Ongoing misalignments between patterns of population growth and social infrastructure investment in Australia’s peri-urban growth corridors continue to impede social cohesion in areas of greenfield development and limit opportunities for its residents to develop social connections. The Victorian Government’s commitment to existing social infrastructure limits its ability to expand its network of neighbourhood houses to growth corridors. In response to persistent gaps between demand and provision, local governments on Melbourne’s fringe are increasingly expanding their responsibilities for building, maintaining and running neighbourhood centres. As such changes are occurring in relationships between the domains of government and community. This scoping pilot research explored the benefits and challenges of councils taking on this relatively new role.

The research consisted of two local government case studies. Research methods were designed to focus on the everyday rhythms and sociality of individual centres and to understand those in the context of local government management strategies and practices. As such, methods included focus groups with council staff who are located in neighbourhood centres and who manage the centres, focus group with council staff who are located in the respective council’s central office and who supervise centre managers, participant observation in centres and interviews with users of its services and programs.

The case studies presented in this report show that councils are providing an invaluable social infrastructure by managing neighbourhood centres and offering programmed activities. The case studies highlight that provided opportunities to meet others are especially valued by senior residents and by residents with backgrounds of migration. These centre participants emphasised that the council managed centre they attend help them combat loneliness and that the not-for-profit offering ensures that their access and inclusion needs are met.