Supporting a diverse and dynamic Yarra

Strategic intent

Council supports Yarra’s vibrant and different neighbourhood and activity centres: through arts and cultural activities and events, libraries and broader economic development, ensures a dynamic mix of galleries, retail and hospitality businesses, cultural events, education and recreation activities.

Yarra today

Growing local employment and business has been critical to Yarra’s prosperity. Increased land and rental prices are a major impediment to economic development, impacting on the start up of smaller businesses.

The global financial crisis is likely to have a major effect in Yarra, impacting on large employers as well as the retail sector. Maintaining a viable local economy, including local centres, will be critical over the next four years.

Vibrant and diverse neighbourhoods are linked to a strong sense of place and identity, as well as a diverse population. Many visitors are drawn to Yarra for its eclectic mix of shopping precincts, reflecting our local communities. Yarra’s arts, culture and heritage buildings also contribute to neighbourhood identities.

Diversity can be understood as a very broad concept, concerning all of the difference in a community whether about people – such as age, people who live with a disability, language, cultural background, religious beliefs and socio-economic status –, about activity – such as festivals, community events, business and employment –, or about places – such as heritage buildings, parks, local identities and icons, neighbourhood character or streetscapes.

Yarra’s local economy

Around 8,720 businesses are based in Yarra of which the majority (80%) are small businesses with 0-4 employees and only 2% have 50 or more employees. Large businesses though, employ the most people in Yarra. The two largest categories of businesses are Property and Business Services (20%) and Health and Community Services (11%).

Over 58,000 people work in businesses and organisations across the City of Yarra. The main occupations are professionals (31% for Yarra compared to Melbourne’s average of 24%), clerical or administrative roles (17% for both Yarra and Melbourne) or as managers (15% compared to 13%).

At least 65% of Yarra’s population aged 15 years or older are part of the labour force. Some 38,000 Yarra residents are employed, mainly as professionals (41% compared to Melbourne’s average of 23%), managers (14% compared to 13%) and in clerical or administrative roles (13% compared to 16%).

Education

Lifelong learning is important to a community’s creativity and vibrancy. Community based facilities such as University of the 3rd Age (U3A) and Neighbourhood Houses provide the opportunity for all residents to develop new skills and interests, responding to local community needs. These facilities complement formal education: primary and secondary schools, as well as TAFE and Universities.

Overall, Yarra has a well-educated population. More Yarra residents hold a degree or higher qualification (39% of those 15 years or older) than the Melbourne average (34%).

At least 1 in 5 Yarra residents were attending an educational institution in 2006, with 7,941 residents in higher education and 5,309 in pre-, primary or secondary school. The majority of higher education students are ‘mature-age’ with 59% of TAFE students and 54% of University students aged 25 years or older.

Inner Melbourne Action Plan

IMAP is a partnership between Melbourne, Port Phillip, Stonnington and Yarra councils, and recognises the value of the connection between creative cities and economic development:

“An Inner Melbourne Region that embodies creativity, liveability, prosperity and sustainability in a range of diverse neighbourhoods. A region where the 19th century character informs modern development to create pedestrian oriented places – places that support a tolerant and inclusive community and provide a variety of experiences and opportunities for residents, workers and visitors; a region that responds to its capital city role by supporting arts, entertainment, retail, regional facilities and the functions of the port.”

Eleven key strategies are outlined in the Plan, with 57 actions to progress these strategies to be implemented over the next 5-10 years.

Diversity

The greatest job growth in developed countries is in highly skilled, creative or innovative work. Creative / knowledge workers want diverse, tolerant and vibrant communities, with a strong sense of neighbourhood and identity.

A diverse community is better able to match local employment needs and support a vibrant local economy. This diversity includes a mix of business types and sizes (including local services and organisations) as well as residents across the range of ages, incomes, skills, abilities, interests or cultural backgrounds.

The traditional owners of the land are the Wurundjeri Aboriginal people of the Kulin Nation who originally inhabited the area that is now known as Richmond, Collingwood and Fitzroy. The Kulin Nation consisted of five different language groups, who used the Melbourne area as a significant meeting site. Yarra continues to be an important meeting place for Aboriginal people in Victoria.

Council has been working with key local agencies and service providers to improve the health and wellbeing of Yarra’s Aboriginal community. This work will continue through a combination of direct Council services, partnerships with State Government and local agencies, as well as advocacy for culturally responsive services and facilities in Yarra.

Around 27% of Yarra’s population were born overseas, placing us as the 16th highest level for a local government area in Victoria, and at a similar level to the Melbourne average. Of those born overseas, 62% arrived in Australia prior to 1996.

However, Yarra has the 7th highest proportion of people born overseas with low English proficiency. Over 5,000 Yarra residents have no or little proficiency in spoken English.

Yarra’s public housing, in particular, is also home to many migrants and recent refugees. It is important to work with these communities to ensure they are accessing appropriate services.

Look and feel of our neighbourhoods

A key focus for Council is to ensure our neighbourhoods and activity centres provide the sense of vibrancy, richness and character of our places that attracts people to live, work and shop here.

Promoting Yarra’s history (places, stories, events as well as buildings), indigenous heritage, our cultural landmarks, public art, streetscapes and ensuring appropriate public space (open and urban) are important to this local character.

The suburbs of Yarra have a rich and varied history, which is reflected in the City’s built form, natural environment and diverse community composition. Gentrification has seen a shift from an industrial to a residential, commercial and retail focus as the population, and demand for inner-city living increases. Many of the former factories have been converted into warehouse and studio apartments.

The City of Yarra is home to a large number of historical buildings and sites that are of interest and value to the community. Council has a strong commitment to the protection and enhancement of the City’s rich historical fabric.

Heritage can relate to a wide variety of places, including a building or group of buildings, site or area, land or a landscape, a memorial, a tree, garden or parkland, the place of a historical event, urban areas, towns, or industrial sites, archaeological sites, as well as spiritual and religious places.

The judgement of the significance of a heritage place is made on a broad cultural basis and considers its significance in terms of its history, architecture, aesthetics, spirituality, and / or social meaning.

Clean, attractive and safe streets will encourage active centres and neighbourhoods, which improves the viability of local business and employment.

Creative places

Council services and community centres can play a major role in neighbourhoods. Libraries and Neighbourhood Houses meet a range of educational, learning, social and cultural needs and bring together our diverse community. Children’s centres, halls, senior’s centres and the town halls are also central to the vibrancy of our neighbourhoods.

Art and cultural activities, including local galleries, festivals and public art contribute to the individual character and identity of our neighbourhoods.

Way forward

Council will employ the following Strategies, will measure progress through these Strategic Indicators and proposes some Initiatives to achieve the Strategic Objective of Supporting a Diverse and Changing Yarra.

Strategies

Council’s work to achieve this Strategic Objective will include the following strategies:

Enhance local employment activities
Support vibrant and diverse neighbourhoods and centres
Foster and promote vibrant arts, cultures and communities
Contribute to develop and maintain the local and regional economy
Support lifelong learning, including through libraries and Neighbourhood Houses
Recognise and celebrate our cultural heritage and diversity

Strategic indicators

Council’s progress towards this Strategic Objective will in part be measured and reported through these Indicators:

Increase library use by 5% by 2013 (including website use & loans)
Maintain the diversity of community groups applying, and receiving, grants through Yarra’s Community Grants Program
Maintain business participation in Council’s business training and development program

Initiatives

Activities and projects Council proposes to work on over the next four years, subject to approval through the annual Budget process, include:

1. Complete the design and construction of the North Fitzroy ‘library’

2. Review the Arts and Culture Strategy

3. Review the Aboriginal Partnerships Plan

4. Implement actions from the Economic Development Strategy

5. Promote local activities where people can meet with neighbours such as street parties

6. Review and develop the Disability Access and Inclusion Strategy.

Further information
Julie Wyndham
Corporate Planner
9205 5090
Julie.Wyndham@yarracity.vic.gov.au