Resident participation, social cohesion and sustainability in neighbourhood renewal: developing best practice models

The key factors in promoting resident participation in renewal are community development approaches that start with local people, identify local issues and give residents the confidence and skills to influence their communities writes Bill Randolph. Much of the debate and policy action involving area renewal, place management and strengthening communities through government action centres on the how the shelter and non-shelter aspects of renewal initiatives can be better coordinated to deliver better outcomes on the ground in disadvantaged communities. However, there is an increasing body of research and practice that suggests strongly that simply putting "Whole of Government" approaches in place in disadvantaged communities is not enough. These approaches may well result in better service delivery outcomes on the ground. But they do not of themselves necessarily develop the critical benefits in terms of social cohesion and inclusion that these interventions, in part at least, aim to generate, or ensure that the positive impacts are sustained over the long term. Put simply, it is not possible to transform and strengthen communities over the long term without the community itself participating in the solutions - the top down approach of place management needs to meet the bottom up of community participation. This research aimed to explore the critical role to be played by effective community participation in ensuring the long-term sustainability of urban and neighbourhood renewal programs in Australia, by examining current experience in Australia and drawing on best practice examples overseas