications in child and family health.

The Centre provides a range of services in partnership with parents and carers of babies and young children up

to the age of four years. Community Child Health Nurses can assess children's health and development as well

as provide information about many aspects of parenting, maternal and family health and healthy lifestyles. All

services are free. In addition to the Child Health Centre, the City of Belmont provides a free immunisation clinic

for babies and young children to be immunised against a range of diseases. Clinics are held twice a month

(except December).

4 . 2 . 4 S p o r t a n d R e c r e a t i o n

The City of Belmont is serviced by two district level sport facilities: Belmont Sports and Recreation Club and

Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre. Both facilities offer a variety of sporting activities as well as room hire for

community use.

Discussions with the manager of the Belmont Sports and Recreation Club (who has recently taken over

management of the facility) suggested that the centre could do with more training rooms. Currently there are

three training rooms for hire, one is permanently occupied, another room is too small (about ten people) and the

remaining room has bookings for the next 31 weeks and will fill up quickly. Due to limited training rooms the

centre is turning away between one and three (week long) bookings a month. The demand for training rooms is

generated by the commercial businesses.

The Belmont Oasis Centre reported that the Centre is well used and caters for around 3,500 members. There is

some spare capacity within the facility to cater for future population. However it was noted that the health club

(focus on obesity/health fitness) is at capacity as well as the crèche.

4 . 2 . 5 S p e c i a l I n t e r e s t G r o u p s

Special interest groups have been identified as groups that have specific requirements for services and facilities.

These groups include:

» Youth

» Young Children

» Seniors

» Aboriginal People

» Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Population

» People with Disabilities

Below is a summary of the identified facilities and services catering for the needs of special interest groups.

City of Belmont


Youth

There is one youth facility located in the City of Belmont. The Belmont Youth & Family Service Centre is owned

by the City of Belmont and the Contract for the Provision of Youth Services is currently outsourced to YMCA

Perth. The Youth Centre currently provides support for young people, 11-18 years, (and their family members)

who reside or attend school within the City of Belmont. The service offers a variety of opportunities that

encourage young people and their family members to access support from experienced professionals. These

opportunities include: Case Management; art, music and cultural programs; school holiday activities; a ‘drop in’

style games room; Youth Advisory Committee; and support for the Alternative Learning Centre.

Discussions with a representative of YMCA noted that since taking over management of the Youth Centre, there

has been a significant increase in the number of young people using the facility. YMCA advised that they will

soon be expanding services and program delivery to include specialised counselling services, outreach work and

further structured activities and programs. It was suggested that the Youth Centre is well utilised and is at

capacity. In partnership with Belmont City College, the Youth Centre offers an Alternative Learning Centre for

students who are disengaged from mainstream schooling. Currently the program can take up to a maximum of 15

students. It was advised by the City’s Youth and Community Projects Coordinator that if there was more space

available the number of students could potentially triple. Whilst the facility does not have adequate outdoor

space, outdoor programs are being run in the adjoining school oval.

There are various churches in the City that offers out of school and holiday programs for young people. For

example, the Rivervale Church of Christ offers a social get together for young people. The purpose of the social

group is for young people to meet new people in the community. The church offers constructive, safe social

activities that assist in personal development.

Young Children

There are seven Child Care Centres spread throughout the City of Belmont. Discussions with six of the Child

Care Centre managers indicated that there is minimal capacity within these centres, with three indicating they

have waiting lists, whilst others indicate they only have room for certain age groups (e.g. babies and toddlers).

Most centres offer before and after school care as well as vacation care, however there are limited vacancies for

this type of care due to the combination of demand and space limitations.

In addition to childcare, other facilities and services that are targeted at young children include Belmont Toy

Library (discussed in Section 4.2.2), child health services (discussed in Section 4.2.3) as well as playgroups.

There are over 10 playgroups currently operating in the City of Belmont. Discussions with Playgroup WA

Development Officer indicated that there is a lack of suitable building facilities for playgroups e.g. indoor and

outdoor spaces with play equipment. Ideally playgroups require a facility that is multipurpose and accessible.

Currently playgroups run out of community centres and churches, most meet minimum standards but others are

not suitable due to, for example, some facilities not having kitchen areas for the preparation of food.

Seniors

There is a seniors’ centre located in Cloverdale. The Belmont Senior Citizens Club is a well used facility and

caters to about 300 members and up to 60 people at any one time. Discussion with a representative from the

seniors centre indicated that this facility is used frequently and there are issues with multiple bookings (i.e.

activities wanting to be on at the same time), as well as structural issues with the building. The current centre is in

an ideal location because of the bus stop (ideal for people with mobility issues) and proximity to the shopping

centre.

City of Belmont


The City of Belmont administers the Belmont Home and Community Care Service (HACC) which is a federal and

state funded program. HACC services are available to clients that receive HACC funding and services offered

include: meals on wheels, domestic assistance, personal care and social support.

A respite service (City of Belmont Adult Day Centre) which operates under the HACC umbrella, services the

Belmont community. The service operates out of the Redcliffe Community Hall. It was reported by the manager

that this facility caters to about 150 clients, is well utilised and is at capacity. It was noted that there are plans to

relocate the facility to new and expanded premises in Harman Street, Belmont (the site of the old Harman Street

Preschool) to cater for additional demand.

Aboriginal People

Jacaranda Community Centre was identified as the primary provider of services and programs to Aboriginal

people in the City of Belmont. The Centre is a not for profit organisation dedicated to meeting the needs of both

Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people through the delivery of community development programs and services

including counselling, financial management, computer training, art and pottery, food relief, welfare support,

computer training, health, recreation and targeted programs for children, young people, seniors, women, men,

parents, people on bail, migrants and refugees.

Another Aboriginal service located in the City of Belmont is Advocare Inc. This organisation provides a state-

wide advocacy and information referral service for older Aboriginal people (50 years and over), and their carers. It

assists clients by identifying options for Home And Community Care and residential accommodation, and on

issues such as elder abuse. According to Advocare Inc, only a small proportion of their clients are based in the

City of Belmont which was believed to be due to the City’s Aboriginal population being a younger demographic,

less than 50 years of age. The organisation has capacity to service more clients.

As noted above, the new Medicare Local Clinic also provides specific health services for Aboriginal people (see

Section 4.2.3).

Culturally & Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Population

As discussed previously, the City has no dedicated migrant and humanitarian support service catering for the

needs of people from CALD backgrounds. CommuniCare in Cannington (outside the City of Belmont) is the

nearest settlement service provider, offering school-based activities and life skills training to the CALD

community. The school-based activities program incorporates homework and reading assistance to children

aged six to 13 years of age who are of a refugee background and have been in Australia for between six months

and of five years. The program encourages parental engagement and operates out of public libraries and at the

CommuniCare office during school terms and school holidays. The CommuniCare lifeskills program involves a

series of workshops delivered to CALD women covering topics such as: preparation of affordable and healthy

meals, personal safety, home and garden management, use of household appliances and how to access

hospitals, doctors and other medical services.

In the absence of a dedicated multicultural support service, various organisations across the City have filled the

gap by running one-off programs specifically targeting people from CALD backgrounds, or have expanded their

existing services to be more inclusive of CALD people’s needs.

People with Disabilities

The audit of existing community infrastructure showed that the following organisations within the City of Belmont

providing services and programs for people with disabilities: Belmont Rotary Club (car market), Seniors Citizen

Centre, Salvation Army, Wanslea, Jacaranda Community Centre, church groups, Aspire/Work Power, Activ,

City of Belmont


Identity WA (disability group homes) and The Centre for Cerebral Palsy (currently not based in Belmont but has a

group home in the City).

It was noted by the Belmont Disability Access Focus Group that the Disability Services Commission (DSC) is the

main provider of disability services for the Belmont community and this is located in Cannington, and therefore

outside the City of Belmont which makes it difficult for people with a disability to access.

Discussions with a representative from The Centre for Cerebral Palsy organisation indicated that they are looking

for a space to be based in the City of Belmont. Requirements included space for a day centre, storage and

toilets.

4 . 2 . 6 C o m m u n i t y C e n t r e s / S p a c e

It was identified that there are numerous community centres and meeting spaces servicing the City. A large

majority of these facilities are owned and operated by the City of Belmont. They include the Rivervale

Community Centre, Forster Park Hall, Redcliffe Park Community Centre, Miles Park Community Centre,

Middleton Park Community Centre, Peet Park Community Centre and independently owned Jacaranda

Community Centre. In addition to these community centres, there are other purpose-built facilities that offer hall

space, meeting rooms and office space for community groups at commercial or discounted rates. They include

the Youth and Family Services Centre, Sport and Recreation Club, Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre, Belmont

Tennis Club, Belmont Arts and Crafts Resource Centre and Ruth Faulkner Library (for the latter two, refer to

Section 4.2.2). Some church facilities also offer halls and meeting rooms for public hire.

Based on the City of Belmont’s asset database, the following issues regarding capacity were noted for existing

City of Belmont-owned community centres and meeting spaces:

» Rivervale Community Centre is a well utilised facility catering for community, religious, state government

and commercial activities. User groups include Islam Australia, MOZAIC Church, Perth Home Care

Services, Marriage Celebrants of Australia, Kumon Australia, West Coast Brewers, Branham

Tabernacle Church Service, Western Australia Conference of Seven Day Adventist, Church on Higher

Ground, Perth and Districts Multiple Births Support and Playgroup, Child and Adolescent Health (child

care assessments) and other social and recreational groups. The City of Belmont has identified storage

and security as issues of concern associated with this facility;

» Forster Park Hall is used for diverse recreational activities such as martial arts, tai chi, football, teeball

and baseball on weekly and seasonal basis. It is also used for meetings by the Avicultural Society and

the Caged Bird Society. Currently, the club room and hall are being upgraded and once complete, this

facility will have additional capacity for use by other community groups;

» Redcliffe Park Community Centre is currently well utilised, however there is capacity to accommodate

other groups once the Ascot Day Centre relocates to Harman Street (the site of the old preschool). The

City of Belmont Day Centre is using the meeting rooms on a full time basis. The multipurpose rooms

are used by the Belmont Toy Library, Little Friends Playgroup, Belmont Brass Band, Australian Eurasian

Association, Girl Guides, Footprintz Dance Academy, Belmont Seventh Day Adventist, and other

recreational and sport activities including line dancing, softball and soccer;

» Miles Park Community Centre is being used by weekly playgroups, teeball and soccer activities. The

Centre requires a new kitchen, upgrades to the reserve lighting poles, safer toilet access and additional

storage space. The kitchen is being upgraded at present and further improvements to the clubrooms

are scheduled for 2016;

» Middleton Park Community Centre is presently used on a seasonal basis for football (winter) and cricket

(summer). An opportunity exists to hire out the clubrooms to community groups and maximise overall

usage of the facility; and

City of Belmont


» Peet Park Community Centre is being used by sporting clubs and community groups, namely the

Australian Red Cross, Bentley Armadale Medicare Local, junior football and cricket. There is scope for

additional usage of this facility.

The City of Belmont is also in the process of undertaking a $2 million redevelopment of Centenary Park, which

will result in the construction of a community centre accommodating various community services and groups.

Initial planning is also underway for the Faulkner Park Precinct, which seeks to establish a key community hub to

service the town centre.

Jacaranda Community Centre is a district level facility offering a diverse range of community services to residents

in and around the City of Belmont. It has a meeting room equipped with audio-visual facilities and an outdoor

meeting area available for community hire. The Centre is well utilised and appropriate for servicing current

demand.

4 . 2 . 7 C h u r c h e s a n d R e l i g i o u s O r g a n i s a t i o n

There are a large number of churches and religious facilities within the City of Belmont. These include churches

catering for diverse Christian denominations spread throughout the City as well as an Islamic Mosque in

Rivervale. In addition to these facilities, the Harvest Bible College in Belmont and the Australian Islamic College

in Kewdale provide places for worship.

Some churches offer meeting and function spaces for community use at a discounted rate. Due to timing

constraints, not all churches and religious facilities were able to be contacted for the audit process. Of those that

were consulted, the following churches had facilities available for hire by the general public:

» All Saints Anglican Church in Cloverdale has a hall catering for 100 people with access to a kitchen and

toilets. The hall is available for community groups to hire at $7-$8 per hour depending on the type of

activity/use. The hall is well utilised with activities being run every day of the week, including the

emergency food program (run by the Church), karate, Lend a Ear (a social support group for parents

with children who have a disability), Embroidery Group, Australian Higher Education Year 10 and 11

Vocational Training and Alcoholics Anonymous. The Church also has a community garden for use by

the clients of the emergency food program.

» Airport City Church in Belmont has a hall (maximum capacity of 400 people), a smaller hall (80-90

people) and a children’s hall (60 children) available for community use. The building is in good condition

and it also has toilets (including one with disability access), a kitchenette and a small outdoor

playground.

» The Latvian Centre in Belmont has a hall with a seating capacity of 150-200 people. There is also a

kitchenette and a toilet. The hall is mainly used by the organisation but is also available for community

groups to hire. The Centre is selective on who uses the facility as there have been bad experiences in

the past with external groups using the hall.

» Rivervale Church of Christ has a large facility that includes an auditorium, a hall and a smaller hall.

These are available for hire by community groups. The Church has experienced an increasing demand

from other church groups wanting to use the auditorium and halls to run their religious services. This is

likely to be due to church groups not having their own permanent site. The auditorium and halls are also

being used to run the Church’s own programs including the Sparkles and Busy Bees playgroups,

Mothers of Preschoolers social meet and Share ’n’ Care weekly program to reduce social isolation.

Religious organisations also deliver a vast range of family, children, youth, welfare and social support services to

residents in the City of Belmont. The types of services they offer vary between organisations and can include

food relief programs, financial assistance, arts and craft activities, cooking workshops, playgroups and out of

school and holiday activities for young people.

City of Belmont


4 . 2 . 8 E m e r g e n c y a n d S a f e t y

The City of Belmont is serviced by emergency and safety services. These include a police station located in

Cloverdale, SES and St John Ambulance located in Belmont.

The Belmont Police Station currently employs 40 staff. Discussions with the Senior Sergeant indicated that the

current police service is adequate to service the local community. However, it was mentioned that as population

increases there would be a demand for additional services into the future.

It was indicated by the Superintendent of the South East Metro that there is currently a review of the South East

Metro operations, details regarding this review are not yet available.

4 . 3 O p p o r t u n i t i e s w i t h i n E x i s t i n g

F a c i l i t i e s

From the audit of existing community infrastructure it is noted that opportunities exist to maximise the usage of

these facilities for community use. Of course, to be effective, where the City of Belmont does not own the facility,

they would need to work in partnership with a range of facility operators (such as churches and education

facilities). There were also a number of existing facilities that have been identified as potentially being

redeveloped/refurbished in the near future. A summary of the opportunities is provided below.

Faulkner Park Precinct

The proposed Faulkner Park Precinct could function as the City’s main community hub with the co-location of a

new library, museum, cafe, multipurpose space, a dedicated area for seniors, office space for not-for-

profit/community organisations and function rooms.

Centenary Park Community Centre

Centenary Park on Daly Street, Cloverdale will be redeveloped with opportunities for community and sporting

club uses as well as community meeting rooms and community space. Funding for this facility upgrade has been

obtained from Lotterywest ($500,000). The toy library is being considered for this facility.

Harman Park Community Centre

The Harman Street redevelopment will see a new facility built which will accommodate the existing City of

Belmont Adult Day Centre as well as run community activities. The facility has been funded through a three way

partnership between City of Belmont, Lotterywest and the Department of Health.

Redcliffe Park Community Centre

Once the redevelopment is complete at Harman Park, The City of Belmont Adult Day Centre will move out of the

Redcliffe Park Community Centre into the new facility. This will provide an opportunity for other community

groups to use the hall and clubrooms at Redcliffe Park Community Centre.

Forster Park

There is an opportunity for increased community usage of the hall and club rooms at Forster Park once

refurbishment works are completed in June 2013.

City of Belmont


Miles Park Community Centre

Miles Park Community Centre will be undergoing an upgrade, on completion the centre will be suitable for

community use such as playgroups.

Kewdale Kindy

Kewdale Kindy will be undergoing refurbishments to its facilities e.g. toilets and once these are completed there

will be opportunities for further community use.

Peachey Park

The City of Belmont is in the process of negotiating a land sale/purchase which could result in some City of

Belmont land adjacent to a reserve becoming available for a community facility.

Australian Islamic College (Pool)

The 50 metre swimming pool at the Australian Islamic College could be used to cater for people with special

needs, including women who want dedicated ‘ladies only’ swimming sessions and people with disabilities who

are not adequately catered for at the Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre. The pool is currently in disrepair and

approximately $350,000 is needed to bring the pool into a functional state.

Belmont Arts and Crafts Centre

An opportunity exists to promote the Belmont Arts and Crafts Resource Centre as a key arts facility within the

City and promote wider usage by arts and craft groups.

Bentley Armadale Medicare Local (BAML) Clinic

A new Medicare Local Clinic has recently opened in Belvidere Street Redcliffe. Whilst this facility is still in its

early days, there is an opportunity to work together with the BAML and further discussions with potential service

providers would be required to determine the types of services that could operate out of the facility.

City of Belmont


5.0 Ana lys is o f Communi ty

In f ras t ruc tu re Needs

(Needs Assessment )

To understand the extent of community infrastructure and the likely future demand for facilities and services, a

needs assessment was undertaken. This section presents the findings from the needs assessment and includes:

» Summary of Benchmark Analysis (comparative needs), which applied locally appropriate desired

standards of services (benchmarking) for facilities provision in the City of Belmont to the current and

future population. The benchmark analysis resulted in a list of needs currently required in the City of

Belmont and likely to be required in the future (Section 5.1).

» Consultation (felt needs), with key stakeholders and community organisations provided insights into

community infrastructure needs from a community perspective (Section 5.2).

» The summary of needs section brings together the benchmark analysis, consultation findings as well as

demographic trends (Section 3.3) and capacity and demand resulting from the audit (Section 4.2)

It is emphasised that identified ‘needs’ does not necessarily equate to facilities provision, as one facility may be

able to host a number of needs. The conversion of ‘needs’ to ‘facility provision’ is discussed in the next section.

This conversion uses the findings in the benchmark analysis, consultation and demographic trends, and applies

the guiding principles and models of provision to arrive at recommendations for required facilities.

5 . 1 B e n c h m a r k A n a l y s i s

By applying the recommended Desired Standards of Services as discussed in Section 2.5 for community facilities

to the adjusted population projections for the City of Belmont, and taking existing community facilities into

account, indicative needs for community facilities were determined for the planning horizon from 2012 to 2026. It

is important to note that application of benchmarks is only applicable to resident population and not workforce

population. From a planning point of view, the transient nature of workers within a catchment makes it difficult to

determine an appropriate level of service required for this population. It is noted that the benchmark analysis

includes local and district level facilities only. As discussed in the earlier sections, regional facilities were

excluded from the analysis as the focus of the study is primarily on the needs of the City of Belmont (district

catchment) and local catchments. Plus the proximity to City of Perth (and their major facilities), together with the

role of Belmont as a secondary centre negate the need for regional facilities in Belmont.

In line with best practice, for the purposes of this study, only built facilities were benchmarked. Services were

assessed separately, as benchmarks for these items vary substantially and therefore are better informed through

consultation methods i.e. felt needs.

The findings from the benchmark analysis is based on the adjusted population projections and is summarised

below by district and local catchments.

City of Belmont


District Catchment

As noted previously, the City of Belmont serves a district catchment. Table 7 below summarises the additional

needs in the City of Belmont based on the adjusted population forecast. The key findings from the benchmark

analysis indicate that by 2026 the City of Belmont will have the following district needs:

» Multipurpose Community Centre

» Youth Centre

» Youth Recreation Space

» District Library

» Aged Care Service/Respite

» Community Health Clinic/Centre

» Museum

» Seniors Citizen Centre

» High School

Table 7. Distr ic t Catchment , Addit ional Needs to 2026


Local Catchments

Table 8 shows the additional local needs for the local catchments in the City of Belmont. The comparative needs

analysis resulted in the following:

» Ascot – There will be a need for a local level community centre space and primary school by 2021.

» Belmont – There will be a need for a community centre, childcare and primary school by 2026.

» Cloverdale – There will be a need for a Child Care Centre by 2021.

» Kewdale – There will be a need for a Child Care Centre by 2026.

» Redcliffe – There will be a need for a public primary school facility by 2026.

» Rivervale – There will be a need for a community centre, Child Care Centres and public primary

schools.

Additional Need to 2026 Adjusted Existing

Level Facility 2012 2012 - 2016 2016 - 2021 2021 - 2026

Multi-purpose community centre 2 2 0 1 1

Youth Centre 1 2 1 0 1

Youth Recreation Space 1 1 0 1 0

Indoor Recreation Centre 1 0 0 0 0

Aquatic/Leisure Centre 1 0 0 0 0

District Library 1 1 0 1 0

Aged Care Service/Respite 1 1 0 0 1

Community Health Clinic/Centre 2 1 0 0 1

Maternal and Child Health 3 0 0 0 0

Arts and Cultural Centre 1 0 0 0 0

Museum 1 1 0 0 1

Seniors Centre 1 2 1 0 1

High School (Public) 1 2 1 1 0

District

Additional Needs 5 Year IntervalsTotal

Additional

Needs

City of Belmont


Table 8. Local Catchments , Addit ional Needs to 2026, Al l Scenar ios


5 . 2 C o n s u l t a t i o n

This section presents the findings from targeted consultation carried out with City of Belmont representatives,

state and federal agencies, schools, service providers and community organisations in November and December

2012. It also takes into consideration consultation undertaken as part of the Age Friendly Community Plan 2013

– 2016, undertaken in 2012.

The following consultation was undertaken specifically for the Community Infrastructure Plan:

» Consultation with City of Belmont Senior Management Group, Councillors and various City of Belmont

officers provided an understanding of the City’s priorities and policies.

» Consultation with service providers and facility managers provided information on current demand and

capacity of existing facilities and services and potential opportunities.

» Consultation with State Government Agencies (e.g. Department of Education), provided information on

community infrastructure gaps and priorities from a State perspective and identified any future plans,

funding opportunities and potential partnerships.

» Consultation with community organisations provided needs from the perspective of the wider community

and of vulnerable groups in the community.

The purpose of the consultation was twofold: to obtain information required for the assessment of community

infrastructure needs in the City of Belmont; and to identify potential collaborative opportunities for the delivery of

future community facilities and services.

Consultations were undertaken using a combination of semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions.

Questions presented to the stakeholders focused on key community needs and issues,

Catchment Facility 2012-2016 2016 - 2021 2021-2026

Community Centre 0 1 0 1 0

Childcare Centre 1 0 0 0 1

Primary School (Public) 0 1 0 1 0
















Ascot

Belmont

Cloverdale

Kewdale

Redcliffe

Rivervale

Additional Needs 5 Year IntervalsExisting

2012

Total

Additional

Need

City of Belmont


organisational/departmental priorities, existing capacity of facilities and services, and challenges and

opportunities for meeting existing and future community infrastructure needs.

The full list of stakeholders consulted is provided in Appendix H of this report. Below is a summary of the key

consultation findings.

5 . 2 . 1 E d u c a t i o n

Discussions with the Department of Education resulted in a number of considerations and implications for the

provision of education facilities in the City of Belmont. Interestingly, it was commented that in the past, the

Departments benchmarks for determining when an education facility should be provided did not take into account

units (i.e. flats, apartments, duplex etc). The assumption was made that people living in units were often adults

with no children. However, it is now recognised that families with children also occupy units, with the Department

of Education finding that this is especially so for families from Asian countries. This has resulted in the

Department reassessing how it plans for schools in densely populated communities, such as Belmont.

In addition, the Department noted that the Federal Government’s policy position to shift grade seven from primary

school to high school in 2015 will have implications for education in Belmont into the future. There will be more

capacity in primary schools, but the capacity of the Belmont high school (Belmont City College) will need to be

closely monitored to ensure there is enough space to accommodate the year seven’s. The result may mean the

need to expand the existing high school, particularly given that Belmont only has the one public high school.

In low socio-economic communities the Department of Education offers a “wrap around” service for young

children. Programs include:

» Child and Parent Centres

» Dental Therapy Clinics

» English Development Centres

It was suggested by the Department that the City of Belmont has a low socio-economic demographic profile in

certain areas and these programs would be available to those communities.

There is a current structure plan being assessed by the Department of Education, it was noted that this structure

plan triggers a need for a primary school. Lead times for public school development are two and a half years for

primary school and three and a half years for a high school.

The Department has a shared use policy of school facilities. Some examples for shared use include setting up a

committee and sourcing a private provider to manage usage. One of the common constraints for shared use of

school facilities includes working around school hours and managing community use to ensure not one group has

a monopoly over the facilities.

For a place like Belmont, the Department of Education suggested that innovative delivery models, such as a multi

level facility, needs to be considered.

City of Belmont


5 . 2 . 2 C u l t u r a l

Consultation with the City of Belmont’s Community Lifestyle and Learning Manager, and the Co-ordinator Library

and Heritage indicated the following felt needs for the Ruth Faulkner Library and the Belmont Museum:

» A new library facility is required to cater for 700 or more daily visitors. The new library should support

the function of the library as a community hub to deliver information, services and opportunities beyond

those provided in the traditional library services model. The emphasis on the library acting as a vital

community hub is articulated in the City of Belmont Library Plan 2013-2017.

» Discussions have been held within City of Belmont regarding the potential inclusion of a new library in

the proposed Faulkner Park Precinct. In support of the ‘community hub’ model proposed for the library,

it has been suggested that the new library could be co-located with other community spaces and have

an adjoining cafe area to service residents, visitors and workers.

» Better advertisement and promotion of the library is needed to ensure the community is accessing and

benefiting from the full range of services and programs offered.

» There is a need for the library to offer services and programs that cater for the needs of people from

CALD backgrounds. The delivery of bilingual children’s story sessions and other cultural programs have

been included in the City of Belmont Library Plan 2013-2017.

» The need for an improved integration of the Belmont Museum with the library and other nearby

community and cultural facilities. The proposed Faulkner Park Precinct provides an opportunity to

integrate a new museum facility. Future upgrade/provision of the museum need to ensure sufficient

exhibition, storage and quarantine space, adequate levels of temperature/humidity control and public

access to research facilities.

5 . 2 . 3 H e a l t h

Consultation specifically relating to health needs identified a need for more allied health services in the area for

the whole community and particularly older people. Representatives from The Centre for Cerebral Palsy

indicated that they are looking for a space to be based in the City of Belmont. Their requirements include space

for a day centre, storage and toilets.

In relation to mental health, the following needs were identified from discussions with Community Link and

Network WA:

» Specialist mental health services such as psychologists are thin on the ground in Belmont. Families

with mental health issues are going to Bentley, Gosnells, City or Cannington to access specialist

services. Due to limitations with public transport, families may miss their appointments. Thus locally-

based services for mental health are needed in the Belmont area.

» There should be a community event in the Belmont area to promote national mental health week (held in

October of each year).

» The needs of families with mental illness are becoming increasingly complex. Some parents with

mental health issues are experiencing difficulties with parenting and controlling their children’s

behaviour, and managing their mental health at the same time.

» Refugee families require support to deal with trauma and anxiety associated with not knowing what’s

happened to their family members back home.

City of Belmont


5 . 2 . 4 S p o r t a n d R e c r e a t i o n

Consultation around felt needs for sport and recreation has been derived from discussions with the manager of

the Belmont Sports and Recreation Club and the assistant manager at the Belmont Oasis Centre.

Needs identified for the Belmont Sports and Recreation Club included:

» The need for a crèche which would allow for greater return on membership and for the facility to cater to

a different demographic, it was noted that users of the facility is an older demographic.

» A need for indoor recreation space attached to the facility (the hall is mainly suited to functions such as

weddings), that could offer alternative indoor sports to the Oasis Centre such as indoor AFL or Soccer.

There is a push for indoor AFL and they are looking for venues to host competitions. The existing centre

is in an ideal location and has the room to expand and attach an indoor recreation space.

The Belmont Oasis Centre identified that the centre could do with an outdoor pool area for smaller children such

as water slide. In addition to this, the centre would like to upgrade the floors in the indoor basket ball courts as

they have not been replaced for 20 years.

5 . 2 . 5 S p e c i a l N e e d s G r o u p s

Families

Consultation around felt needs for facilities and services for families included discussions with the City’s Standing

Committee (Community Capacity), Jacaranda Community Centre, Australian Islamic College, Ngala, Gowrie

Western Australia, Multicultural Services Centre, Wanslea, CommuniCare, Belmont City College, All Saints'

Anglican Church, Airport City Church and Office of Multicultural Interests. Needs identified for families included:

» There is an increasing number of families subsidising their Centrelink payments with emergency relief

assistance. Across the board, families are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of utility and food

bills.

» There is a high demand for parenting programs, particularly in Cloverdale.

» Presently, there are limited foster carers in the City of Belmont. There is a growing number of children

in the east metropolitan area requiring foster care and preferably, these children should be placed in

foster care in the local area. There is a need for emergency and longer term foster carers in the

Belmont area.

» Adequate services need to be provided to support the City’s large proportion of single mothers.

The consultation with the above organisations also identified needs specific to CALD families. These included:

» CALD families, particularly those with large number of dependent children are struggling to find

appropriate and affordable rental housing. A number of organisations indicated that many CALD

families are receiving eviction notices but are unable to find alternative accommodation because real

estate agents give preferences to couples and small households. There is a need for supporting new

arrivals to understand their tenancy rights and responsibilities.

» There is a need for education and support to help migrant and refugee parents understand their rights

and responsibilities under the Australian law, particularly in terms of their role in parenting and child

protection. There is also a need to educate CALD parents about how the Australian education, health

and social service systems operate.

» Support services are needed to cater for the large proportion of single parent households headed by

women. Most Somali refugees are women with large numbers of dependent children. Once settled,

City of Belmont


they may be joined by other female relatives who also have large numbers of children they need to care

for.

» There has been an emerging trend in the increasing number of men arriving on humanitarian visas and

once settled, they seek to bring their spouses and children to Australia. Many live in group households

with other men in similar situations. The needs of this group should be considered by service providers.

» While CommuniCare encourages people to source local services, it is seeing a steady stream of CALD

families coming to their Cannington office to request assistance with housing related issues. The

majority of families are of African backgrounds and they experience difficulties in negotiating leases with

landlords and staying on top of their rental payments.

» There is ongoing demand for one-off respite care for children from CALD backgrounds while their

parents attend medical and hospital appointments.

» There has been a gradual increase in demand for child cognitive development workshops run by Ngala.

These workshops are attended by African, Asian and Middle Eastern fathers and mothers. There is a

need for more workshops of this kind to be delivered in the City to help parents gain practical skills in

nurturing and supporting their children’s cognitive and social development.

Youth

Consultation with the City of Belmont Youth and Community Projects Coordinator revealed that the current Youth

Centre has space limitations for outdoor activities as well as space limitations within the current facility for

expanded youth services. This was further supported by the representative for YMCA, who indicated that the

current facility is adequate to service the current youth population. However, it was suggested by the

representative that if there is an increase in the youth population, the current facility would not be able to cater to

demand. At present the drop in centre can cater to a maximum of 30-35; people any more than this than there

would be crowding issues.

It was identified by the City of Belmont Youth and Community Projects Coordinator, as well as the Principal of

Belmont City College that there are a large number of young people disengaged from education and training; with

youth unemployment an issue within the City of Belmont.

Consultation with the Belmont City College, Australian Islamic College, Airport City Church and CommuniCare

identified the following needs for CALD young people:

» CALD students, particularly refugee students with interrupted or limited schooling require additional

support for improving their literacy and numeracy. This is a prevalent issue for Somali and Afghan

students, with the latter group being at risk of being disengaged from school.

» Education about road and driver safety, and information relating to vehicle purchase need to be

provided to young people from CALD backgrounds as some of them are driving illegally without a

licence.

» There is a need for more activities and programs to support the development and participation of CALD

young people.

Young Children

Discussions with Playgroup WA’s Development Officer indicated that there is a lack of suitable building facilities

for playgroups i.e. indoor and outdoor spaces with play equipment. Ideally what playgroups need is a facility that

is multipurpose and accessible. Currently playgroups run out of community centres, most meet minimum

standards but other are not suitable. For example some facilities do not have kitchen areas to prepare food. It

was also noted that Playgroups WA are looking at engaging CALD communities given their low participation rate

in playgroups.

City of Belmont


As noted in Section 4.2.5, discussions with child care operators including Cloverdale Child Care Centre, Belmont

Child Care Centre, The Lady Gowrie Child Care Centre and Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre Child Care in the City

of Belmont, indicated that there are limited vacancies for before and after school care as well as vacation care,

due to the combination of demand and space limitations.

Consultation with City of Belmont’s Community Lifestyle and Learning Manager further highlighted the increased

demand for a toy library.

Seniors

Consultation with a representative from the Belmont Seniors Citizens Centre indicated that the existing facility is

used frequently and there are issues with multiple bookings (i.e. activities wanting to be on at the same time) due

to limited space within the facility to host multiple activities at any one time. It was suggested that if a new centre

was to be built, consideration should be given to the design of the space to ensure flexible use of larger spaces

(e.g. large spaces should be able to be partitioned off to make smaller space to run multiple activities). It was

further commented that any new facilities for seniors would ideally be in the same location as the existing

facilities due to proximity to public transport (bus) and shopping centre. Office space needs to be secure

because of money handling and there is a requirement for plenty of storage space for chairs, bowls etc. In

addition, whilst the notion of a seniors centre incorporated into a multipurpose facility was supported, it was noted

that the centre would need to have designated space for seniors use because of the amount of usage that it has.

Through the consultation it was suggested by the Coordinator Community Services and the manager of the City

of Belmont Adult Day Centre that there is a need for more respite care and facilities for respite. It was mentioned

that over the last couple of years there has been a growing number of people accessing respite services

including elderly and people with an acquired disability. It was commented that there are 200 carers registered

with the City of Belmont however there are many more “hidden” as many people do not identify themselves as

carers. Many carers have to travel outside the area to access respite services that are on the borders of other

Local Government Areas such as Victoria Park, Bassendean and Bayswater.

The City of Belmont currently partners with Carers WA and Red Cross however it was indicated that it is difficult

for these services to operate in Belmont due to space limitations.

There is a need for services that promote socialisation and interaction. Currently Home and Community Care

(HACC), which is state and federally funded program, provides this service. However there is no designated

space and activities are often run out of halls which can often restrict activities, (issues with packing things up

and storage etc). Social isolation was also identified by churches as a concern for older residents in the City.

Churches offer weekly social programs like morning tea sessions to help people stay connected and reduce the

feeling of isolation.

Aboriginal

Consultation with the Jacaranda Community Centre, All Saint’s Anglican Church, and Community Link and

Network WA identified the following needs for Aboriginal people living in the City of Belmont:

» There are more Aboriginal people living in the City of Belmont than what the Census figures show. This

is because Aboriginal people may have difficulties in filling out the Census form or if they live in housing

managed by the Department of Housing, they purposely undercount the number of people in the

household to avoid possible eviction. Jacaranda currently services approximately 1,000 Aboriginal

clients who live in the City and surrounding areas.

» Aboriginal people are accessing a whole range of services offered by Jacaranda, including counselling,

financial management and assistance, food relief, integrated support for at risk youth, young parents

program, cultural programs for men and healthy lifestyle program. Demand for these services are high

City of Belmont


because they are not being offered by other organisations in the City or if they are, they are seen to be

not culturally responsive to the needs of Aboriginal people.

» There is a need for more events and programs to support Aboriginal families living in the Belmont area

(in addition to those provided currently by Jacaranda Community Centre);

» There is a need for services to support Aboriginal people with disabilities.

» There is an increasing community demand for food relief. The All Saints Anglican Church in Cloverdale

runs an emergency food program which assists 486 families access free food items donated by local

businesses and community organisations. Approximately, 50% of people using the emergency food

program are Aboriginal.

Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Population

Consultation relating to the needs of the CALD population was identified through discussions with the Belmont

City College, Australian Islamic College, Jacaranda Community Centre, Multicultural Services Centre, Islamic

Council of Western Australia, Gowrie Western Australia, Office of Multicultural Interests, CommuniCare, Ngala

and churches and churches.

A common theme emerging out of the discussions was the absence of a dedicated settlement and cultural

support service within the City of Belmont. To date, programs for CALD groups have been delivered on an ad hoc

basis across the City, usually as one-off projects tied to short term funding. In the past year, a number of

multicultural projects have come to an end, including the Settlement Grants Program at the Belmont City College

and Gowrie’s information and referral service for new migrant families and humanitarian entrants. As such, a

number of organisations identified a need for an integrated settlement service to be located in the City to provide

information and assistance with housing, education, employment, training, household and financial management

to people from CALD backgrounds.

The following needs were identified in relation to the CALD population in the City of Belmont:

» Lack of proficiency in English language affects academic performance, participation in community life

and dealing with day to day issues such as accessing health care, employment and housing. There is a

need for government services to ensure interpreting and translation services are used when

communicating with people from Non-English speaking backgrounds.

» It was commented that statistics shows the City of Belmont having one of the highest percentages of

people with Alzheimer disease and dementia, particularly in people from CALD backgrounds. It was

commented than once these people get Alzheimer’s they revert back to their first language and this

creates language barriers.

» Social isolation is a concern for migrants and refugees who arrive in Australia without any social

connections. They need assistance with settling into the community and building their social support

networks.

» Appropriate services are needed to assist CALD people affected by torture, traumas, depression and

other mental health issues.

» New arrivals need basic skills training in using the stove and other household appliances, where to go to

buy groceries and how to cook healthy food.

» There is a need for greater community understanding about multiculturalism and cultural harmony to

break down cultural barriers.

» Gender-specific services are needed to address issues such as family and domestic violence and to

provide opportunities for women and girls to participate in community and recreational activities. There

is a need for existing swimming pools to offer women’s only sessions.

» There is a need for a new Islamic mosque to cater for the increasing numbers of non-residents attending

the Friday afternoon prayer session at the mosque in Rivervale. Approximately 200 people, mostly taxi

drivers servicing the Perth Airport, attend the session held on Fridays from 1 to 2 pm. Many stay on

City of Belmont


after the session to have lunch near the mosque. The current number of attendees far exceeds the

approved maximum capacity of 24 people granted by the City of Belmont. Inevitably, lack of parking

space and complaints from nearby residents have been identified as key issues affecting the mosque.

The Islamic Council of Western Australia has been negotiating with LandCorp to identify an alternative

site, preferably in industrial non-residential area with a minimum land requirement of 2,500 square

metres minimum. The Islamic Council has expressed their interest in working with the City of Belmont

and LandCorp to find a suitable site for a new mosque that has the capacity to meet the growing

demand.

» There is a need for prayer rooms to be provided to cater for the needs of people primarily of Islamic

faith.

The Office of Multicultural Interests highlighted the importance of whole of community integration, taking into

account the needs of all cultures rather than treating the CALD population as a separate social group. This was

considered to be vital for promoting multiculturalism and ensuring universal access to community facilities and

services.

The needs of CALD young people and families are presented under ‘Youth’ and ‘Families’ (see earlier sections).

People with a Disability

Consultation with the Belmont Disability Access Focus Group identified a need for disability services for young

adults and middle aged people with a disability. The following needs for people with a disability were also

identified by the group:

» A disability friendly swimming pool that adequately caters for the needs of people with disabilities,

including the availability of a hoist and adult change table. There needs to be a dedicated time allocated

for people with disabilities to avoid any conflicting uses.

» An adult change table. At present there is no change table available in any of the community facilities in

the City of Belmont.

» Ensuring existing community and health facilities adequately cater for people with disabilities. For

example, GPs need to have height adjustable examination tables.

» Support services for people with disabilities aged16 years and over.

» Bowling clubs, seniors centres and other community groups to ensure their programs are accessible

and inclusive of people with disabilities.

» Reducing social isolation for people with disabilities and enhancing their safety and wellbeing.

» Promote the positive contribution that people with disabilities make to the City of Belmont.

» Collaboration and partnership between service providers in the City to reduce competition for funding

and improve coordination of services for people with disabilities.

» There is a need for the City of Belmont to look at disability programs such as the Social Connection Pilot

Program which is a partnership between the City of Rockingham and Bethany Services aimed at

enhancing social inclusion. This program is a good example of how people with disabilities can be

engaged. The program targets people with a disability and provides a “buddy” for an individual for 12

months. The buddy assists with connecting with services and participation in community activity.

5 . 2 . 6 C o m m u n i t y C e n t r e s / S p a c e

Felt needs relating to community centres and meeting spaces were identified through discussions with the City’s

Standing Committee (Community Vision), the City’s Asset Management Team and Community Wellbeing

Coordinator, All Saints' Anglican Church, Airport City Church, Latvian Centre, Notre Dame Catholic Church,

Rivervale Church of Christ and Saint Augustine’s Catholic Church (Rivervale). It was evident from these

City of Belmont


discussions that there were a wide range of community centre and meeting spaces available in the City and they

varied in terms of demand, usage and opportunity thus needs of each facility also varied. The following key

issues were identified as affecting current provision of community centres and meeting spaces:

» Community groups and religious organisations without permanent office/meeting spaces are using

existing community centres and churches to run their services. Redcliffe Community Centre and

Rivervale Church of Christ are examples of facilities with regular bookings and uses by community

groups, while other facilities are underutilised. There is a need for more affordable meeting and office

spaces to accommodate community, religious and sporting groups in the City, which in turn will provide

permanence of services provided to the community.

» There is a need for greater promotion of halls, meeting rooms and other facilities available for public hire

to encourage better utilisation of existing facilities.

» Storage has been identified as an issue affecting most community centres and churches. Sporting clubs

and community organisations require space to store their equipment and supplies, which are essential

for the delivery of their programs and services.

» Upgrades or redevelopment are required for some of the City’s owned facilities to maximise usage and

better cater for existing uses and activities.

» It was also identified in the consultation that there may be a flow on impact on demand for community

services generated by workers, especially those that are employed at the Perth Airport and FIFO (fly-in

fly-out) workforce.

5 . 3 S u m m a r y o f N e e d s

This section draws together findings from the previous assessment and provides a summary on overall needs for

the City of Belmont. Identified needs take into consideration the following:

» Benchmark analysis (Section 5.1) has been used as a starting point and verified with findings from

consultation (Section 5.2) derived through consultation with stakeholders and the community.

» Needs identified through the audit of existing community infrastructure (Section 4.2) has been used

to supplement the discussion by confirming where spare capacity may exist and potentially fulfil a need.

» The background analysis and demographic trends (Section 3.3), such as high proportions of older

people, young people or families, and the determination of likely population growth for the district and

local catchments provided further supporting evidence.

5 . 3 . 1 F a c i l i t i e s N e e d s

The following facilities needs have been identified through the community infrastructure needs analysis. Facilities

needs were identified using a needs assessment framework that looks at needs from multiple perspectives

including, benchmarks, consultation, audit of existing facilities and demographics in the City of Belmont.

Table 9. Ident i f ied Fac i l i t ies Needs

Identified Facilities Needs

Needs Benchmarks Consultation Audit Demographics

Community Centres

Local Community Centre/Space

District Multipurpose Community Centres

Education

City of Belmont



Needs Benchmarks Consultation Audit Demographics

Public Primary School

Public Secondary School

Health

Community Health Clinic/Centre

Maternal & Child Health

Cultural

District Library

Arts and Cultural Centre

Museum

Religious

Mosque

Place of Worship

Seniors

Aged Care Service/ Respite

Seniors Centre

Young Children

Child Care Centres

Youth

Youth Centre

Sport and Recreation

Youth Recreation Space

Indoor Recreation Centre

Disability and culturally friendly pool

5 . 3 . 2 S e r v i c e s N e e d s

As noted previously, assessment of service needs required a different approach to that used for facilities. Service

needs for the City of Belmont primarily relied on consultation (felt needs) with service providers, facility managers

and community organisations. The following Table summarises the services needs that have been identified

through this analysis.

Whilst there are a number of service needs identified, service needs highlighted in blue are considered unmet

need where no existing services currently operate in the City of Belmont.

Table 10. Ident i f ied Services Needs

Identified Services Needs

Needs Consultation Audit Demographics

Families

Food and emergency relief

Support for single parent households

Parenting programs, particularly in Cloverdale

Child cognitive development workshops

City of Belmont


Identified Services Needs

Needs Consultation Audit Demographics

Domestic violence support services

Complex needs arising from mental health, drug and alcohol and homelessness

Emergency and longer term foster care

Youth

Training and employment

Literacy and numeracy

Activities and programs for CALD youths

Young Children

Space for playgroups

Toy Library

Seniors

Respite care services

Space for service delivery (e.g. Carers WA and Red Cross)

Activities and programs to promote social inclusion

Aboriginal People

Services to support Aboriginal people with disabilities

General services (including counseling, financial management and assistance & food relief)

Integrated support for at risk youth

Young parents program

Cultural programs for men

Healthy lifestyle program

Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Population

Tenancy advice and housing support

Programs to help migrant and refugee parents understand the Australian education system

Integrated settlement and cultural support service

Interpreting and translation services

Services for torture, trauma, depression and other mental health issues

People with a Disability

Adult change facilities

Support services for people with disabilities aged 16 years and over

Disability programs such as the Social Connections Pilot Program

Affordable and suitable office space for service providers (e.g. The Centre for Cerebral Palsy)

City of Belmont


5 . 4 V e r i f i c a t i o n & O p p o r t u n i t i e s

W o r k s h o p O v e r v i e w

As part of the process it was considered critical to validate the findings of the analysis with stakeholders who had

previously provided initial input or considered key deliverable partners. In this regard a ‘Verification and

Opportunities Workshop’ was held at the Ruth Faulkner Library on the 13th February 2013 between 9.30am-

12.30pm. The workshop was facilitated by the Project Team with support from the City of Belmont Community

Development Team. Various agencies and key stakeholders involved in the provision of community

infrastructure in the City of Belmont were invited to the workshop to discuss and confirm identified gaps and

needs in community infrastructure, and provide further input into community infrastructure recommendations for

the City of Belmont.

The purpose of the workshop was to:

» Verify initial findings and analysis

» Confirm recommended community facilities

» Input into the scope and parameters of recommendations

» Identify opportunities for delivery

In total 28 people attended the workshop from 19 different organisations. Organisations that were represented at

the workshop are listed below and Appendix I provides further contact details.

Organisations

1. Department of Education 2. City of Belmont Adult Day Centre (CoB HACC)

3. Bentley Armadale Medicare Local 4. Disability Services Commission

5. Playgroups WA 6. City of Belmont

7. YMCA 8. The Centre for Cerebral Palsy

9. Social English Conversation 10. Ngala

11. Department of Indigenous Affairs 12. Jacaranda Community Centre

13. Islamic Council of WA 14. Amphitheatre Arts

15. Belmont Senior Citizens 16. Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre

17. Department for Child Protection 18. Australian Islamic College

19. Western Australian Police

The Verification and Opportunities Workshop confirmed the identified needs as a result of initial investigations

and analysis. Generally there was agreement amongst stakeholders with regard to services and facility

requirements for the City of Belmont over the next 15 years. The overall recommendations for community

infrastructure provision take into consideration the discussions and outcomes of the Verification and

Opportunities Workshop.

5 . 4 . 1 K e y F i n d i n g s a n d O u t c o m e s

Outlined below is a summary of key findings and issues that are considered pertinent to the Community

Infrastructure Plan as a result of the Verification and Opportunities workshop. This summary endeavours to

capture the key points and views raised (please refer to Appendix I for complete workshop notes).

City of Belmont


Verification of Services Needs

The participants were presented with the list of identified service needs (Table 10). Each need was verified based

on the participants’ understanding of local need. The following issues and/or additional need were identified in the

group discussion:

» Families

- Food and emergency relief is predominantly experienced by immigrants who are newly arrived

- Some of these needs listed under ‘families’ (refer to Table 10), are already provided for however

accessing available services is problematic

- Family services need to be consolidated so they are visible and are widely promoted to families

- Services should be more responsive to complex needs (e.g. mental health, drug & alcohol)

» Youth

- Services to cater for young people with mental health (particularly in-home care)

- Adolescent sexual health services (particularly for young pregnancies)

- Parent support programs for young people

» Young children

- Child care, vacation care and before and after school care that is accessible and affordable

» Seniors

- Mental health services/programs for men (such as a Mens’ Shed)

» Aboriginal people

- Services and programs are available, however they are under-resourced, which affects program

continuity

- Diverse programs supported by Aboriginal workers

» Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) population

- A free national interpreter service that covers a diverse range of languages

» People with a disability

- Respite services for carers of children/family member with a disability

- Better resourcing of existing disability programs and services

- Services that provide personal care to assist people with a disability getting to services, (difficulties

include organising personal carers to come to where the programs are being delivered, availability

and cost of personal carers)

The group agreed that a diverse range of services was already available to the community. However many

people who were potentially clients were not aware of their existence, particularly newcomers to the area. It was

concluded that services need to be promoted more widely throughout the community to maximise the use of

available services. The group felt that there is a lack of services co-ordination in the area. It was noted that

services often operate in isolation and there is a need to work closer together to avoid duplication.

Verification of Facilities Needs

The group discussing facility needs was divided into three smaller groups to verify the need for and discuss the

scope and parameters for the following recommended facilities:

» Recreation facility (indoor recreation space, disability accessible and inclusive pool, and culturally

friendly swimming pool)

» Mosque

» Spaces for worship

» Education hub (primary and secondary public school)

» Youth hub

» Child Care Centres

City of Belmont


» Library

» Multipurpose community hub

» Seniors centre

» Arts & cultural centre

» Aged care/respite centre

» Community health and wellbeing hub (community health centre and maternal and child health)

All facilities needs were agreed by the participants. In addition to new build, there were also suggestions for co-

location and use of existing facilities to cater for identified needs.

The following facilities were discussed by the group as potential for co-location into a multipurpose community

hub:

» Library

» Seniors Centre

» Arts and Culture

» Child care

The following facilities were identified by the group as facilities that did not require a new facility but rather use of

existing facilities:

» Recreation facility (indoor recreation space, disability accessible and inclusive pool, and culturally

friendly swimming pool)

» Spaces for worship

Each group was asked to consider three facilities each in terms of:

» Possible activities/functions particularly in relation to identified services needs (as discussed above)

» What are the site characteristics?

» What are the opportunities and constraints associated with delivering each facility?

» Who are the potential partners to deliver the facility?

The outcomes of the individual group discussions have been included in the recommended community

infrastructure provision for City Belmont.

City of Belmont


6.0 Recommended Communi ty

In f ras t ruc tu re Prov is ion

The following table provides a summary of the recommended community infrastructure provision for the City of

Belmont. It includes a summary of the needs identified through the needs assessment, and potential provision

strategies. Potential provision strategies bring together the findings from the summary of needs discussion

(Section 5.3), models of delivery (Section 2.6) and guiding principles (Section 2.7), and provide a framework for

determining the ‘on the ground’ provision of community infrastructure.

The recommended additional infrastructure provision for the City of Belmont is summarised in the last column in

Table 11.

Table 11. Recommended Addi t ional Inf ras tructure Provis ion


Provision Strategies Recommended Additional


Community Centres

Local Community Centre/Space District Multipurpose Community Centres

» Future facility provision for district community centre/space

should be co-located with other community facilities such as

multipurpose centres and libraries catering to shared use.

» Where opportunities exist, the integration of community space

into mixed use developments.

» Consider opportunities to use existing facilities such as, local

community centres/halls and church facilities for local

community space.

1 x District Level

Multipurpose

Community Hub

Incorporating

library, space for

arts and culture,

museum, seniors

centre, child care

Education

Public Primary School Public Secondary School

» Future provision of a public primary and high school should be

integrated as an education precinct to service the Belmont

community and be easily accessible.

» It is recommended that future provision of education facilities

be closely monitored over time to assess capacity of existing

schools and the potential for additional schools.

1 x Education

Hub

Health

Community Health Clinic/Centre Maternal and Child Health

» Future provision of district level health services should be

developed as a community health hub.

» Look at opportunities with the Bentley Armadale Medicare

Local to determine and provide health services for the Belmont

community.

1 x Community

Health &

Wellbeing Hub

Cultural

District Library Arts and Cultural Centre Museum

» Future provision of a Library should be developed as a

multipurpose facility.

» Look at opportunities to provide space for arts and cultural

activities as well as the museum within future multipurpose

community hub.

» Consider upgrading the Arts and Crafts Resource Centre to

encourage use of the facility for arts and crafts related

activities.

» Future provision of a museum should be integrated within a

multipurpose community facility with sufficient space available

for exhibition, storage etc.

Library,

museum, space

for arts and

culture

incorporated into

Multipurpose

Community Hub

City of Belmont



Provision Strategies Recommended Additional


Religious

Mosque Spaces for Worship

» Work with the Islamic Council of Western Australia and other

stakeholders to identify suitable land and/or facility for a

mosque.

» It is recommended that the mosque be located in an

appropriately zoned area with adequate on-site parking to

minimise noise and parking issues.

» Consider locating the mosque in close proximity to the airport,

cafés and eateries to cater for the transient Islamic worker

population.

» Encourage provision of space for worship in, commercial

precincts and major business centres where opportunities exist

(note: space for worship could potentially cater for those from

different faiths).

1 x Mosque

Seniors

Aged Care Service/ Respite Seniors Centre

» Look at opportunities with the proposed new and expanded

City of Belmont Adult Day Centre to meet the needs of future

population.

» Future provision of a new seniors centre should be part of a

multipurpose building with dedicated space.

» Future provision of senior’s facility to be in similar location or in

a location that provides sufficient public transport and access

to amenities.

» Future provision of senior’s facilities to include flexible space

for activities and meetings.

1 x Aged Care

Service/Respite

Seniors Centre

to be

incorporated into

Multipurpose

Community Hub

Young Children

Child Care Centres

» Future provision of Child Care Centres should be co-located

within educational facilities/precinct and other multipurpose

facilities where opportunities exists.

» Ensure there is an appropriate mix of long day care,

occasional care, before and after school care, and vacation

care to meet demand.

» Encourage the provision of Child Care Centres within office

developments.

5 x Child Care

Centres

Youth

Youth Centre

» Future provision of youth centre to be multipurpose and co-

located with outdoor recreation space.

» Future planning and design for youth facility to be developed in

conjunction with end users and stakeholders, i.e. further

consultation with young people living in the City of Belmont as

well as service providers.

1 x Youth Hub


Youth Recreation Space Indoor Recreation Centre Disability & culturally friendly pool

» Consider opportunities to develop future indoor recreation

space within the existing Belmont Sport and Recreation

Centre.

» Any future provision of indoor recreation space must be

complimentary to existing activities.

» Future provision of youth recreation space to be co-located

with youth facility where possible.

» Consider opportunities within existing swimming pools (e.g.

Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre and Australian Islamic College)

to be disability accessible and inclusive, and culturally

appropriate for specific user groups.

No new facility –

upgrade existing

City of Belmont


In summary, the following is the recommended additional facilities required to service the Belmont Community

into the future:

» Multipurpose Community Hub which incorporates a library, museum, arts and culture and seniors centre

» Education Hub (comprising public primary and high school)

» Community health and wellbeing hub

» Mosque

» Aged Care and Respite Centre

» Child Care Centre (x5)

» Youth Hub

It should be noted that whilst a number of facilities have been identified, City of Belmont has primary

responsibility for the following:

» Multipurpose Community Hub

» Youth Hub

The rationale, description and indicative specifications for each recommended facility is discussed in the Sections

below.

6 . 1 M u l t i p u r p o s e C o m m u n i t y H u b

Rationale

The primary driver for the multipurpose community hub is the lack of such space identified through the audit, plus

the need identified through the increased population in the Belmont area. Consultation further highlighted the

opportunities for a multipurpose facility that encompasses a range of functions. It was also identified through the

Verification and Opportunities Workshop that there is the opportunity to integrate a number of different uses into

a multipurpose community hub.

Rather than construct multiple stand alone community centres in the future, if located appropriately, one

consolidated higher order district facility to service the Belmont community would be more affordable and

effective. Furthermore, construction of a multipurpose community hub is an opportunity to derive co-locational

synergies with complementary facility and service types and remove barriers of resourcing and funding

competition.

Description

Essentially, the community hub should be a multipurpose facility housing a number of complementary services.

The review of leading practice models of delivery identified the following attributes of multipurpose community

hubs:

» Co-located with “anchor” facility that generates high patronage such as a library

» Inclusion of ground floor entry/exhibition area that includes commercial space for a café

» Ability to provide flexible community meeting space for large groups as well as smaller groups

» Inclusion of child friendly spaces such as playgrounds as well as children’s services such as child health

and childcare.

Based on finding from the consultation, it is suggested that the following functions could be considered as part of

the community hub:

» Affordable permanent office space for community development and service delivery programs

» Affordable meeting and activity spaces

City of Belmont


» Library

» Child Care Centre

» Playgroup

The outcomes of the Verification and Opportunities Workshop also recommended the following facilities be

incorporated into a multipurpose community hub:

» Library

» Seniors Centre

» Arts and Culture

» Child care

It should be noted that further investigations through consultative process will need to be undertaken to

determine the type of services that could potentially be housed in this facility. In particular it will be important to

explore and host services that are compatible to each other, and ensure that issues around security and safety

are maximised.

The following table outlines the likely functions, site characteristics, opportunities and potential partnerships for a

district level multipurpose community hub. Sections 6.1.1 and 6.1.2 provides further details for the Library and

seniors centre.

Table 12. Indicat ive Spec if icat ions for Mul t ipurpose Community Hub

Possible Activities/ Functions Site Characteristics Potential

Opportunities

Potential

Partnerships

» Community meeting space

» Office space for non-

Government organisations

» Education programs e.g.

parenting education programs

» Storage Space

» Library

» Child Care Centre

» Playgroup

» Toy Library

» Commercial Space (e.g. Cafe)

» Seniors Centre

» Arts and Culture

» Museum

» Max 10 mins walk

from public transport

node

» Outdoor areas

» Faulkner Park

Precinct

» Local Aboriginal

community

» Local multicultural

groups

» Local health

services

» Senior Citizens Club

» Arts and craft groups

» Performing arts

groups

City of Belmont


6 . 1 . 1 L i b r a r y

Rationale

Under a population based need assessment a district level library is triggered for the Belmont area. As noted in

Section 5.3.2, the existing Belmont library is not meeting demand due to size constraints and limited opportunity

for expansion. Consultation noted the need to upgrade the existing library to contemporary standards or relocate

the library to a location that is conducive to expansion. The outcomes of the Verification and Opportunities

Workshop supported the need for a new library.

Description

Detailed design criteria should be developed in consultation with local communities, user groups, co-location or

multi-use partners. For example there are opportunities to incorporate exhibition space into a library as well as

meeting space. The criteria will depend on the mix of uses, size, scale and type of library being provided. The

shape of the site should allow for maximum functional use and for future expansion. Adequate access for service

and delivery vehicles should be provided.

As noted above, the outcomes of the Verification and Opportunities Workshop suggested that the Library be

incorporated as part of the Multipurpose Community Hub.

Table 13. Indicat ive Spec if icat ions for Library

Possible Activities/

Functions Site Characteristics Potential Opportunities Potential Partnerships

» Meeting rooms

» Cafe

» Programs for migrants

and refugees (e.g.

English classes)

» Programs for Aboriginal

people

» Child crèche

» Mobile/outreach library

services like in Redcliffe

» Accessible by

CALD families

» Disability access

and inclusion

» Accessible by

public transport

» Centrally located

near shops

» Parking for vehicles

and buses

» Faulkner Park

» Co-located with

Multipurpose facility

» Local Aboriginal

community


groups

» Local health services

» Seniors Citizens Club


» Performing arts

groups

City of Belmont


6 . 1 . 2 S e n i o r s C e n t r e

Rationale

The benchmark analysis undertaken as part of the needs assessment identified the need for an additional

seniors centre by 2026 to service the Belmont community. This is consistent with the consultation undertaken

for this study that suggested that the existing seniors centre is used frequently and there are issues with multiple

bookings. In addition, it was noted that the current facility has structural issues making the facility unsuitable for

future use.

Description

Seniors Centres are generally places that offer a wide range of activities and programs for people aged 50 and

over. The activities and programs that are on offer at seniors centres varies from place to place but generally

include:

» Some form of gentle exercise

» Education programs (such as computer skills, University of the 3rd

Age)

» Classes for art, knitting, dancing

» Bingo and other social activities

» Group outings

» Meals

» Health checkups

Consultation undertaken as part of the Age Friendly Community project suggested that seniors would like to see

a budget meal option provided through the Senior Citizens Centre.

It was suggested through the consultation that any new facilities for seniors should ideally be located in close

proximity to public transport (bus) and shopping centre. If a new centre was to be built consideration should be

given to the design of the space to ensure flexible use of larger spaces, (e.g. large space should be able to be

partitioned off to make smaller space to run multiple activities). Office space needs to be secure to ensure that

activities such as bingo can be provided, and there is a requirement for plenty of storage space for chairs, carpet

bowls equipment etc.

As noted above, the outcomes of the Verification and Opportunities Workshop suggested that the Seniors Centre

be incorporated as part of the Multipurpose Community Hub.

Table 14. Indicat ive Spec if icat ions for Seniors Centre


Opportunities Potential Partnerships

» Men’s Shed

» Tai chi and other recreation and

exercise programs

» HACC services

» Games, luncheons and other

social activities

» Skills development programs


and inclusion

» Accessible by

public transport


near shops


» Faulkner Park

Precinct

» Located near the

Civic Centre

» Seniors centre

may be combined

with the

multipurpose

» Local Aboriginal

community


groups




City of Belmont



Opportunities Potential Partnerships

» Complimentary hairdresser and

podiatry specialists

» Information and advocacy for

seniors

» Intergenerational programs

catering for all ages (0-100

years)

» Programs linked to Arts & Crafts

Centre and Aged Care/Respite

Centre

» Flexible meeting space

» Access to workshop space (e.g.

art space)

» Outdoor space

» Office space

» Toilet facilities

» Kitchen and cafe

» Storage

and buses

community hub

» Performing arts

groups

6 . 2 E d u c a t i o n H u b

Rationale

An education hub encompassing early childhood through to secondary education is proposed for the City of

Belmont by 2026. The Western Australia Planning Commission (WAPC) School standards (Policy No DC 2.4),

have been applied to the anticipated population projections for the City of Belmont and the outcomes suggest

there is a need for both an additional primary and secondary school as a minimum.

Research shows there are many benefits in educating students in their local communities, including increased

resilience, school and community connectedness, and improved transitions between kindergarten, primary school

and secondary college (source). The benefits of an education precinct development include:

» Opportunities to be educated at all levels locally, increasing retention rates and reducing the need for

students to leave the immediate area;

» Improved articulation, transfer and opportunities for easier movement between year levels;

» More cost-effective provision of education through sharing of infrastructure and resources and the

avoidance of duplication and under-use of facilities such as libraries, workshops and Information and

Communication Technology (ICT) facilities; and

» Enhancing the sense of community for families within an area.

City of Belmont


Description

An education hub is an education and training campus that includes co-located and integrated facilities. It is

anticipated that an education precinct for Belmont will provide real opportunities for more connections between

the three educational settings. Younger children are likely to benefit from exposure to the higher level schools

(especially when it comes time to ‘transition’ to the next stage of their education). Meanwhile, older students have

the opportunity enjoy the sense of community and gain important skills from mentoring younger children.

There are a number of case studies, such as the Port Melbourne Family and Children’s Hub in Victoria, that show

Maternal and Child Health facilities being integrated into education hubs. However, further research is required

to explore how successful this integration has been.

Table 15. Indicat ive Spec if icat ions for Educat ion Hub



» An integrated family &

children’s centre

» Primary school

» High school

» Literacy and numeracy

programs for all ages

» Single parent programs

» Child care for single

parents

» Life skills training

» Cultural programs

» Alternative education

programs

» Vocational education

» Mentoring program for

Aboriginal and CALD

young people

» Support for parents

whose parents have an

intellectual disability

» Support services for

families and children

» Accessible by public

transport

» Parking

» Low cost, on-site child

care

» Centrally located in

close proximity to

retail facilities

» Primary and high

schools, child care

and family &

children’s centre

located in one

precinct

Opportunities

» Alternative use of

existing facilities

» Increased density

Constraints

» Available land

» Funding

» Private Providers e.g.

Catholic Education

» Local Aboriginal

community


groups

» Non-government

organisations (service

providers)

» Community Health

Services/Medicare

Local

» Sports and recreational

groups

City of Belmont


6 . 3 C o m m u n i t y H e a l t h & W e l l b e i n g

C e n t r e

Rationale

Under a population based need assessment a community health centre is triggered for the Belmont area.

Consultation undertaken for this study further identified a number of health and wellbeing related services needs

for the City of Belmont. Needs identified ranged from families service needs, such as child cognitive

development, to respite services, and mental health services. Whilst the City of Belmont is serviced by two

existing Community Health Centres – the Child & Adolescent Community Health that is targeted at a specific

client group and the Bentley Armadale Local Medicare Clinic, (which is recently opened and therefore provides

opportunities for meeting health needs of the local community) – it was noted that there is a lack of general health

clinics servicing the Belmont Community. It was further noted through the Age Friendly Community Forums that

there is a lack of doctors in the area and specialist health services such as physiotherapy. Examples of

innovative models of delivery (Redland Bay Health Hub, Medicare Local Clinics), show that health related

services are best delivered through a multipurpose centre that is easily accessible so that an integrated model of

ancillary and allied care can be provided.

The City of Belmont is characterised by a diverse population that is primarily made up of families (48.9%). There

is also evidence to suggest the general trend of an ageing population, which will lead to the requirement for more

health services to cater to the needs of older people into the future. Furthermore, the demographic analysis

shows high numbers of Indigenous people and people from CALD background living in Belmont LGA. Taking

into consideration the limited health services in the Belmont area, these analyses suggest there is justification for

the provision of a community health centre that focuses on providing services to families, older people, people

from CALD backgrounds, Aboriginal people and people with disability.

Description

A health and wellbeing hub provides a base for the coordination of health services with the opportunity to

incorporate a range of health related services. Whilst supporting the needs of the whole community, it is possible

for this hub to be developed with a focus on the specific health and well-being services for families, people with

disability, CALD people and Aboriginal people as identified through this study. This facility would deliver a range

of integrated health services, including health services identified as needed through this project, including:

» Primary health care (chronic disease management and support, low income dental services, nursing

care, health prevention programs).

» Expanded General Practitioner (GP) services.

» Specialists outreach programs (e.g. psychological counselling, speech therapy, naturopaths,

physiotherapy etc).

» Child and youth health specialists services.

» Early intervention and prevention programs including information and counselling services for drug and

alcohol, mental health (including torture and trauma) and domestic violence.

» Family services such as information and referral support for single parents, parenting programs,

domestic violence.

City of Belmont


As has been demonstrated in other metropolitan locations the best option is for a private provider to build and

lease back the facility to WA Health. This reduces the capital investment required for the site, enables building

work to commence quickly, and provides flexibility for health services provision in the region once the lease

period expires.


district level community health hub.

Table 16. Indicat ive Spec if icat ions for Community Heal th & W ellbeing Hub


Functions Site Characteristics

Potential

Opportunities

Potential

Partnerships

» Primary Health Care

» Specialists Outreach

Programs

» Health Prevention

Programs

» Support for Health and

Wellbeing Services

» Access to Health and

Wellbeing Services

» Maternal and Child Health

Services

» Main service counter


» Adult change table

» Alternative medicine and

therapies

» Cafe

» Multiple health services

» Community garden for

delivering education

programs on nutrition

» Sensory garden for people

with disabilities

» Yoga, fitness and

rehabilitation programs

» Men’s health group

» Women’s health group

» Having a hub that

includes services,

programs, multi-

agencies, a cafe etc;

open for extended hours;

and inclusive of multiple

age groups

» Specific to discipline

facilities such as health

professionals from

different disciplines

including Podiatry

(chairs, sinks etc),

Medical (beds, cubicles

etc), Physio

» Multi-storey building to

maximise site use

» Welcoming area with

covered open space

» Enclosed rooms of

varying sizes to

accommodate a range of

activities and to ensure

privacy and safety of

patients

» Close to public transport

» Preferably within or

adjacent to the main

retail hub to maximise the

centre’s profile and

subsequent access,

usage and casual

surveillance

» Bentley Armadale

Medicare Local Clinic

» Belmont Youth and

Family Services

Opportunities

» Utilise existing

facilities (such as the

Redcliffe Hall)

Constraints

» Availability of land in

suitable location

» Timeliness of

development

» Funding

» Department of

Health

» Health service

providers

» Bentley Armadale

Medicare Local

» Holistic therapies

» Non-health specific

groups

» Mental health

services

» Local Aboriginal

community


groups

City of Belmont



Functions Site Characteristics

Potential

Opportunities

Potential

Partnerships

» Day respite care

» Arts & crafts

» Intergenerational

programs

» Social activities

6 . 4 M o s q u e

Rationale

The need for a mosque was identified through consultation and is supported by the demographic analysis. The

2011 Census data showed Islam was the second most prominent religion (after Christianity), with 5.3% of the

Belmont LGA’s population identifying with this religion. This represents over 1,800 people. Furthermore,

consultation with the Islamic Association of Western Australia (WA) also found that the current mosque in the

residential area of Rivervale was servicing over 200 people during the Friday afternoon prayer service, despite it

having an approved maximum capacity of 24 people. The majority of attendees at the Friday afternoon prayer

service are reported to be taxi drivers who are stationed at the Perth Airport. Many stay on after the service to

have lunch near the mosque.

The Islamic Association of WA is currently negotiating with LandCorp to find a suitable site for a new mosque.

Preferably, a new mosque will be located in an area where the problems of parking and noise can be mitigated.

In this sense, a non-residential location is preferable.

Description

A mosque is an important place of worship for the Islamic community. Its size, layout and available amenities

can differ between mosque to mosque, depending on the size of the community it serves. In the case of Belmont

LGA, the mosque currently caters for both the residents and worker populations (the latter group could reside

within or outside Belmont LGA). As a starting point, the mosque should have the following:

» Main prayer area

» Separate prayer rooms for men and women

» Separate wudu facilities (a water basin for people to wash their hands and feet before the prayer) for

men and women


» Function room with a kitchenette (to cater for social activities such as a gathering to mark the end of

Ramadan)

» Adequate on-site parking

In addition to the above, a mosque could have an office for Imam (worship leader of a mosque), meeting rooms

and some storage space. The consultation with the Islamic Council of WA suggested 2,000 square meters as a

minimum land requirement for a new mosque in Belmont LGA. It is critical that further discussions are held with

the Islamic Council of WA to determine the location and facility requirements for a new mosque.


district level mosque.

City of Belmont


Table 17. Indicat ive Spec if icat ions for Is lamic Mosque



» Main prayer hall

» Separate prayer rooms

for men and women

» Separate washing areas

for men and women


» Function room with a

kitchenette

» Place for worship

» Place to engage with the

community

» Halal Food Bank

» Cultural education

» Refugee services (e.g.

integrated settlement and

cultural support services,

tenancy advice and

housing support)

» Located in a non-

residential area with

sufficient number of

onsite and street

parking to cater for

peak usage times

» Close to cafes and

take away shops

» Minimum land size of

2,000 square meters

» Multipurpose facility

connected to small

localised facilities

» A facility for other

groups to come and

use, not just for usage

by the Mosque

» Accessible by public

transport

» Parking

» Non-residential area,

possibly the Perth

Airport

Opportunities

» Spaces for worship (as

opposed to a Mosque)

only require a small

space. These can be

provided in shopping

centres and offices

Constraints

» Parking is an issue as

experienced by the

current Mosque in

Rivervale. However,

education around

parking and other

community

engagement initiatives

will help manage

parking issues

» Islamic Council of

Western Australia

» Perth Airport

» Australian Islamic

College

» Islamic Council of WA

» City of Belmont

» Red Cross

» Schools in Belmont

» Islamic Community

6 . 5 A g e d C a r e & R e s p i t e

Rationale

The need for aged care and respite was identified through the benchmark analysis as well as consultation

undertaken as part of this project. In addition, the audit found that the existing centre, City of Belmont Adult Day

Centre, is currently at capacity and requires more space. The City of Belmont currently partners with Carers WA

and Red Cross however, it was indicated that it is difficult for these services to operate in Belmont due to space

limitations.

Supporting the rationale for an aged care and respite facility is the findings from the demographic analysis which

suggests that the Belmont LGA reported high proportions of people requiring assistance with core activities, due

to a profound disability when compared to Greater Perth and that the number of people needing assistance in

Belmont LGA is increasing.

Description

A facility which provides an operational base for services targeted at older and/or younger people. It may include

domiciliary care and Meals On Wheels, day respite care for frail aged people and younger people with a disability

who may be at risk of premature or inappropriate long-term residential care, and other services. Facilities can

City of Belmont


cater to individual service providers or a collection of service providers. Services often include transport to and

from the centres, meals, and some allied health services. These centres can provide a range of interactive

activities for clients and/or a base for outreach services.

Table 18. Indicat ive Spec if icat ions for Aged Care & Respite



» Residential ‘home like’

facility

» Carer support services

» Outreach ‘in home’ care

» Social, recreational and

exercise activities

» Emergency ‘drop in’

centre

» HACC services

» Satellite centres

» Linked to Seniors Centre

(see notes for Seniors

Centre)

» Located in a

‘holiday home’ style

area


and inclusion

» Accessible by

public transport


near shops


and buses

Opportunities

» Acquire existing house in

the City of Belmont

» Harman Park

Constraints

» Availability of land in

suitable location

» Timeliness of

development

» Department of Health

» Alzheimer’s WA

» Red Cross

» Carers WA

» Disability Services

Commission

» Local Aboriginal

community


groups

6 . 6 C h i l d C a r e C e n t r e s

Rationale

The needs assessment recommends provision of five childcare facilities for the Belmont Area by 2026 based on

anticipated population increase. Child Care Centres are triggered in the local catchments of Belmont, Coverdale,

Kewdale and Rivervale. Consultation with child care providers in the area indicate that many are at capacity,

particularly for vacation care and afterschool care. It is recognised that childcare facilities are generally provided

by the private market.

In considering the provision for Child Care Centres it is important to note the following opportunities:

» There has been a trend towards employers providing childcare on site for their employees (particularly

in city centres).

» Encouraging the provision of Child Care Centres within office developments will help meet the

provisional need, particularly for workers (as opposed to residents) in the City of Belmont.

» Leading practice favors co-locating Child Care Centres facilities within multipurpose community hubs as

well as education facilities.

Where opportunities exist to co-locate or integrate Child Care Centres into other recommended facilities, these

have been noted.

Table 19. Indicat ive Spec if icat ions for Chi ld Care Centres

City of Belmont




» Playgroups

» Occasional care

» Out of school care

» Long day care

» Close proximity to a

bus station

» Located in areas

where there are

high concentration

of families with

young children

» Situated within

business centres

and industrial areas

where the workers

are

Opportunities

» Opportunity to provide

new Child Care Centres

at Redcliffe and Perth

Airport

Constraints

» High cost of venue hire

(for non-centre based

child care and

playgroups)

» Existing Child Care

Centres have waiting lists

so it’s hard to find child

care placements

» High cost of child care

» Perth Airport

» Local Businesses

» Chamber of

Commerce

6 . 7 Y o u t h H u b

Rationale

The need for a youth facility has been indicated in the benchmark analysis as well as stakeholder consultation

conducted through the needs assessment. In addition, the need for additional youth services and facilities has

been indicated in the City of Belmont Youth Services Strategic Plan 2009-2014.

It was reported through the consultation that the Belmont Youth and Family Services Centre is near capacity with

limited room for expansion. For example, the current space within the existing facility is unable to provide youth

services such as youth health, including mental health and sexual health services. These findings were also

noted in the City of Belmont Youth Services Strategic Plan 2009-2014, which indicated the following:

» There has been increased demand over the last few years from ‘at risk’ young people and family

members using the services at the facility.

» There has been increased attendance of Aboriginal, CALD and disabled young people at the Youth and

Family Services Centre.

» Young people often present with complex needs, placing greater demands on the time and skills of

workers.

Based on the anticipated population growth there is likely to be a requirement for an additional youth facility by

2026. Given the current capacity of the existing facility and the inability to increase the existing centre, there is

justification to develop a new youth facility with expanded space (indoor and outdoor), to service the Belmont

Community into the future.

City of Belmont


Description

A youth hub is a community centre often co-located with ancillary open space specialising in meeting the needs

of young people. The facility usually houses youth workers and program coordinators to deliver on-site and

outreach youth programs and services. A youth hub should be in a location that is easily accessible as well as

incorporating safety principles such as Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED).

Ideally, the facility should provide multiple spaces for weekend, evening and every-day use, with casual lounge

and flexible space for social interaction capability, a necessity. It is critical that the facility should be designed in

consultation with young people. It should be suitable for amplified music and dancing, and include activities and

equipment of interest to young people. Some examples of include:

» Various indoor/outdoor recreation facilities

» Youth lounge and space for social interaction

» Games/Technology Centre

» Music practice and recording rooms

» Art space

» Performance space

» Kitchen and Cafe space

» Information and referral services for youth

In addition to the above, the following youth services were identified through the needs assessment and should

be provided:

» Training and employment

» Literacy and numeracy

» Activities and programs for CALD, Aboriginal young people

» Specialised youth mental health and sexual health services


district level youth hub.

Table 20. Indicat ive Spec if icat ions for Youth Hub



» Youth lounge and space

for social interaction

» Access to workshop

space (music, recording,

art space)

» Outdoor space

» Games/Technology

Centre

» Consult/meeting rooms

and office space

» Wet areas for art practice

including toilet facilities

» 10mins walk from

public transport node

» Integrated in activity

centres and

commercial precincts

» Access to outdoor

recreation space

(particularly for young

parents)

» Linking the existing

youth centre with

nearby outdoor and

recreational facilities

Opportunities

» Establish satellite

linkages with youth

centres in nearby

municipalities

Constraints

» Recurrent funding

sufficient in size to run

and sustain programs

» Youth Providers e.g.

YMCA

» Jacaranda

Community Centre

» Schools

» Local Police

» Department of Child

Protection

» Youth Affairs Council

of WA

» Commissioner for

City of Belmont




» Workshop /performance

space (flexible sizing)

» Kitchen and cafe

» Activities and programs

for CALD, Aboriginal

young people

» Specialised youth mental

health and sexual health

services

» Education and training for

young people (similar to

the program currently

being offered by VIP

Youth)

» Young parents program

» Young women’s

programs

» Inclusion of young people

with a disabilities, CALD

& Aboriginal youth

» Outreach programs for

young people (bring

services to where they

live)

such as the skate park

(across the road) and

sporting ovals (at the

back of the centre)

» Encourage full use of

existing facilities in the

City to deliver youth

programs

Children and Youth

» Australian Research

Alliance for Children

and Youth

City of Belmont


6 . 8 S u m m a r y o f R e c o m m e n d e d F a c i l i t i e s P r o v i s i o n

Taking the recommended facilities noted in Section 6.0, Table 21 below summarises these facilities, and indicates the type of infrastructure that should be provided, possible

opportunity sites, potential partners, funding opportunities, preferred timing the responsible agency and the City of Belmont’s role in delivery.

The last column in the table provides suggested timing for the recommended infrastructure provision based on population triggers (i.e. benchmarks applied to population

growth) to 2026 and provides an ultimate provision deadline. The ultimate provision provides a deadline to meet community needs, while building in flexibility for earlier

provision if opportunities for delivery arise before a facility may actually be required.

The City of Belmont is a leader and key stakeholder in planning for community infrastructure. In the context of this plan the City of Belmont is seen as either a ‘Lead’ or

‘Facilitator’:

» Lead – The City of Belmont has an active role in delivering infrastructure item, working in partnership with a range of stakeholders.

» Facilitator/Active Partner – The City of Belmont is a conduit for information and resources as well as an advocacy role to help facilitate the delivery of infrastructure

items.

Table 21. Summary of Community Inf rast ructure Provis ion for the Ci ty of Belmont

Infrastructure Type Possible Opportunity Sites

Potential Delivery Partners Funding Opportunities Responsibility City of Belmont’s Role

Preferred Timing/Ultimate provision deadline

Multipurpose Community Hub incorporating:

» Library

» Museum

» Arts & culture

» Seniors Centre

» Faulkner Park Precinct

» Co-located with Multipurpose facility

» Local Aboriginal community

» Local multicultural groups




» Performing arts groups

» Businesses

» Lotterywest Grants Program

» Rationalisation and sale of underperforming or excess City of Belmont assets

» City of Belmont

» Lead » Delivered within the next 10 years

Education Hub » Mixed use Development

» Private Providers e.g. Catholic Education



» Non-government organisations (service

» Private-Public Partnerships

» Leveraging or rationalisation of State owned land

» State Government

» State Government

» Facilitator/ Active Partner

» Delivered within the next 15 years

City of Belmont





providers)

» Community Health/Medicare Local

» Sports and recreational groups

rates and taxes

Community Health and Wellbeing Hub

» Utilise existing facilities such as the Redcliffe Hall

» Bentley Armadale Medicare Local Clinic

» Belmont Youth & Family Service Centre


» Health service providers

» Bentley Armadale Medicare Local

» Holistic therapies

» Non-health specific groups

» Mental health services





» Regional Development Australia Fund

» State Government



Mosque » Non-residential area, including the Perth Airport

» Islamic Council of Western Australia

» Perth Airport

» Australian Islamic College

» Islamic Council of WA

» City of Belmont

» Red Cross

» Schools in Belmont

» Islamic Community

» Private

» Public Donation

» Islamic Community/ Islamic Council of Western Australia

» Facilitator » TBD by private sector

Aged Care & Respite

» Acquire existing building in the City of Belmont

» Harman Park

» Forster Park


» Alzheimer’s Australia WA

» Red Cross

» Carers WA

» Disability Services Commission






» TBD

(Aged Care Service Reform and Strategic Review will determine the City’s role in aged care/respite)

» TBD

(Aged Care Service Reform and Strategic Review will determine the City’s role in aged care/respite)


Child Care Centres (x 5)

» Mixed use developments

» Perth Airport

» Local Businesses

» Planning Incentives » Private Sector

» Facilitator/ Active

» Delivered within the next 5 to 10

City of Belmont





Belmont x1

Cloverdale x1

Kewdale x1

Rivervale x2

» Opportunity to provide new Child Care Centres at Redcliffe and Perth Airport

» Centenary Park Community Centre

» Chamber of Commerce Partner years

Youth Hub » Faulkner Park precinct

» Belmont Youth and Family Services

» Redcliffe Park Community Centre

» Youth Service Providers e.g. YMCA

» Jacaranda Community Centre

» Schools

» Local Police

» Department of Child Protection

» Youth Affairs Council of WA

» Commissioner for Children and Young People, WA

» Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth


» Regional Development Australia Fund



» City of Belmont

» Lead » Delivered within the next 15 years

Disability accessible and inclusive pool

» Oasis Leisure Centre


» Community

» Oasis Leisure Centre

» Private Providers

» Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund (CSRFF)


» City of Belmont



Culturally friendly pool

» Islamic College » Oasis Leisure Centre

» Australian Islamic College

» Private Providers

» Community

» Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund (CSRFF)


» CALD Community



City of Belmont


7.0 Imp lementa t ion

The CIP for the City of Belmont is the first major step forward in developing a more coordinated, efficient,

sustainable and innovative approach to community infrastructure provision. It provides direction to a range of key

stakeholders including government, non government organisations and the private sector on the community

infrastructure requirements for the City of Belmont. It also provides guidance for more detailed infrastructure

planning.

The Plan proposes indicative timing and actions in response to the recommended community infrastructure

provision identified. The action plan provides a framework to seek the support of key stakeholders to work

collaboratively to deliver the community infrastructure provision identified for the City of Belmont.

7 . 1 T h e R o l e o f t h e C i t y o f B e l m o n t

The City of Belmont’s role in the delivery of community infrastructure involves both planning and provision and is

dependent on the type of the community infrastructure involved. The various roles of the City of Belmont in the

delivery of community infrastructure are:

» As a planning regulator the City can encourage (but not require) the provision of community

infrastructure through the Planning Scheme.

» As a land and building owner, the City has the potential to develop or use its holdings for community

infrastructure (solely or as a joint venture).

» The City may also be a developer of community buildings in its own right, either solely or in partnership

with others.

» The City is also a community service provider delivering programs and initiatives for residents and

workers, children, youth and aged.

» The City can also be an advocate by actively approaching other levels of government to deliver facilities

and services required by the community.

» Finally, as a facilitator/active partner, the City can create enabling environments for partnership and

collaboration, and coordinate integrated delivery of facilities and services across the community.

City of Belmont


7 . 2 F u n d i n g M e c h a n i s m s

Although funding of community infrastructure has historically been the domain of State and Local Government,

there is an increasing trend across Australia to utilise user pays and other innovative funding means to better

align facility provision with community need. The responsibility of providing and funding community infrastructure

rests with a large number of players.

There are several funding mechanisms available to deliver the range of facilities required for the communities

within the City of Belmont including:

» State and Local Government taxes, rates and charges. These can be used to provide essential or

desired infrastructure that are considered necessary for the effective functioning of society. Rates and

taxes are often utilised when significant benefits that are external to the immediate users are likely to be

present.

» Federal and State Government grants. Federal and State Government grants are categorised in a

range of areas, which are made available to communities and local governments as well as a number of

private sector organisations, to assist in providing and/or delivering infrastructure and programs.

» Public Private Partnerships or Joint Ventures. PPPs or JVs in the community infrastructure

provision area generally involve a commercial partner gaining rights to develop government owned land,

in return for the construction of social or other infrastructure, sometimes associated with a cash

payment.

» Development / Community Trusts and Funds. There are a number of community trusts and funds

that have contributed to community infrastructure provision. Of most relevance to the WA environment

are the Lotterywest grants. Lotterywest grants have been established to help organisations to operate

more effectively, help create better facilities and opportunities for communities.

» Utilisation of Government Owned Assets. Leverage or rationalisation of government owned assets

(e.g. underperforming or excess assets) can be a cost effective option to achieving new, purpose built

social infrastructure, particularly decommissioned state owned land that can often be acquired at

reduced rates if the social outcomes were deemed beneficial.

» Incentives for private development. These incentives can encourage developers to act on incentives

that encourage the delivery of items or facilities that are in the public interest.

» Developer contributions. In WA, the State Planning Policy 3.6 can be utilised to fund certain

components of community infrastructure and usually include land, works, and/or payments towards the

provision of infrastructure and are imposed via conditions of approval.

» Voluntary infrastructure agreements. These types of agreements can be utilised to provide land,

facilities and/or costs associated with the provision of infrastructure. These agreements are voluntary

between amenable parties, and can include the requirement for the provision of land, facilities and/or

cash contributions.

To ensure optimum levels of provision are present for community infrastructure, a range of funding mechanisms

are required. Some funding components will be more or less applicable for covering capital costs (land and

assets) and/or operating costs of the assets. Funding for whole of life cost of facilities is essential if facilities are

to be provided that commensurate with community needs. In addition to the type of funding mechanism utilised

for the provision of facilities, it is essential that wherever possible collaboration with other key stakeholders be

sought. An evidence base, such as this report, should be referenced when determining priority funding of

facilities.

In this regard, it is considered important that the following funding principles be adopted for the Plan:

» A range of funding mechanisms will be employed where appropriate.

» Funding mechanisms will cover land, plus whole of life asset costs.

City of Belmont


» Partnerships and collaboration with key stakeholders will be sought where possible and appropriate.

» Funding priorities will be based on the CIP for the City of Belmont.

7 . 3 M o n i t o r i n g a n d R e v i e w

In order to ensure the desired outcomes and actions proposed in the CIP for the City of Belmont 2013 are met,

evaluation and monitoring will need to be undertaken. This will allow the City of Belmont to continually monitor

progress, be responsive to legislative change, incorporate any new potential partners and/or opportunities as

they arise and generally remain contemporary.

Ideally, monitoring will be undertaken within an ongoing cycle—planning, delivering, monitoring, review or

evaluation, and renewed planning. The challenge is to ensure that common objectives, information protocols and

processes are established to ensure that monitoring is an integral part of delivery and facility management.

It is recommended that a minor review be undertaken in the first two years of the Plans adoption, with a major

review within five years of adoption. Thereafter the report should be updated on a five yearly cycle to coincide

with the release of census data.

7 . 4 R e c o m m e n d e d A c t i o n s

The Table below articulates a way forward for the City of Belmont to finalise and implement the CIP. The

recommended actions provides the City of Belmont with direction in the short term to seek collaboration with

stakeholders, and in the longer term articulates broad actions required to ensure recommendations within this

plan are realised.

City of Belmont


Table 22. Recommended Act ions

No. Recommended Actions

General

A1 The City of Belmont to adopt the Community Infrastructure Plan and its associated recommendations

A2 The City of Belmont to monitor the Plan’s delivery and schedule regular ongoing review. It is recommended that a minor review be undertaken in the first two years of

the Plans adoption, with a major review within five years of adoption

A3

The City of Belmont to work with key stakeholders to identify strategic partnerships and explore setting up a Community Infrastructure Taskforce (that reports directly

to the Standing Committee on Community Visions with key stakeholders to:

» Facilitate delivery of community infrastructure provision in accordance with the Plan

» Facilitate coordination of services available to residents

» Facilitate promotion of available services and programs e.g. local newsletters, website, rates notices

A4 The City of Belmont to work with Community Infrastructure Taskforce to prioritise and set the vision and objectives for delivery of identified community infrastructure

A5 The City of Belmont to seek buy-in and advocate for collegial partnerships (where practical) with stakeholders that have a role in community infrastructure delivery to

implement the Plan

A6 The City of Belmont to enhance the promotion of existing community centres (e.g. Redcliffe Community Centre, Forster Park and Miles Park Community Centre)

available for community hire through the Belmont Bulletin, City of Belmont website and community notice boards

A7 The City of Belmont to support the upgrade of existing local community centres for use by community groups such as playgroups and religious services

A8 The City of Belmont to continue to monitor funding and grant opportunities e.g. Lotterywest for the delivery of community infrastructure

Multipurpose Community Hub

A9 The City of Belmont to continue exploring the development of the Faulkner Park Precinct, as a location for the establishment of a new multipurpose community hub,

with a potential co-location of a library, museum, arts & cultural centre, and senior’s centre

A10 The City of Belmont to facilitate a forum for all seniors in the Belmont community to discuss and further scope the potential for a new seniors centre including potential

space requirements and functions

A11 Develop a feasibility and business case for the development of the Multipurpose Community Hub at Faulkner Park.

A12 Undertake consultation with specialist service providers to identify locational requirements and willingness to co-locate their office space within existing and proposed

community centres/space

A13

Explore opportunities to establish a key arts facility within the City, either within the proposed Faulkner Park Precinct or improving the existing Belmont Arts and

Crafts Centre facility

City of Belmont



Community Health and Wellbeing Hub

A14

The City of Belmont to work with the South Metro Health Services, Bentley Armadale Medicare Local and the Department of Health to broker relationships with the

following organisations to fill the identified gaps in health services provision:

» Community Link and Network WA (mental health)

» Wanslea (mental health)


» Department for Child Protection

» CommuniCare

» Women’s Health and Family Services

» Police

» Multicultural Services Centre

» East Metropolitan CALD Network

A15 Support Bentley Armadale Medicare Local to improve its presence and service delivery reach within the City of Belmont

Mosque

A16 The City of Belmont to arrange a meeting with the Islamic Council of WA and the Australian Islamic College to determine the status of the current negotiations with

LandCorp and identify potential sites for a new Mosque

Child Care Centre

A17 The City of Belmont to explore opportunities through planning scheme mechanisms to encourage provision of Child Care Centre (especially occasional care, after

school care and vacation care), for example plot ratio bonus

A18 The City of Belmont to engage with business sector to scope opportunities for onsite Child Care Centre provision

A19 Work with the community sector to deliver community owned not-for-profit Child Care services

Aged Care/Respite Centre

A20 The City of Belmont to support the City of Belmont Adult Day Centre relocation to Harman Park to fulfil demand in aged care/respite

A21 Explore possible opportunities of including adult change facilities (e.g. adult change table) within City of Belmont owned facilities

Youth Hub

A22 The City of Belmont to continue to work with the youth committee to engage youth and provide guidance on youth services and facilities

Education Hub

A23 The City of Belmont to monitor the need for a primary and secondary school in consultation with the Department of Education


City of Belmont



A24 The City of Belmont to facilitate discussions between the Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre and Disability Access Focus Group about opportunities for making existing

aquatic facility available to cater to the needs of people with a disability

A25 The City of Belmont to provide information and advice to the Islamic College around potential funding sources/opportunities to refurbish existing pool for the use by

cultural groups

Other

A26 The City of Belmont to undertake further analysis on worker needs and implications for community infrastructure particularly in Perth Airport

A27 The City of Belmont to consider developing a Social Inclusion Strategy for moving forward with the needs of CALD, Aboriginal, people with a disability and seniors

City of Belmont


8.0 Refe rences

Australian Bureau of Statistics, (2011), Community Profiles Belmont LGA

Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship, (2012), Settlement Reporting Facility.

City of Rockingham, (2011), Community Infrastructure Plan 2011/12 – 2020/21.

City of Sydney, (2011), Green Square Redevelopment, accessed 18 June, 2012

<http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Development/UrbanRenewalProjects/GreenSquare/GreenSquareUrbanRe

newalArea.asp>

City of Wanneroo, (2010), DRAFT Community Facilities Plan - Northern Coastal Growth Corridor.

Department of Education and Training, (2008), Community Use of School Facilities and Resources Policy

Elton Consulting, (2007), Feasibility Study of Community Hubs for the Parramatta Local Government Area –

Briefing Paper, 25 September 2007, p.2

Elton Consulting (2011), Planning for Community Infrastructure and Community Services in urban growth areas.

Fine M., Pancharatnam, K. and Thomas, L (2005) Coordinated and Integrated Human Service Delivery Models,

SPRC Report 1/05, Sydney: Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales

Parks and Leisure Australia, (2012), Benchmarks for Community Infrastructure. A PLA WA working document.

Queensland Government Office of Urban Management & The Coordinator-General, (2006), Social Infrastructure

Planning Implementation Guidelines No.5

Western Australia Planning Commission, (2010), Direction 2031 and Beyond

Western Australia Planning Commission, (2010), Central Metropolitan Perth Sub Regional Strategy

Western Australia Planning Commission, (2011), Capital City Framework Part A and B

Western Australia Planning Commission, (2009), State Planning Policy 3.6 Development Contributions for

Infrastructure

Western Australia Planning Commission, (1999), Policy No. DC 2.4 School Sites

Western Australia Planning Commission, (2010), State Planning Policy 4.2 – Activity Centres for Perth and Peel.

Western Australia Planning Commission, (2012), Western Australia Tomorrow Population Report No.7 2006 –

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