Local Government Case Studies
City of Darebin
Cramer Street Neighbourhood Project
Goal
Reduce tensions in the community.
How?
Bring together community representatives to design projects, including a gathering, a school arts festival, open house at the mosque and other activities associated with Muslim holy festivals.
More…
The Cramer Street Neighbourhood Project was a partnership between the Darebin City Council and representatives from the Cramer Street neighbourhood. This project responded to community tensions between people of different faiths in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. This area includes approximately 700 households surrounding Cramer Street in Preston, and it is home to the first Islamic mosque in Victoria, Omar Bin Khuttab Mosque (1975), which is the main place of worship to over 10,000 Muslims. Increased usage of the mosque, international events linked to terrorism and hostile media reporting on domestic events that involve Arab and Muslim communities led to an increase in community tensions.
To address these issues, the council collaborated with community leaders to develop a neighbourhood program. By providing the community with an opportunity to mix and learn from one another, this project helped to build greater understanding between the residents. Consultative projects undertaken by the council informed changes in council policies. A detailed survey conducted before and after the project indicated positive change. Besides a more harmonious community, another outcome has been a significant reduction in the number of complaints lodged with the council.
This project was supported by the department through the Living in Harmony community grants program.
Contact
Dalal Smiley
Darebin City Council
Telephone: 03 9230 4411
Email:
dsmiley@darebin.vic.gov.au