Community Engagement
In August 2020 we launched a public engagement program to better understand the neighbourhood surrounding Albert Fields, and to gain input from the local community and stakeholders about the project’s design.
Intended to create a dialogue between the project team and the community, the program focused on the potential challenges faced by tenants and their priorities regarding the development. It also considered the needs of local park users, community groups and businesses, and touched on landscaping, ecology and affordability.
The program ran for nine weeks and received more than 700 responses. The feedback we received has informed the early design work and helped us understand what’s important to the community.
We’d like to thank everyone who participated in the program and shared their thoughts.
Figure 1: Survey participants’ postcodes indicate that most respondents were locals, either residents of Brunswick or of surrounding suburbs including Brunswick West, Brunswick East, Coburg, Parkville, Princes Hill and Carlton North.
What’s important to our communities?
72% want access to fossil-fuel-free energy.
69% prioritise bike and pedestrian accessibility.
64% want the precinct to be integrated with the park and accessible to park users.
48% want the precinct to feel authentic.
What’s important to renters?
58% value security of tenure.
57% want to be able to personalise their home.
49% want the precinct to be pet friendly.
41% want indoor exercise space.
The program has shown that people are engaged and passionate about the area—particularly in regards to these four themes:
- The community is connected to Brunswick’s sense of place and wants it carried through in future developments.
- The community is knowledgeable about the built environment and wants to see high-quality outcomes that promote environmental sustainability.
- The community thinks that diversity, inclusion and lifestyle affordability are very important.
- The community expects development in the area to continue and appreciated the opportunity to help shape the outcome of Albert Fields.
Overall, the feedback has strengthened our understanding of the community’s needs, and helped to ensure that our proposal aligns with Brunswick’s priorities and values.