Regional Development Australia Eyre Peninsula’s Post

Is your business impacted by the current economic downturn and looking for new opportunities? We’re looking to fast-track several key projects to provide much-needed work while delivering upgrades for the community. The program of work will focus on investing more than $1 million across two of the city’s key public areas in Civic Park and the foreshore, including street furniture, art and culture installations, landscaping and playground upgrades. This work will not impact ratepayers, as already-budgeted work is either being brought forward or postponed to maximise the current impact. While not expected to completely offset the work lost throughout this year, it aims to help businesses realise there are other ongoing opportunities, and that they’re capable of diversifying from their usual work. The ultimate aim is to help them prepare for the raft of new work expected over the next decade as non-manufacturing industries such as hydrogen, desalination, renewables, defence and other associated businesses come online. Interested businesses are encouraged to attend a briefing session from 7.30am Thursday 12 December at The Nest Pod (adjacent the Whyalla Library) to find out more about the opportunities available. RSVP is essential – contact Joanne Blayney on 8640 3444 or joanne.blayney@whyalla.sa.gov.au to reserve your place. Mayor Phill Stone said: “It’s been a tough year for our community – both for residents and businesses directly and indirectly linked to the steelworks. It’s hoped these projects can create some additional work for the businesses impacted, while giving our residents an uplift, particularly families.” Read our full update here: https://whycc.au/4g7Dujn

REPORT 📔 | Today we launch new research with Bennett Institute for Public Policy exploring how the private sector can contribute to providing #socialinfrastructure – the spaces in our communities where people mix and meet. Many communities have lost vital social spaces due to local authorities selling assets for financial reasons. There may be a role for the private sector - partnering with communities and the public sector to bring these spaces back, sustainably and for community benefit. The report finds private sector stakeholders like retailers and developers often do provide space for community businesses & organisations. This can be through meanwhile use of vacant spaces, long-term use, or partnering to buy and run a space. Nudge Community Builders partnered with a private business, Eat Work Art, to buy the Millennium Building in Plymouth. As 50:50 owners they are working to restore it to its former glory and bring it back into community use for years to come. By working together, communities and the private sector can: 🏪 Tackle vacancy and create more vibrant spaces 🔍 Tailor these spaces to what local people want and need 🛍️ Benefit the local economy, by increasing footfall to other local businesses Read the report for recommendations on how the private sector and local and national government can take a more strategic approach to protecting social infrastructure 👇 https://lnkd.in/df4wBjUS #PrivateSectorPublicGood #SocialInfrastructure #CommunityBuilding #PublicPrivatePartnership #UrbanDevelopment #SustainableCommunities #CommunityEngagement #SocialImpact #UrbanPlanning

Social housing landlords are taking steps to improve the energy efficiency of the homes they rent out. Here are some of the lessons they've learned, as captured by our study with Changeworks UK. Research by Agnes Berner, Colin Wheatley, James C. and Lauren Salmon Project managed by Anne Marte Bergseng #CleanHeating #SocialHousing

With public #funding for #development down and expectations up, President of Avison Young │UK Nick Walkley shared his thoughts on what the future of #regeneration needs. Read the below op-ed in TheMJ for more insights!

Over the past few months, we've been working with the Bennett Institute for Public Policy to understand how spaces owned by the private sector can function as social infrastructure - the spaces in our communities where people can mix and meet, and which help to create social connection. When you think about the social spaces in your community, you might not immediately think about the differences between those which are publicly, privately or community owned. But bringing private sector spaces into our understanding of social infrastructure can expand the availability of space for community - and the potential investment that's needed to keep these spaces going. This is particularly important at a time when communities are seeing the loss of valued local assets due to the financial challenges facing local authorities, and the heightened costs of running community spaces. Our research found by working with communities to shape their spaces, private asset owners and developers could ensure they are tailored to what local people want and need, and will therefore be better used and cared for in the long term. This has social benefits, of course, but can also increase dwell time and footfall to surrounding local businesses, creating economic impact too. The report contains some great live examples of where community businesses are already partnering with local councils and the private sector to shape, steward and own spaces for community - including through meanwhile use of vacant spaces, 50:50 community/private asset ownership, and community stewardship of assets in new towns that enables the private sector to exit (which may be of particular interest given Labour's housebuilding plans). We also make a series of policy recommendations to support a more strategic approach to managing and preserving social infrastructure.

"Public service projects are the nuts and bolts of a community – they play a crucial role in holding it together. These projects, whether fixing roads, providing social services or other community-oriented efforts, are the glue that allows communities to thrive. They bring back “third spaces” as places where people can gather outside of home and work. They allow for easy access through infrastructure improvements and support the growth and development of entities like schools. When there’s not enough attention or investment in these projects, such as neighborhoods without well-kept parks or reliable public transportation, we find a noticeable decline in the quality of life and a sense of disconnection among its residents." Public Sector Improvements Are Vital For Communities. Here Are 5 Reasons Why.

July 17, 2024 -- Federal government to fund more community buildings across the country "...new intake for applications through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program. This will be the third intake under the Program, which sees the federal government invest in retrofits, repairs, and upgrades to existing community buildings – making them greener and more accessible – as well as the construction of new publicly accessible ones in underserved communities. ...The online application portal will be open on August 1, 2024, for small and medium retrofit projects, and on September 4, 2024, for large retrofit projects and new builds. Both intake streams will close on October 16, 2024, at 3:00 p.m., ET." A "small and medium retrofit” is defined as those projects with eligible costs ranging from $100,000 to $2,999,999, while “large retrofit projects and new builds” have eligible costs which range from $3 million to $25 million.  Eligible applicants include provincial, territorial, and local governments, not-for-profit and Indigenous organizations, as well as applicants who were unsuccessful under previous intakes. The GICB Program aims to improve the places Canadians work, learn, play, live and come together by cutting pollution, reducing costs, and supporting thousands of jobs. Through green and other upgrades to existing public community buildings and new builds in underserved communities, the GICB program helps ensure community facilities are inclusive, accessible, and have a long service life, while also helping Canada move towards its net-zero objectives by 2050. #resilientinfrastructure https://lnkd.in/gXtzcmuT

How does #social #infrastructure impact residents nearby? Our new #article with Timothy Fraser et al finds that libraries, parks, and social businesses correlate with higher bridging ties. These facilities can help weave together our social fabric https://lnkd.in/ep_GyBB2

British Land, Landsec and Berkeley Group have commissioned a report that highlights positive attitudes towards urban development they're encouraging the government to embrace urban development and densification - or risk missing its 1.5 million homes mission. The report reads: 'The results were clear: far from being anti-development, urban communities are overwhelmingly made up of ‘YIMBYs’ (‘yes in my back yard’). 60% of those polled in Cambridge, Camden, Manchester and Newham had strongly negative views of currently underdeveloped brownfield sites, viewing them as ugly, dirty and unsafe. 73% saw the underutilisation of these sites as a wasted opportunity that needs to be harnessed - for example, to deliver more affordable housing, public spaces and green places.'

🏗️ Big news in sustainable development! Labour has just announced a revolutionary taskforce to champion the next wave of new towns across the UK. Within just a year, we could be seeing the foundations of communities built on integrity and accessibility. 📐 The blueprint? A "new towns code" on the drawing board. This is no ordinary development plan. Think homes that aren't just buildings, but epitomes of local character, history, and identity. Transport links that actually link, and public services that serve the public. 🌱 Imagining green spaces? It's on the agenda. 40% affordable homes? Non-negotiable. Schools and GP surgeries? Essentials. Because what's a town without heart, without health, without harmony with nature? It's a bold stride, echoing the spirited vision of the 1945 Labour government. Remember the 'homes for heroes'? This is the 21st-century sequel, with a sustainable twist. 🏡✨ We're ready to embrace these new communities, where greenbelt protection goes hand-in-hand with strategic development. Because when we build, we must build right. 👷♀️🌿 🔄 Brownfield sites are stepping into the spotlight, as city and regional mayors are empowered to lead this charge. It's a collective effort to lay down roots for the future without forgetting where we come from. 🔄 With these plans, Labour pledges to thread community fabric with 1.5 million new homes. And let's not forget those green threads, ensuring every street blossoms into a community, not just a postcode. 🤝 What are your thoughts? Can this be delivered? #SustainableDevelopment #NewTowns #CommunityBuilding