Creating Liveable Communities in the Interface

profiling our communities Creating 2 Liveable Communities in the Interface

Interface Councils The Interface Councils of are comprised of the ten municipalities that form an arc around metropolitan Melbourne and incorporate both the green wedge and the urban growth boundary. They bridge the gap between metrpolitan Melbourne and rural , sharing characteristics of both urban and rural communities. The Interface Councils include the Growth Councils of Melton, Mitchell, Wyndham, Whittlesea, Cardinia, Casey and - some of which contain the largest and fastest growing suburbs in Australia. At the same time, some of the most environmentally sensitive areas are also located at the Interface. Municipalities such as Nillumbik, Yarra Ranges, , and Cardinia contain important water catchments for metropolitan Melbourne, significant agricultural land and forest areas necessary to offset the carbon footprints of the City. The purpose of this document is to highlight the particular challenges being managed now by the and to make a case for increased government investment into specific infrastructure and service provision challenges and priorities. 3

The Interface Councils

Mitchell Shire

Whilesea City Hume City Nillumbik Shire

Melton City

Wyndham Melbourne City City

Cardinia Shire Casey City

Mornington Peninsula Shire Creating 4 Liveable Communities in the Interface

City of Casey

Location The City of Casey is located in Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs, between 28 and 60 kilometres south-east of the Melbourne GPO. Casey covers a land Area 40,916 hectares (409 Km2) and extends from the base of the in the north to bay in the south.

The City compromises rapidly developing Casey residential areas (Narre Warren South, City Berwick (south), Cranbourne, Cranbourne East, Cranbourne West, Cranbourne North, Cranbourne South, Botanic Ridge, Lynbrook and Lyndhurst) with large areas of land still allocated for urban development. Casey has highly productive farmland (Devon Meadows, Clyde, Narre Warren North, Pearcedale, Cranbourne South, Five Ways and Junction Village). The City of Casey is Victoria’s most populous municipality and is served by the , the , the South Freeway, the , the , the and the Pakenham and Cranbourne railway lines. Major features of the City include , Lysterfield Park, Lysterfield Lake, Fountain Gate Shopping Centre, (Berwick Campus), Chisholm Institute of TAFE (Berwick and Cranbourne Campuses), Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, Wilson Botanic Park, Cranbourne Racecourse, , Western Port coastline. The main industries of employment for Casey residents are Manufacturing (20,900 workers), Retail trade (14,100 workers), Construction (12,100 workers) and Healthcare and Social Assistance (12,100 workers). 5

Our People

• The official population of the City of Casey is 267,892 (as of the 30th June 2012) (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • Casey contains about 4.9% of the Victorian population (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • Population density is 6.52 persons per hectare (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • More than 150 cultures are represented in Casey (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011) (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • 26.7 per cent of Casey residents were born in non-English speaking countries (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • The largest non-English speaking country of birth in the City of Casey is India, where 4.1% of the population, or 10,313 people, were born (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • Over 120 faiths represented in Casey. Top 5: Western (Roman) Catholic, Anglican, Islam, Buddhism and Uniting persons (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • The median age in Casey is 33 years of age (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • The dominant age structure for persons in the City of Casey was ages 35 to 39, which accounted for 7.9% of the population in 2011 (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • Casey is home to 1,407 Indigenous people, living in 659 dwellings (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • Casey’s Indigenous population is dominated by young people. 45.6% of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in the City of Casey is aged between 0 and 17, and 1.9% is aged 65 years and over, compared with 27.9% and 9% respectively for the total population in the City of Casey (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • 79.9 per cent of Casey households are family households (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • More than half of Casey residents have a mortgage (52%) (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • 19% of households in Casey rent their home (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • 63.5 per cent of Casey residents own two or more cars (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011).

Current Growth

• Casey’s population growth is largely driven by young families. • Between 2012 and 2013, there was the most growth in the older workers and pre-retirees (50-59 years) and primary schoolers (5 to 11 years) age groups. • Casey’s population grows by an average 7,500 people per year (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • Currently, 38.6% of annual growth is due to natural increase (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • In 2013, there were 4,333 births in Casey (City of Casey, 2013). • Growth in Casey is very diverse and age structure can be very different in small areas (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • There were 2,474 residential buildings approved to be built in the financial year 2012-13 (48 per week) (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011) • The fertility rate in women in Casey is 2.1 births per woman, compared to 1.7 births per woman for Metropolitan Melbourne (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). Creating 6 Liveable Communities in the Interface

Growth to 2036 • Casey’s annual population growth is expected to increase to an average of 9,500 people per year by 2036 (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • By 2036, natural increase is expected to contribute to over 50 per cent of annual population growth (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • 76% increase in the number of households (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • 93% increase in lone person households (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • 66% increase in single parent households (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • The average household size will decrease from 3.04 to 2.88 persons (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). Population Forecast By 2036 population is projected to be 458,643 (68% increase). Casey’s population is projected to grow significantly across all age groups: • 65% increase in births per year • 74% increase in young children 0-9 years of age • 61% increase in young people 10-24 years of age • 70% increase in persons 25-39 years of age • 53% increase in persons 40-59 years of age • 89% increase in persons aged 60 years and over. (Forecast ID the Population Experts, Population and household forecasts, 2011 to 2036 based on ABS Census of Population and Housing 2011). 7

Fragile Families

• Family violence is a significant issue in Casey. In 2012/2013 there was a total of 3,172 family incident reports attended by Victoria Police. Children were present at a third (33.2%) of these family incident reports (Victoria Police, 2013). • Casey has a SEIFA index of 1,006.5 placing it among the least disadvantaged 37% of municipalities in the state. Specific small areas within Casey are below this Casey average: - Doveton 842.3 - Cranbourne 946.0 - Hampton Park 946.0 - Cranbourne West 952.8 - Hallam 954.8 - Cranbourne North 1000.4 - Narre Warren 1003.3. • Between 2006 and 2011, the median household income in Casey has increased by 27.2%, whilst the median mortgage repayment has increased by 48.1% and the median rent payment has increased by 60.2% (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • Mortgage repayments have almost doubled in the past 10 years (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • In 2011, 15.4% of the City of Casey's households purchasing their dwelling were experiencing mortgage stress (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011) • There are currently 13 gaming venues located within the City of Casey comprising a total of 912 Electronic Gaming Machines (EGMs). In the 2012/13 financial year expenditure lost by Casey residents on EGMs was $114,485,606.97 (Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, 2013). • In 2012, 35% (96,096 recipients) of Casey’s population received Centrelink payments (Housing in Victoria, 2012). • The average waiting time for families in Casey to access Early Intervention Services is 9 months (for children aged 0-school age) (City of Casey, 2013). • Persons with a need for assistance with core activities: the number of people who identified with a need for assistance in Casey was 10,261. Of these: - 5,479 were born in Australia (53.4%) - 4,367 were born overseas (42.6%). (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011).

Fragile families – local solutions Seeking funding to target family violence, in particular violence against women and children. Resources would be used to raise awareness and develop preventative programs.

Support for changes to the Planning Act to regulate the supply of packaged liquor.

Funding to deliver the Casey Community Resource Centre – a Community Service organisation hub. Creating 8 Liveable Communities in the Interface

Poor Health Outcomes

• Casey has increasing levels of overweight and obese persons: 53.6% of people in the City of Casey are overweight or obese; 65.5% of males and 40.9% of females (Department of Health, 2012). • Healthy eating: 51.9% of persons in the City of Casey do not meet fruit and vegetable dietary guidelines (46.5% of females and 58.9%) (Department of Health, 2012). • Physical activity: 31.2% of persons in the City of Casey do not meet physical activity guidelines (25.4% of females and 36.3% of males) (Department of Health, 2012). • Self-reported health: 23.4 % persons report fair or poor health status, compared with 18.3% for Victoria: 18.7% of females and 25.7 % males report fair or poor health status (Department of Health, 2012). • Casey residents report levels of subjective wellbeing (range 0-100) that are significantly less favourable that the Victorian average; 74.6 for Casey compared with 77.5 for Victoria (VicHealth, 2011). • 6.6% of persons in the City of Casey report Type 2 Diabetes, compared with 4.8% for Victoria (Department of Health, 2012). • Asthma hospital admission ratio is 1.39 compared with 1.00 for Victoria: 12.8% of persons in City of Casey report asthma, compared with 10.7% for Victoria (Department of Health, 2012). • 20.1% of persons in the City of Casey aged 18+ are current smokers (14.4% for Victoria). The rate is higher among females with 21.8% of females being current smokers compared with 18.8% of males (Department of Health, 2011). • 1.9% of Casey’s indigenous population is over 65 years of age where as 9% of Casey’s non-indigenous population is over 65 years of age (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011).

Poor health outcomes – local solutions Funding to deliver the infrastructure to deliver the Regional Food Hub to allow access to nutritious and affordable food.

Funding to deliver a Healthy Communities Initiative in Casey

Funding for 2 community development workers to deliver programs and activities in new estates 9

Mental health • Levels of psychological stress: 12.3% of persons reported a high/very high degree of psychological distress compared with 11.4% for Victoria (Department of Health, 2011). • 12.9% of adolescents in 2009 did not have someone to turn to for advice when they had problems in life (Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, 2011). • Time for family/friends: 33.2% of Casey residents reported that they had lack of time for friends/family which is significantly less favourable than the Victorian average of 27.4% (VicHealth, 2011). • Inadequate sleep: 36.3% of Casey residents get less than 7 hours a sleep per weekday compared to 31.5% for Victoria (VicHealth, 2011) Mental health – local solutions Seeking a one-off grant to support the ongoing work of the Casey Youth Suicide Steering Committee to continue to support and develop resources for the local community. The key focus areas are prevention and supporting positive mental health messages.

At Risk Youth • 56.2 % of Casey residents did not complete year 12; compared with 51.3% for Victoria (Department of Health, 2011). • In the City of Casey there are a number of suburbs where the percentage of young people aged 15- 19 years who are either learning (in formal education) or earning (employed) is below the average for Greater Melbourne (85.1%). These suburbs are: Doveton 74.2% Cranbourne 76.2%, Cranbourne West 74.8%, Cranbourne North 78% (PHIDU, 2012). • Psychological Development: 41.1% of adolescents in Casey do not have positive psychological development; this compares to 38.9% for Victoria (Department of education and Early Childhood Development, 2012). • 48.2% of adolescents in the City of Casey report being recently bullied (Department of Health, 2011). • Adolescent Eating Disorders: In 2009 14.1% of adolescents had experienced eating disorders compared with 2.5% for Victoria (Department of education and Early Childhood Development, 2012). • Alcohol harm: 42.1% of 15-17 year olds reported drinking alcohol in the last 30 days; this compares to 24.7% for Victoria (Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, 2012) • Smoking: 15.5% of 15 to 17 year olds in Casey reported they had smoked cigarettes (Department of Health, 2011). • 12.9% of adolescents do not have a trusted adult in life (Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, 2011). • 39.6% of sexually active adolescents did not practise safe sex by using a condom (Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, 2011). • 16.3% of sexually active females in 2009 did not use contraception (Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, 2011). At risk youth – local solutions Seeking a capital grant to contribute to the Casey Youth Hub. This will provide affordable space for non- government organisations to partner and support young people. Seeking ongoing contributions that will resource a youth-focused community development worker to engage with non-government organisations and manage the youth hub. Creating 10 Liveable Communities in the Interface

Isolated Ageing

• Complexities of population growth and an ageing population: the number of people in Casey aged over 65 is expected to increase by 15,368 (89.7%), and represent 10.2% of the population by 2021 (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • The age group which is forecast to have the largest proportional increase (relative to its population size) by 2021 is 70-74 year olds, who are forecast to increase by 106.9% to 8,820 persons (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • There are 2,208 carers in Casey aged over 65 years (this is 9.8% of persons for this age group) (ABS, Census of Population and Housing 2011). • Casey has an extensive road network and there are still many gaps in both the north/south and the east/ west network within Casey and beyond. For Casey’s ageing population, poor access and isolated distances in Casey’s coastal villages will become a significant challenge. • High dementia prevalence that is expected to increase primarily driven by increased population numbers and ageing. Dementia prevalence in Casey in 2013 was 1,984 and by 2050 is expected to be 9,656. This represents a 387% percentage change (Alzheimer's Australia Vic, 2013)

Isolated ageing – local solutions Seeking an infrastructure contribution towards a dementia specific facility that will assist in creating an age-friendly neighbourhood. Seeking an infrastructure contribution to develop a Community Care Hub facility that will support older people, disabled older people and HACC eligible residents. Seeking funding to appoint dedicated Council officers to work with vulnerable elders to prevent and respond to dementia prevalence and elder abuse Seeking on-going contributions towards community transport infrastructure and operational activities to improve access to community transport for isolated and ageing communities. 11

Data sources

Alzheimers Australia Victoria, 2013, Dementia Prevalence in Victoria, https://www.fightdementia.org.au/common/files/ VIC/20130529_-_Victorian_dementia_prevalence_report_2013.pdf

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Census of Population and Housing 2011, accessed 21/02/2013 http://profile.id.com.au/ casey

City of Casey, 2012, Children’s Serviced and Maternal and Child Health Reports.

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development 2011, Adolescent Profiles, accessed 21/02/2013 http://www. education.vic.gov.au/Documents/about/research/acpcasey.pdf

Department of Health, 2012 Local Government area profiles accessed 25/02/2013 http://docs.health.vic.gov.au/docs/doc/ Casey-(C)

Department of Health, Health Intelligence Unit 2011, accessed 21/02/2013 http://www.health.vic.gov.au/healthstatus/sur- vey/

Forecast ID the population experts, Population and household forecasts, 2011 to 2036, accessed 21/02/2013 http://forecast. id.com.au/casey

Housing in Victoria, Centrelink Recipients, accessed 26/02/2013, http://www.housinginvictoria.com.au/Results.aspx

Public Health Information Development Unit (PHIDU) (2012). Social Health Atlas of Australia: 2011 Census . Retrieved Febru- ary 28th 2013 www.publichealth.gov.au

VicHealth, VicHealth Indicators Survey 2011, accessed 25/2/2013, http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/Research/VicHealth-In- dicators/LGA-Profiles.aspx

Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, accessed 25/03/2013, https://www.vcgr.vic.gov.au/CA- 2570C30016EEF3/pages/map_casey?Open

Victoria Police, Family Incident Reports, accessed 25/02/2013, https://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?a=internetBridg- ingPage&Media_ID=72311