Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: Uneven growth and a decline in non-metropolitan Australia is cause for ongoing concern (Simpson, 2005) as currently, Queensland has Australia's highest level of disparity (Premier's Department 2003). To address this concern, the Queensland Government realise the need to develop closer communities if Queensland is to grow and remain sustainable (Premier's Department 2003). The north eastern sector of the Lockyer Valley (LV) is one of Queensland's disparate and disconnected communities. Lying close to the Brisbane-Ipswich conurbation, and seen by some as dormitory suburbs or satellite towns of the Brisbane Ipswich conurbation (Department of Communities 2005), the LV's north eastern sector residents are experiencing feelings of disconnection. Disconnection refers to residents experiencing feelings of a separate self-schema and feeling separate or distinct from other residents (Babin and Harris 2011). The feelings of disconnection are of concern because for a community to grow and be sustainable, the residents should have a shared sense of belonging, a shared vision, and social connections with each other (Mathwick, Wiertz and Ruyter 2008). The connections within and between social networks, as well as among individuals, are important as they are drivers of community growth (Grillo, Teixeira and Wilson 2010).
Authors: Karen Miller, Cec Pedersen
Language: English
Subfield: Geography, Planning and Development
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Reduced inequalities
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W107463399