Completed areas
Goodna/Gailes
Community Renewal in Goodna/Gailes
Community Renewal began in Goodna/Gailes in December 1998. A Community Action Plan, developed in 1995 before Community Renewal’s introduction to the area, was updated by residents, government and other agencies as a blueprint for Community Renewal activities. The key themes in the plan included safety and security; education, training and employment; transport; community facilities and services; community image and identity; and parks and environmental protection.
Community Renewal activities were completed in Goodna/Gailes on 30 June 2004. During the program’s presence in Goodna/Gailes, Community Renewal funded 63 projects valued at $4.9 million. About 36 percent of these funds were allocated to service delivery projects. Partners in Community Renewal initiatives invested approximately $2.4 million over the same period, bringing the combined investment in renewal activities to $7.4 million.
Achievements
Some of the many Community Renewal projects delivered in Goodna/Gailes include:
- The Caravan Park Program which provided outreach services, a youth information service and a health care service to caravan park residents. The program also ran cooking and art classes for residents, using the caravan parks’ existing resources. These activities prompted residents to establish their own soup kitchen and community garden.
- The Crisis Intervention and Family Support Service which funded two psychologists, allowing the residents of Goodna/Gailes to receive counselling and support for relationship and family issues, grief and loss, and drug and alcohol addiction. Positive parenting and anger management courses were also available.
- The Ipswich School Holiday Activities project gave local children access to a range of school holiday activities. This project has been sustained thanks to the support of the Goodna Neighbourhood House, community donations and volunteers.
About Goodna/Gailes
The Redbank-Goodna area was important for local Indigenous peoples, with the section along the Goodna Creek a major camp area until the late 1800s. Goodna and Gailes were among the earliest European settlements in South East Queensland. Originally part of the Moreton Shire, they were made part of Ipswich City in 1959. Goodna is known for its jacarandas, which line Brisbane Terrace and spring to life every October in a breathtaking display of lilac-blue blossoms. Goodna residents have celebrated the occasion every year since 1968 with the Jacaranda Festival.
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2001 Census figures show the Goodna/Gailes renewal areas have a population of 8,141 with 2,067 families. Just over one quarter (25.8 percent) are aged under 15 and 31 percent were born overseas. About 23 percent speak languages other than English and the Indigenous population is six percent.
Last updated 21 July 2005
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