By Marika Kontellis, ISV EO
Hello Sector!
I just took another walk around the Green Square precinct and was confronted by the social mix vision of developers and decision-makers. Residential buildings abound, and a new school is about to open its gates. It looks fabulous, and it will include a large community space.
There is an aquatic centre, rectangular parks, more residential towers, nice roads, good footpaths, and more residential towers, a shopping plaza, some very trendy restaurants, and of course, the big supermarkets and global brands vying for business.
What I saw walking around was awesome. It is what I did not see that worries me.
There was very little interaction between people. Almost no foot traffic. I couldn’t see how people could connect, participate, or engage unless they were a customer of a shop. The people sitting in the parks were alone, except for a few local parents with prams, staring into space. Was everyone at work or sitting alone in their unit? I could not find a spot where I could get information about what’s on and where the local services are. There was no street art. No posters about what’s on. I couldn’t see one street library.
I came away convinced that just like buildings, roads and footpaths, social infrastructure needs to be planned and built. In order to create safe, accessible, inclusive, thriving communities you need community leadership and participation.
Sometimes in all our “busy-ness” of delivering contracts for government we can forget our purpose. Our role as social service sector organisations is to enable community leaders and members build and strengthen their social infrastructure.
No one agency or group is responsible for building community. My little walk around the neighbourhood affirmed our support of groups like Green Square Neighbourhood Central – (aka Green Square Resident Action Group); a group of community leaders that is trying to make the social mix vision come to life.
Don’t forget to say hello.
Marika
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