OUR PLACE Western Sydney Project report Stage 2: Community Authors: Margaret Somerville, Centre for Educational Research, University of Western Sydney Lin Brown, Centre for Educational Research, University of Western Sydney Alicia Kasbarian, School of Education, University of Western Sydney In collaboration with Karen Paroissien, Sue Burton and Amy Devine Oce of Environment and Heritage, NSW Jen Dollin, United Nations Regional Centre for Expertise in Education for Sustainable Development, Greater Western Sydney Copy-edited by Rhubarb Academic Editing Printed at University of Western Sydney, Kingswood, NSW, Australia [Print Services] ISBN: 978-1-74108-281-4 (prpt) ISBN: 978-1-74108-282-1 (erpt) This document is also available on the Internet (www.uws.edu.au/centre_for_educational_research) and at www.environment.nsw.gov.au Commonwealth of Australia Copyright Regulations 1969 WARNING This work is copyright. This work may be reproduced for private study, research or educational purposes and as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 of the Commonwealth of Australia. Commercial copying, sale, hiring or lending is prohibited. Apart from the permitted uses as stated above no part of this work may be reproduced by any process without the written permission of University of Western Sydney. This work has been funded by the Oce of Environment and Heritage (OEH), New South Wales, Australia. Any permitted reproduction must include a copy of this copyright notice and must acknowledge the funding by OEH. Disclaimer: This report was prepared by Margaret Somerville in good faith, exercising all due care and attention, but no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the relevance, accuracy, completeness or tness for purpose of this document in respect of any particular user’s circumstances. Users of this document should satisfy themselves concerning its application to, and where necessary seek expert advice in respect of, their situation. The views expressed within are not necessarily the views of the Oce of Environment and Heritage (OEH) and may not represent OEH policy. Cover image – Painted Leaves: Kelsie King, Gundungurra, Blue Mountains. OUR PLACE Western Sydney Project report Stage 2: Community Prepared by: Margaret Somerville Lin Brown Alicia Kasbarian Prepared for: Oce of Environment and Heritage NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet August 2013 Acknowledgements As lead author of this report I would like to begin by acknowledging that this research was conducted on Darug Lands, to pay my respects to elders past and present, and to acknowledge the Australian Aboriginal people who participated in this project. I would like to acknowledge the community members who participated in this research and shared so generously of their time, commitment and passion. If the wellbeing of the planet was in their hands the world would be a better place. I would like to acknowledge the collaboration and support from Sue Burton, Karen Paroissien and Amy Nancarrow of the Oce of Environment and Heritage and Jen Dollin of the UN Regional Centre of Expertise in Education for Sustainable Development, Greater Western Sydney. Without this three way partnership the project would not have been possible. Finally I would like to acknowledge the research assistants Alicia Kasbarian and Lin Brown. Alica organised the community forums with youthful enthusiasm and a air for organisation. Lin assisted in the analysis of data and the preparation of the nal report. We hope that readers will nd this report informative and engaging and that it will make a dierence. Margaret Somerville Professor of Education Director, Centre for Educational Research University of Western Sydney iv OUR PLACE Western Sydney – Project report Contents Executive summary .......................................................................................................................1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................6 What is Our Place, Western Sydney? .................................................................................................6 The project ...........................................................................................................................................7 Our Place, Western Sydney Stage 2: Community .........................................................................7 Methodology ............................................................................................................................................7 Place as framework .........................................................................................................................7 Methods ...............................................................................................................................................7 What did we nd? ...........................................................................................................................9 Recruitment ...............................................................................................................................................9 Outer west: how to engage community members .................................................................9 Mid west: recruitment failure ..........................................................................................................10 Inner west: trial a new process .......................................................................................................10 Evaluation of recruitment methods .............................................................................................10 Community forums .....................................................................................................................12 Community members: Who participates? ................................................................................12 Places that matter ................................................................................................................................ 13 Outer West Community Forum ......................................................................................................15 Objects – connecting people to local places ...................................................................15 Workshop discussions ................................................................................................................16 Local places (walking distance) ..............................................................................................17 Regional places (travel some distance) ...............................................................................17 Global places ..................................................................................................................................18 Local to regional to global place: connection to country ..........................................19 Summary .................................................................................................................................................20 Mid West Community Forum ..........................................................................................................21 Objects – connecting people to local places ...................................................................21 Workshop discussions ................................................................................................................22 The Nepean River ..........................................................................................................................23 Penrith Lakes ...................................................................................................................................24 Backyards and beyond ...............................................................................................................24 Summary .................................................................................................................................................25 Stage 2: Community v Inner West Community Forum .......................................................................................................26 Workshop discussions ................................................................................................................27 Local places (within walking distance) ................................................................................27 Regional place (travel some distance) .................................................................................28 Global place ....................................................................................................................................29 Summary .................................................................................................................................................30 What are the priority issues in looking after places that matter?..........31 Recreation and pleasure ..................................................................................................................31 Why places are special and therefore need looking after ...........................................31 Environmental concerns ...................................................................................................................32 Conservation and preservation of place.............................................................................32 Lack of community sustainability awareness