Urban Renewal (VIC)

Urban Renewal is a Mission Australia-operated landscaping, gardening and light construction business that provides fixed-term, transitional work and training opportunities for previously unemployed and disadvantaged Victorians.

This Mission Australia social enterprise prides itself on delivering exceptional workmanship while improving the built environment and environmental sustainability of Victorian communities.

The business offers a range of services at market-competitive rates, including:

• Large and small scale landscaping
• Tree planting and turf laying
• Park and outdoor furniture and pergola construction 
• Concreting and path construction
• Re-vegetation and regeneration works (specialising in waterways)
• Domestic building and small-scale commercial building works
• Building ramps and other accessible features for people with disabilities

These projects enable people who have experienced barriers to employment to gain an industry-recognised qualification in a trade where there is a current skills shortage – with a view to finding lasting employment.

Through working on commercial jobs in small crews under the oversight of a qualified supervisor, Urban Renewal trainees develop their life and social skills and establish a new support group and qualifications.

For more information

Urban Renewal
P: (03) 8773 5200
E: urbanrenewal@missionaustralia.com.au

Urban Renewal projects

Since beginning in 2006, Urban Renewal has been involved in a diverse range of projects – all managed, supervised and coordinated by highly experienced tradespeople. These include:

Pop-up Park

During 2010-2011, 28 Urban Renewal participants constructed a Pop-up Park for VicUrban in Dandenong, complete with two synthetic football pitches, a barbecue area, community garden and orchard.

Created with support from the Our Place, My Future community development project, since opening in May 2011 the Pop-Up Park has been embraced by the local community as a place that everybody in Dandenong can visit and enjoy. This temporary park will exist for two years before being redeveloped. 

Lower Plenty Bike Path

In 2010 Urban Renewal constructed a two-metre wide, 1.1-kilometre long concrete bike path for Banyule City Council. Employing six local trainees and one co-ordinator, the project was jointly funded by Parks Victoria, the Australian Government Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development, Local Government’s National Bike Path Project and Banyule City Council.

The project was handed over to the council in November 2010 – on time and within budget. It was an amazing accomplishment for the trainees, considering they were had little to no construction or landscaping experience prior to starting with Urban Renewal.

Buna Reserve Redevelopment

The redevelopment of Buna Reserve in West Heidelberg was jointly funded by Banyule City Council and Neighbourhood Renewal, and constructed in partnership with Urban Renewal.

In 2008, construction began on new walking path, playground with fence, extension of the cricket nets, resurfacing the grass playing area, new barbecues and a basketball/netball ring.

Construction of the reserve’s community garden commenced in early October 2011 and employed six local individuals as Urban Renewal trainees and one co-ordinator. The new community garden now enables local residents to connect, share gardening tips and food, and stay healthy.

 
Ebdale Community Hub

Delivered by Urban Renewal on behalf of Frankston City Council, this collaboration between Urban Renewal and Hulston Thomas Project Services transformed a former aged care centre – the Milpara Aged Care Hostel - into a purpose-built hub for local community groups and activities.

Commencing in September 2011, this project employed six local trainees and one co-ordinator. Over six weeks the crew erected retaining walls, demolished a rusted storage shed, removed trees and stumps and installed large, corrugated steel garden beds and put in several thousand plants. The project was handed over to Frankston City Council in November 2011 – on time and within budget.

Richmond Gardens

In 2010, over a 12-week period, 10 Urban Quest trainees and eight trade assistants worked to create a community garden at the Richmond Public Housing Estate in Melbourne.

The project saw the creation of 168 beds made from cypress pine sleepers, a storage shed, pathways, pergola, pizza oven, compost bins, a chicken coop and seats for the residents.

Urban Renewal worked with the garden’s managers, not-for-profit gardening group Cultivating Community, on the project.

Expertise and environmental sustainability

Urban Renewal is headed by Chris Hawken, who has over 30 years’ national and international experience in the landscaping industry. Award-winning projects Chris has worked on include the Singapore Skate Park, which won a best export Department of Trade Award, and the Cairns Esplanade Skatepark, recognised with a 2008 Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) Design Award.

Urban Renewal adopts environmentally sustainable principles such a water conservation, energy consumption reduction, waste reduction and recycling and reuse of products. To find out more about Urban Renewal, call (03) 8773 5200 or email urbanrenewal@missionaustralia.com.au

Urban Renewal partners
Urban Renewal proudly works with the following partners to create better communities:

• Apprenticeships Plus
• MEGT
• VicUrban
• Chisholm TAFE
• Sustainability Victoria
• Department of Human Services
• Department of Community Development and Planning
• Bunnings Warehouse 
• Alfasi Hire
• Coates Hire
• Treeplanters Nursery
• Flemings Trees

Urban Renewal associations/memberships

• Housing Industry of Australia
• Landscape Industries Association of Victoria
• Master Builders Association of Victoria
• Construction Supply Registry
• I-Pro Live
• Commercial Builders (Unlimited licence)