LORD MAYORS: WHY DO SOME COUNCILS GET ROYAL RECOGNITION?

LORD MAYORS:

WHY DO SOME COUNCILS GET ROYAL RECOGNITION?

Buckingham Palace in the United Kingdom.

by Lauren DeLorenzo, Journalist, Council magazine From David Attenborough to Adele, royal titles are typically bestowed in recognition of an individual’s contribution to their field. So why do some Australian councils have a lord mayor while others miss out on the title, and what does it mean for local governments?

Australia has over 500 local government councils, but only a select few of them elect lord mayors.

Melbourne, Perth, Canberra, Sydney, Adelaide, Hobart and Darwin each have a lord mayor, recognising the capital cities as prominent areas for culture and history.

The British monarchy has also bestowed the title on Parramatta, Wollongong and Newcastle after they reached significant milestones.

Here, Council dives into why these cities were granted the title, how a mayor can be nominated, and what being lord mayor actually means.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF A LORD MAYOR TITLE

The title of lord mayor does not come with any additional powers or advantages, save for the recognition it brings to the reputation of the council.

So what is it that sets lord mayors apart from regular mayors? Is it undertaking significant charity work? Setting forth grand council initiatives? Making bold policy decisions?

The answer is that there are no specific criteria to be eligible for the title of lord mayor.

Historically, the title has been granted to mayors of certain capital cities in Commonwealth countries. A handful of lord mayor positions exist in the UK, Canada and Uganda, where they are ceremonial posts recognising major cities.

In Ireland, which split from the Commonwealth and became a republic in 1949, the title of lord mayor has been kept in the country’s capital, Dublin, and in Cork as a symbolic title.

In Australia, the title functions a little differently, as the mayor of every capital city in the country is given lord mayor status.

But, it’s not just capital cities that are eligible for the title. In the UK, Bradford was granted the honour as it was (at the time) the largest municipality without the lord mayor title.

Other cities in the UK, like Kingston upon Hull and Newcastle upon Tyne, were granted lord mayorship status due to their proximity and importance to sea ports.

DO LORD MAYORS HAVE ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES?

Mayors not only represent councils in civic and ceremonial duties, but they are also responsible for guiding councillors in their roles, acting as chair in council meetings, acting as the primary council spokesperson and developing opportunities for community growth and improvements.

Lord mayors of capital cities have the added responsibility of contributing to the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors (CCCLM). This organisation aims to provide national leadership on the coordination of issues relating to Australian capital cities, particularly in how they relate to other levels of government.

There are slight differences in the responsibilities of lord mayors depending on the city. The Lord Mayor of Sydney is responsible for specific functions delegated by Council. The Lord Mayor of Melbourne leads regular reviews of the CEO, who is the only staff member appointed by Council and is responsible for overseeing the dayto-day management of Council operations.

In Hobart, the Lord Mayor appoints and monitors the performance of the general manager, assisting in its support of Council.

WHO CAN BE NOMINATED FOR LORD MAYOR?

In Australia, councils can nominate their mayor for the title by writing to the State Government, which can then pass on the application to the monarchy for approval.

This was the process that Liverpool Council began in 2017, when it nominated its mayor for the title. This was shortly after Liverpool was reclassified as a large metropolitan city, reflecting its growing population.

As the fourth oldest settlement in Australia (after Sydney, Parramatta and Hobart, all of which hold lord mayor titles), Liverpool Council highlighted the historical importance of the city.

Liverpool’s historical significance includes over 500 Indigenous sites containing artwork, archaeology, scarred trees and artefacts.

The area also includes some of the first examples of domestic colonial architecture from the 1800s and military barracks used for training in World War I and World War II.

Another consideration for Liverpool is the opening of the Western Sydney Airport, which is anticipated to bring even further growth and international attention to the region. A lord mayor title, proponents argue, would elevate the reputation of Liverpool.

In regards to granting the lord mayor title, the Office of Local Government has advised that, “Although there are no specific qualifications required for such bestowal, it appears that the local government area would need to have a very special significance in the history and geography of the state.” the community. Because of this, applications for the title have been disparaged as ways to improve public perception without adding substantive value to councils.

Liverpool Mayor, Nen Mannoun, criticised Liverpool Council’s application for the title in 2017, while a different mayor was in office.

In a Facebook post, Mr Mannoun wrote, “What do you think is important for the Mayor and Council to be discussing and fixing? Better train services, increased funding for CCTV, better parks, more jobs?

“Instead, they are wasting their time (and your money) discussing the importance of changing the title of the mayor to lord mayor.”

The outcome of Liverpool’s lord mayor application has not been announced.

LORD MAYORS OUTSIDE OF CAPITAL CITIES

Other than the capital cities of each state and territory, Australia currently has three councils that elect lord mayors — Wollongong, Paramatta and Newcastle in New South Wales.

In 1948, Newcastle became the first non-capital city to receive the honour of a lord mayor title. It was recognised by King George VI for being the second oldest and largest city in New South Wales.

Wollongong Council first applied for the lord mayor title in 1951, with subsequent applications in 1956, 1959, 1964 and 1965. Wollongong was finally granted the title by Queen Elizabeth II in 1970, following a tour of the city and a longrunning community campaign led by Council.

Parramatta Council received lord mayor status in 1988, after making an application by a letter to the State Government during its bicentennial year.

The title was approved in a message from Buckingham Palace, which read, “It is established practice in the UK that the mayor of an important city is raised to a Lord Mayor only to mark some very special national or local event.

“The City of Parramatta’s own bicentennial, in Australia’s own bicentennial year, seems to meet that criterion most aptly, so the Queen is happy to approve the Premier’s recommendation that the Mayor of Parramatta should be raised to the dignity of Lord Mayor.”

Parramatta Town Hall.

CRITICISM OF LORD MAYOR APPLICATIONS

As lord mayor is a ceremonial title, whether a council is granted the honour or not has very little tangible effect on

FROM THE GARDEN TO KITCHEN:

TEACHING YOUNG MINDS ABOUT DIVERSE CULTURES THROUGH FOOD

Most people can relate to the sense of community that food can inspire. It’s the simple act of gathering around a table together that inspired Stephanie Alexander AO to start The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program over twenty years ago. Teaching young people to grow and prepare food is the Program's passion, collaborating with local governments and schools to deliver a range of health, education and community benefits.

Students from Springvale Rise Primary School in their kitchen garden. Image: Springvale Rise Primary School

For over twenty years, the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program, founded by one of Australia's most wellknown cooks, has proven itself as a powerful tool in drawing communities together through kitchen garden programs, supporting cultural safety and heightening social cohesion at schools and early childhood services around the country.

The Kitchen Garden Program helps schools implement community gardens and teach students how to grow and harvest a diverse range of food, prepare a variety of cuisines and appreciate pleasurable food education.

Now a Foundation, it provides professional development and support for educators and local communities, working with local governments and schools to deliver food education for young people.

“Gathering together over a meal is one of my greatest pleasures. To enable individuals to do that is precious; to enable communities to do that is beneficial in vast ways,” Ms Alexander said.

HOW FOOD CAN CONTRIBUTE TO CULTURAL INCLUSION

The Foundation works with many schools and local governments that house a variety of diverse communities, using food as a way to teach young minds about different cultures.

In the Journal for Multicultural Education, authors Karen Block, Lisa Gibbs, Susie Macfarlane and Mardie Townsend discuss how the Kitchen Garden Program increases cultural diversity and inclusion in schools, in their article Promoting appreciation of cultural diversity and inclusion with the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program.

“In a culturally diverse school, the program enhanced the school’s capacity to engage and include children and families from migrant backgrounds. In less diverse settings, the program provided opportunities for schools to teach children about cultural diversity.”

The article also said that the findings suggest “the program can help to promote social equity and inclusion for culturally diverse groups”.

Belonging and inclusion are vital for the healthy development of children and young people, and school and early education settings are an important place to bolster this.

For Elizabeth Downs Primary School, north of Adelaide, promoting inclusivity and diversity is important given the school has children from 30 different cultural backgrounds.

Kim Meissner, Kitchen Specialist at Elizabeth Downs Primary School, believes the Program provides

a necessary sense of cultural understanding, “particularly through the reinforcement of culturally-influenced dishes that reference and open discussion for foods, practices, and techniques they may not have been introduced to before”.

Ms Meissner said the Program draws from as many food cultures as possible, which centres and empowers the children.

Karama School in Darwin, which has a high proportion of students who identify as Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander, as well as children from homes with diverse cultural and language backgrounds, has also seen the benefits of implementing a Kitchen Garden Program.

“Karama School has a well-established kitchen and garden program. The children at Karama love the garden and it is well respected. Many children report that cooking is their favourite subject and show great pride in sharing what they have produced in the kitchen and the garden with their peers, the school and the wider community,” a spokesperson from Karama School said.

TEACHING HEALTHY FOOD HABITS

The Foundation has partnered with a number of councils, including Brimbank, located in Melbourne’s West, to help more schools and centres start Kitchen Garden Programs.

Brimbank Council, in collaboration with the Foundation, helped nine schools in the area implement a Kitchen Garden Program by subsidising a membership package that provided resources, professional development and access to guidance from the Kitchen Garden team.

Brimbank Mayor, Cr Jasmine Nguyen, said, “Brimbank City Council is really proud to support a program that gives young people hands-on experience in a kitchen garden at school. It is a great way for children to learn about the benefits of growing food for the environment and their own health.

“It is also wonderful to see the program include culturally diverse food.

“We are a diverse and multicultural municipality with more than 46 per cent of residents born in another country, and about 160 different languages spoken in Brimbank. And we are all the richer for it.

“For young people, being able to share or learn about the foods that they may grow in their home garden, prepare in their kitchens, or enjoy for family meals, helps boost pride and better understanding of each other’s cultures.”

Another school that has benefited from the program is Springvale Rise Primary School in Melbourne, where the kitchen garden is considered a “one-stop-shop.”

Springvale Rise Primary School Principal, Debbi Cottier, said, “We consider ourselves a community hub. We see the kitchen garden space as a way to embrace our community – addressing inclusion – we are really trying to create a safe place for families who are newly arrived to Australia.”

The school uses food as a way to connect with parents and foster a safe space.

“Sharing food is one of the most wondrous ways of connecting. And we’re such a culturally diverse community, we’re treated to some amazing foods among the way,” Ms Cottier said.

Kitchen Garden Programs can also provide an alternate setting for reluctant learners, those with special needs, or those who need a gentler way into their learning day.

Mary Giannakopoulos, Kitchen Garden Specialist at Springvale Rise said, “The garden is a bit of a refuge.

“Children who might not be having a great day can come and sit in the garden, have a chat, potter around, it helps them turn the switch and change their view for the day.”

The Kitchen Garden Program supports schools and services to deliver curriculum requirements as well as social and emotional learning.

Denise Stone, Principal at Spearwood Alternative School said, “The Kitchen Garden Program provision of rich learning resources supports learning across the curriculum, in general capabilities, and the overarching outcomes are met with links to Aboriginal and Asian studies and certainly sustainability.

“It is an awesome, unifying vehicle for learning for all ages. The inclusion of parents in the program effectively meets our school connection and community values.”

MEANINGFUL CHANGES THROUGH FOOD EDUCATION

Creating a space where children and young people’s lived experience is valued, and shown in a school context, is key to wellbeing. Community involvement strengthens this – nurturing the vital links between learning experiences, child, family and community.

“I believe that if our program was part of the educational experience of every child from early learning to adolescence, we would achieve meaningful change in health, education, cooperation and community spirit, cultural tolerance and understanding,” Ms Alexander said.

“We talk about what the name of the product or dish is in their language. This is the same in the garden space, where students like to identify plants and talk about how to say and pronounce it in their native tongue.” Kim Meissner, Kitchen Specialist at Elizabeth Downs Primary School

A student from Elizabeth Downs Primary School learning to cook with fresh ingredients from the garden. Image: Elizabeth Downs Primary School

CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT // SPONSORED EDITORIAL

Smart access solutions:

IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Local councils continuously endeavour to improve the quality of life for residents in the community. Whether locals are looking to create memories with family, immerse themselves in cultural ceremonies, or want to mingle with fellow community members over a common interest – councils offer plenty of bookable activities and resources for residents to make the most of.

For councils to offer valuable experiences for residents to explore, in the form of bookable resources, having the support of a reliable security system is a non-negotiable.

The system needs to be reliable and highly advanced, but also effortless to manage; especially since this will typically be the residents’ first point of access before entering the facility.

SMART ACCESS SOLUTIONS

In this day and age, residents expect councils to keep up with the latest technology and security standards – while creating smart access solutions that are as simple as possible to utilise without any compromise on security.

Installing smart access solutions benefits everyone within the community. For councils, it can cut costs relating to installing technology, monitoring keys and the physical need for staff members at the facilities’ entry points, which means councils can allocate these savings into other resources.

With smart access control, councils can simultaneously achieve costefficiency and give their residents easier access to the great facilities at hand.

THE RIGHT SOLUTIONS TO CREATE SMART CITIES

Diverse bookable resources that are backed by the right security measures can create smarter cities and enhance community life – with solutions like TecomC4 having the capabilities to do just that.

TecomC4 is a management software system that delivers a centralised, multiuser solution through one interface and has already been employed across New South Wales city councils.

Fairfield City Council said, “The Tecom solution was at a cost-effective price point, delivered the outcomes we required, and the support is there when we need it, which gives us confidence.”

Any facility that needs a control mechanism to schedule and allocate usage times, or requires access codes to enter certain spaces, can be enhanced by TecomC4’s technology.

Since TecomC4 gives full control over access rights and permissions to match each individual application, it can be scaled to all unique council services, making popular tasks like booking a tennis court or a study room in the library quick and easy.

TecomC4 keeps council buildings and offices highly secure, since it can control who enters certain areas and monitors people coming in and out of different building levels.

TecomC4 also carries over 200 integrations, which means the performance of the building’s CCTV cameras will be even more reliable.

Other bookable resources that TecomC4 is optimal in includes community halls, sporting facilities, swimming pools, and boom gates.

TecomC4 is more than a smart access control solution – it’s a scalable and cost-effective investment that allows both council facilities and the public domain to grow faster and stronger, into the future.

REMEMBERING THE SUBURBS

IN AUSTRALIA’S POST-COVID-19 RECOVERY

After numerous lockdowns and limited mobility due to COVID-19, revitalising the nation’s Central Business Districts (CBDs) has been front of mind. From amendments to Planning Laws to allow 24-hour trading, to the injection of funds for live music and the arts, there is no shortage of ideas for increasing foot traffic in these key districts – but not so much conversation around the suburbs that surround the city, and the role localism has played in the pandemic.

Despite the focus on enticing locals back to Australia's CBDs, largely missing from recent conversations are the opportunities available to local governments to build on the communities built in the suburbs during the pandemic, and how Out of

Home advertising can contribute to this recovery and growth.

SHIFTING HOW WE MOVE AND WORK

According to research firm Kantar, COVID-19 has driven a surge in localism around the country. More than simply a ‘Buy Australian’ catch-cry, this sharp shift in both consumer behaviour and mobility has seen an increased focus on local neighbourhoods, cafes and shopping centres, as residents found themselves with both the time and income to visit businesses close to home.

Many organisations based in the CBD have now settled on a hybrid working policy. The most recent statistics from The Property Congress show that 15 per cent of office-based workers are based permanently at home, while 30 per cent spend between one and three days in the office each week.

Interestingly for local governments, 26 per cent of those working from home want a local co-working space and 24 per cent want to work in a local café. A large shift when two years ago, less than five per cent of the workforce was based at home.

These statistics offer a vital insight into the resilience building that local governments can undertake when planning new developments and assessing the viability of Local Environmental Plans (LEPs) – to ensure that they are catering to resident’s needs.

GETTING TO KNOW THE NEIGHBOURS

There is more to this story than economics; millions of Australians struggled with loneliness and social isolation during the pandemic and while the lifting of restrictions has seen some reinvigorate social networks, there is a multitude of evidence to show that the strength of connection to local amenities keeps people happy and engaged.

Improved community connectedness during COVID-19 was realised in a variety of ways; from meeting neighbours, to supporting those who were elderly or vulnerable, to ensuring local shopping centres were supported.

All were of benefit to not only each local government area, but also to the community members who experienced increased confidence to maintain their own wellbeing while supporting others.

As the post-pandemic recovery continues in 2022, the next big question for local governments and the private sector alike is: How do we build on this momentum and cement suburbs in the psyche of Australia?

USING OUT OF HOME (OOH) TO BOOST LOCALISM

With a company purpose of making public spaces better, oOh!media is deeply invested in over hundred local councils around Australia. From building and maintaining bus shelters that reflect an area’s unique local heritage, to building data platforms to help retail centres inspire and inform – our focus and presence in local communities is stronger than ever post-pandemic.

We know that helping small businesses utilise the power of our advertising assets is a valuable investment for us and an effective way to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to local government.

In June 2022 we will be launching the oOh!media Small Business Boost program – the first of its kind in outdoor advertising – to help local businesses access media packages that would traditionally be out of their reach.

The program will see us provide $100,000 worth of media space to each small business in the program, to allow them to create hyper-local targeted campaigns across our Retail and Street Furniture network over a 12-month period.

The program highlights the confidence we have in localism continuing to be a key focus for all Australians in the coming years.

FINDING THE RIGHT BALANCE

CBDs will continue to hold a place of great importance in Australian culture; they are frequently the first stop for all visitors to our shores and – regardless of the challenges of postpandemic life – and will always be a vibrant hub of creativity.

In the desire to push a return to the past, it is important to remember the vital role that the suburbs have played over the last two years and to commit to ongoing investment and growth in partnership with local governments, small businesses and the locals at the heart of these great communities.

PRESERVING HERITAGE BUILDINGS TO KEEP COMMUNITIES STRONG

As Australia's suburbs and cities grow, it’s critical for local governments to prioritise the preservation of heritage listed buildings, to not only provide an opportunity for a community to ponder its history, but because these buildings play a significant role in society and offer many social, economic and sustainability benefits to locals.

It’s crucial for members of local government to carefully consider how much is invested in the preservation of heritage listed buildings, because ensuring they are safe and structurally sound is an investment in communities.

Many heritage buildings serve as community attractions or interesting landmarks and can contribute to economic growth by generating greater neighbourhood foot traffic through sight-seeing and tourism.

Visually appealing or historically significant heritage structures also help to attract external investment, which can lead to increased land values and healthy property markets.

These buildings can also play a role in templating a historically inspired precinct development that provides neighbourhoods with a unique aesthetic that engages with visitors.

MAKING THE MOST OUT OF HERITAGE BUILDINGS

Heritage buildings with high-grade structural integrity can also be reused for different purposes as communities evolve. Typically constructed with brick, concrete, steel and stone, original foundations are often sturdy, reliable and reduce the need for demolition and resource consumption as a result of development.

This reduces potential construction waste generation and limits the impact on business and surrounding natural areas that may be impacted by building works.

These societal benefits make it important for councils to maintain heritage buildings, but the task can often be challenging. Over time these structures may degrade or begin succumbing to decades of ground movement or water ingress, making them fragile and prone to voids around the foundations. This can lead to damage including sinking floors, cracked walls, jammed doors and windows and other visible signs of subsidence.

INNOVATIVE LOW IMPACT SOLUTIONS

Ground engineering specialist, Mainmark, has significant experience in helping to arrest damage to heritage-listed buildings. These include a former grain storage facility in Sydney with weakened soil around its foundations, compromising the surrounding footpaths and environment; as well as an 1800s school turned café that had experienced wall cracks and building rotation as a result of differential settlement. In these two cases, and many others that involve heritage sites, the key to structural preservation is low impact solutions that remediate the problem without compromising the building’s structural integrity. Mainmark’s engineered, proprietary solutions can raise and re-support structures, fill large holes and deliver ground stabilisation, with minimal impact to the site and minimal intrusion and interruption to occupants and visitors. Mainmark’s non-invasive Teretek® polyurethane resin solution rapidly expands and cures in the ground, both compacting and strengthening the soil while limiting soil reaction to seasonal moisture changes. Applied in a process similar to keyhole surgery, Mainmark has been able to utilise Teretek® for a number of heritage structures, successfully remediating the issue and minimising disruption in the area – providing long-term structural stability. Fortunately, the responsibility of preserving important heritage structures is no longer a process requiring significant financial investment, weeks of site access restrictions or invasive excavation works that risk causing further damage. A historical cafe in Melbourne that was re-leveled using Mainmark's Teretek® solution. Councils can benefit from the modern engineered solutions available to ensure historical buildings can play an active role in the future of Australian communities.

The historical Glenelg Town Hall in South Australia, which had a re-level and re-support by Mainmark.

ABOUT MAINMARK

Mainmark has 15 sites across Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the UK, and provides a range of specialist ground engineering and asset preservation solutions for residential, commercial, industrial, civil infrastructure and mining sectors. Committed to excellence, Mainmark’s state-of-the-art solutions are backed by more than 25 years of engineering expertise. Mainmark products and services include solutions for ground stabilisation, void filling, stopping water ingress, raising and levelling on-ground and in-ground structures, fixing anchors into rock faces and embankments, and other related ground engineering processes. Head to www.mainmark.com for more information.

HOW AUSTRALIA'S MOST EXPENSIVE CITIES ARE

BATTLING HOMELESSNESS IN 2022

by April Shepherd, Editor, Council magazine, With contributions from City of Melbourne and City of Sydney As the cost of living rises and Australia's housing prices remain some of the most expensive in the world, councils nationwide are facing a housing crisis, with more and more people of all ages and walks of life resorting to sleeping rough, as extra support available in the height of the pandemic dries up. Here Council investigates how two key CBD councils are working to curb homelessness.

An artist's impression of the Make Room building in Melbourne’s CBD. Image: City of Melbourne. A ustralia's homelessness crisis is as prevalent as ever, despite funding and extra support during the pandemic briefly reducing the number of people presenting to homelessness services nationally.

Analysis of Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data by Homelessness Australia showed that increasing income support reduces the number of people experiencing homelessness, as seen in 2020 when the Federal Government provided additional support in the form of JobKeeper and the Coronavirus Supplement.

The analysis also showed that when the extra support diminished, the amount of people seeking homeless services increased.

COST OF LIVING RISING DRAMATICALLY

Household support going back to pre-pandemic levels is not the only contributor to Australia's housing crisis. The Australian Bureau of Statistics has reported the largest quarterly increase in household living cost indexes since September 2000, when the GST was introduced.

For capital cities Sydney and Melbourne, battling the homelessness crisis is becoming increasingly difficult, as both cities find themselves listed as some of the most expensive housing markets globally in 2022, according to Demographia's International Housing Affordability (2022 Edition) report.

Demographia’s research found these figures by median multiple (taking the median house price for a region, then dividing it by the annual median gross household income).

Sydney placed second, only beaten by Hong Kong, and Melbourne came in fifth.

The report stated that “the least affordable market is Hong Kong, with a median multiple of 23.2, followed by Sydney at 15.3, Vancouver at 13.3, San Jose at 12.6 and Melbourne at 12.1”.

The higher the ratio, the less affordable the housing market in that city is, with Demographia deeming a median multiple of 3.0 and under as ‘affordable’ and median multiple of 5.1 and over as ‘severely unaffordable’.

In a press release on 11 May 2022, Local Government NSW (LGNSW) President, Darriea Turley AM, said councils were seeing first hand the impact of rental vacancy rates at all-time lows because a significant part of the community is locked out of home ownership.

“Housing affordability is arguably the most pressing issue right now affecting communities across the state,” Cr Turley said.

As the pressure in communities builds, councils across Australia are introducing new initiatives to prevent homelessness in the communities, especially Melbourne and Sydney CBD councils – which both face unique challenges.

MELBOURNE: BUILDING SUPPORTED ACCOMMODATION

The City of Melbourne is converting an old industrial building in the CBD into supported accommodation in its Make Room project, to provide a safe place for those who are sleeping rough.

The redevelopment of 602 Little Bourke Street, a former electricity network building, will provide up to 50 studio apartments over several floors once the project is fully complete.

Accommodation will be offered via referrals from homelessness support agencies, with services designed to help people connect with support services while having a secure home.

City of Melbourne Lord Mayor, Sally Capp, said the project will provide a safe place to sleep for some of the city's most vulnerable people.

"Melbourne is a caring city and we know how deeply Melburnians care about making a positive difference for those currently experiencing homelessness. Residents and business owners are often distressed seeing people sleeping rough near their homes or shops, particularly during our cold winter months.”

"Providing a safe and secure home will be life-changing for people who have been forced to sleep rough on our streets," City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp

PROTECTING THE CITY’S MOST VULNERABLE

The City of Melbourne is providing a Council building valued at $7.45 million, and has secured more than $12.75 million for the $20 million project thanks to donations from charitable partners.

The Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation, the Ian Potter Foundation and the Gandel Foundation have each pledged support for the project, and the City of Melbourne is in active discussions with other potential donors, supporters and partners.

Council is also partnering with the Victorian Government to deliver the bespoke accommodation, which will include housing and homelessness services, and tailored, wraparound support for residents to assist with wellbeing and the transition to long-term housing.

Unison Housing will refurbish and manage the building.

Health, Wellbeing and Belonging portfolio lead Councillor, Dr Olivia Ball, said delivering the project will change lives and help protect some of the city's most vulnerable. "We are using a housing first approach, which means that people need to be housed before any other challenges in their lives can be effectively addressed," Cr Ball said. "Our ultimate aim is to help people put homelessness behind them, because every Melburnian has a right to safe and secure housing.

“With some 300 people homeless in the inner city and 60 to 90 people sleeping rough on any given night, there’s an urgent need for accommodation as a step towards finding somewhere safe and secure to live long term.”

Unison Housing CEO, James King, said the organisation wants to give those sleeping rough the helping hand they need to get their lives back on track. "We're excited to be part of this exciting project, which will reduce disadvantage and social exclusion, and deliver benefits to the entire community," Mr King said. "When people find safe accommodation, they require less healthcare, are less likely to be victims or perpetrators of crime and are more likely to go back to study or find employment.”

HOUSING AND SUPPORT FOR RESIDENTS

The Make Room project isn’t just offering housing for those in need, but also has a 24-hour concierge service and will be home to a social enterprise on the ground floor, enabling further employment and training opportunities.

Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation CEO, Dr Catherine Brown OAM, said the Foundation is committed to increasing the supply of affordable housing and preventing entry into homelessness in Greater Melbourne.

"The Make Room project is part of our Affordable Housing Challenge Initiative, which is demonstrating that cross-sector partnerships between philanthropy, local government, state government and not-for-profits can have great outcomes. "We are pleased to be the philanthropic partner in the Make Room development and to be partnering with the City of Melbourne and funding Unison Housing, to provide the safe and secure housing needed to prevent homelessness.”

Ian Potter Foundation Chairman, Charles Goode AC, said the organisation is proud to support Make Room.

“The Foundation supports initiatives that address the factors that contribute to people becoming homeless, through intervention strategies that provide people experiencing homelessness; and with much-needed support to assist them to transition into longer term housing.”

Gandel Foundation CEO, Vedran Drakulic OAM, said the organisation is one of Australia's leading private family foundations, and is committed to projects that build strong, inclusive communities and empower the region’s most vulnerable people to improve their wellbeing. "The Gandel family is proud to support the City of Melbourne's Make Room project and Unison Housing, and we are confident that this initiative will create a positive and lasting difference in the lives of so many Melburnians struggling with homelessness."

Mayor Capp said Make Room will have a real impact on the lives of many Melburnians.

“Everybody deserves a home, and this project will directly assist those in need with the difficult transition to permanent housing,’ Mayor Capp said.

“We are getting on with refurbishing 602 Little Bourke Street while we continue discussions with potential donors. I encourage corporations and charities to stand with us as we look to support some of our most vulnerable residents.”

The Make Room project will create more than 70 jobs in construction, and dozens of ongoing roles when the accommodation is open.

Works are scheduled to begin soon, with accommodation and services open by the end of 2023.

IMPROVING HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY

The City has also taken a leap forward in its quest to improve housing access and affordability, with the establishment of a new entity, Homes Melbourne.

Homes Melbourne is designed to deliver on the City of Melbourne's commitment to improve housing access and affordability.

Figures released by SGS Economics in 2019 identified there is a shortfall of 5,500 affordable homes for key workers in the City of Melbourne at present, and without action this is expected to grow to 23,200 by 2036.

The City of Melbourne’s draft Budget 2022-23 also includes $2 million to ensure rough sleepers have access to food, healthcare and other support services, in collaboration with the Salvation Army, Melbourne City Mission and Launch Housing.

Homes Melbourne will also accelerate its vital work to improve housing access and affordability across the municipality.

Cr Ball said the Council is committed to its important work to connect people to support services.

“We’re continuing to increase support for the most vulnerable members of our community, boosting access to affordable housing, and creating a sense of belonging.”

CITY OF SYDNEY: INNOVATIVE AND EVIDENCE-BASED RESPONSES

The City of Sydney is facing similar issues to Melbourne, implementing innovative, evidence-based responses to reduce homelessness in the city.

City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said, “It’s a complex social issue that needs a whole government sector response. This is why we work closely with our partners in the NSW Government, including NSW Police, the NSW Department of Communities and Justice, and NSW Health, along with sector partners and community organisations. "We are facing a housing and homelessness crisis in the city, with only one per cent of homes in Sydney classified as affordable and the numbers of people sleeping rough on our streets increasing. "Affordable housing is essential infrastructure to enable workers like nurses and teachers to live close to work, and prevent our cities from becoming enclaves for the rich. "At the height of the pandemic, we saw the government invest a huge amount in temporary accommodation to get almost every person sleeping rough into some sort of housing – so we know it can be done. "To make the sort of impact we saw through the pandemic permanent, Sydney needs more appropriate, long-term social housing and diverse accommodation options. "This is particularly urgent for those who don’t currently qualify for housing support, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people with complex care needs such as brain injuries and trauma who have found themselves on the streets. We cannot have a situation where our most vulnerable residents return to the street without support."

IMPLEMENTING A DEDICATED TEAM ON THE GROUND

City of Sydney is the only council in New South Wales with a dedicated homelessness service that patrols the street daily.

Council’s homelessness unit patrols inner city streets every day, connecting people with services, offering advice, and providing those sleeping rough with essentials like water, masks and sunscreen.

The homelessness unit runs a street count twice a year to track the number of people sleeping rough in the city. For the most recent count, the team was joined by eight of the City’s homelessness advisers – volunteers with lived experience of homelessness.

Council also provides funding to specialist homelessness services, supporting young people, Indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

City of Sydney implements the New South Wales Government’s Protocol for Homeless People in Public Spaces.

“The protocol helps ensure people sleeping rough are treated respectfully and appropriately, and are not discriminated against on the basis of their situation,” Mayor Moore said.

PANDEMIC SUPPORT KEPT VULNERABLE OFF THE STREETS

The Council’s latest summer street count found 225 people sleeping rough on Sydney’s inner-city streets – compared to 272 in February 2021 – and that crisis and temporary accommodation beds were at 81 per cent occupancy, one per cent lower than at the same time in 2021.

In line with the statistics in Homelessness Australia’s report, City of Sydney also found the number of people sleeping on the street reduced during the lockdowns, when there was extra support from governments, and that the numbers have started to rise again.

“While our ability to conduct official street counts was impacted by the pandemic, reports from homelessness services suggest there were far fewer people sleeping rough during Sydney’s lockdowns,” Mayor Moore said.

“The NSW Government provided additional funding to homelessness services during the lockdown via the Together Home Program, which dramatically reduced the number of people sleeping on the streets.

Council said that, while its latest street count didn’t record an increase in the number of people sleeping rough in the CBD local area, other locations (including regional areas), has shown more people sleeping on the streets than before COVID-19, which has been attributed to rental affordability and availability.

“The NSW Government’s Together Home Funding proved that these measures can have a positive impact in tackling street homelessness and should continue to be supported and funded,” Mayor Moore said.

Council said it would like to see a flexible approach to offering temporary accommodation to people sleeping rough.

“We would also like to see support extended to noncitizens wherever possible, and to see continued funding for permanent accommodation options,” Mayor Moore said.

PLANNING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Mayor Moore said the Council’s initiatives to reduce homelessness and provide more affordable housing include planning and development agreements, land rezoning and transfers, affordable housing levies and a dedicated fund to support the development of permanent affordable and diverse housing.

“We also advocate for the NSW Government to build more social and supported housing,” Mayor Moore said.

“Grants from our affordable and diverse housing fund have contributed to projects, including initiatives for both older and young people who are homeless and at risk of homelessness.”

Mayor Moore said that, while it is hard to predict, a higher cost of living will have some impact on the number of people experiencing homelessness, and that rental stress, job loss and other financial hardships can all contribute.

“Since the lockdowns, there are more people sleeping rough without a pathway to housing due to their residency status. Currently 17 per cent of people sleeping rough in the City of Sydney are not residents.” City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore