News & Events

On Wednesday 16th December 2009, resident and key stakeholder members of the CN DAB, as well as three State Government Regional Directors and the City of Greater Geelong CEO and Councillors  came together to celebrate the achievements of the CN DAB and signalled ongoing commitment to Corio and Norlane by signing the Corio Norlane Development Advisory Board’s Collaboration Agreement 2009-2012.  In total 30 committed people signed the agreement which documents future collaboration and agreement between residents, government and non-government organisations, schools and businesses to achieve the CN DAB’s vision for Corio and Norlane.  It aims to ensure that all residents continue to have a real say in decisions and solutions that have an effect on their homes, their surroundings and the community in which they live.

On Friday 4 September, Mr John Eren, MP, Member for Lara (Chair) and Dr Mark Kennedy (Deputy Chair and Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Sub Committee) of the Corio Norlane Development Advisory Board (CN DAB) announced that the CN DAB has been successful in gaining Full Membership to the World Health Organisation’s Alliance for Healthy Cities (AfHC).

This is first time that a community, supported by a whole of government and community Board, has achieved full membership of the Alliance. Corio Norlane is 7th community in Australia and the 2nd in Victoria to receive this prestigious international recognition!

The CN DAB represents a partnership between the community, government and non-government organisations, schools, and industry. The CN DAB’s application for membership was supported by its recently released Corio Norlane Healthy Community Plan 2009-2013 that defines its vision for a socially economically and environmentally sustainable community.

The Plan sets the course for the CN DAB focussing in particular on achieving improvements in line with seven Action Areas including: 

• Promoting health and wellbeing
• Enhancing education and training
• Lifting employment and expand local economies
• Reducing crime and improve safety
• Enhancing housing and the physical environment
• Increasing access to services and the responsiveness of the Government; and
• Increasing civic participation.

This Plan articulates how the CN DAB will continue to promote whole of government and community cooperation and encourage participation and investment in the complex process of reducing the inequalities experienced by this community.

The CN DAB has been invited to present at the 2nd Meeting of the Australian Chapter of the Alliance for Healthy Cities in Adelaide in October 2009.

A massive $32.4 million Brumby Government investment in Norlane is set to fund an additional 160 new affordable homes in the Geelong region.

Housing Minister Richard Wynne visited Norlane Community Centre ON Thursday 27th August and was joined by Member for Lara and Chair of the Corio Norlane Development Advisory Board John Eren MP to officially launch Stage 2 of the Norlane Regeneration Project, which will see the new homes built to help meet the local need for modern and affordable accommodation.

“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to build and support communities like Norlane by increasing the availability and quality of public and social housing for those in need,” Mr Wynne said.

“In 2007, the Government announced $40 million to build 200 affordable new homes in Norlane.

“Stage 1 included 40 new public housing units at a cost of $7.6 million and tenants are now living in these new homes.

“Stage 2, which we are launching today, will deliver 60 homes for public housing and 100 units that will be owned and managed by a housing association.

“Over the course of both stages, more than 170 jobs will be directly supported or secured during the construction of new housing and upgrades to existing housing.”

Mr Eren said work was already underway on the second stage of the Norlane Regeneration Project, with the Government consulting with the Corio Norlane Development Advisory Board to locate sites and finalise a master plan for the new homes.

“The Brumby Labor Government is liaising with the Advisory Board, which includes residents, local businesses and other service agencies to finalise plans before construction begins by mid 2010,” Mr Eren said.

“We believe every Victorian deserves access to high-quality and affordable housing with a strong sense of community and the Norlane development is a great example of this.”

Mr Wynne said the whole Geelong region would benefit from the money currently being invested in not just adding new houses, but on maintenance for existing housing stock.

“The Geelong region has been allocated $2.47 million in funding under the Commonwealth Nation Building and Jobs Plan to undertake maintenance and repairs on both public and housing association properties in the area,” Mr Wynne said.

“That will deliver home improvements for tenants and also jobs for local tradies who do the work, which could include interior and exterior painting, renovations to bathrooms or kitchens and local landscaping.”

Mr Wynne said this significant investment in repairs and maintenance would extend the useable life of these units and improve amenity for tenants

On Monday August 3, 2009 the Curtain Connection volunteers travelled to donate 50 sets of curtains to the victims of the Black Saturday bushfires.

Curtain Connection member Margaret said, “We wanted to help and felt that the curtains we make could help people who needed to rebuild settle into their homes.”

The trip, with the help of Corio Norlane Neighbourhood Renewal, was organised because the volunteers wanted to deliver them personally.  “Curtain Connection is about helping those in need and this was one way we could share with the broader community.” Margaret said.

For information on Curtain Connection, contact Margaret on 0408 302 779.

On Wednesday 15th October over 1,100 local primary school students celebrated with local Police Officers the 21st birthday of the Corio Police Station.

The North Shore Skate Park artwork project aimed to engage some local young people, create a feeling of ownership toward the artwork and surrounding area and offer local young people the opportunity to learn new skills in relation to design and aerosol art.

This project came about when local users of the park who were sick of tagging on the park, saying it looked ugly and the park need some colour to make it look better.  In the results of the Neighbourhood Renewal Community Survey, residents also stated that they wanted improvements in parks and open spaces.

Funding received through Department of Human Services, City of Greater Geelong and Neighbourhood Renewal, enabled Justin, a local artist, to work with young people using the park to design the amazing artwork we can see today.  Approximately 15 young people participated in the four workshops with Justin.  Justin came up with seven designs and the young people and all park users (RSL, NNH and Sports Club) were consulted and a final design was agreed upon.  Young people were involved in the completing the art piece in front of us today.

The $40m Norlane Regeneration Project to build 200 affordable new homes in Norlane took another step forward recently.
The official “First Turning of the Sod” for Stage 1 of the project was undertaken on site in Wisteria Grove Norlane by Housing Minister Wynne, together with MP’s John Eren and Gayle Tierney on Tuesday 8th July 2008.
The ceremony was attended by approximately 30 people, comprising residents, builders, architects and representatives from community organisations, council and government.

On Friday 2nd May 2008, the Honourable Richard Wynne, State Government Minister for Housing, officially opened the new Community Contact Point at 61 Yooringa Ave in Norlane and announced the first stage of the $40million Norlane Regeneration Project. 

The building at 61 Yooringa Ave was formally part of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games Village where it was used by the Ugandan Team.