Community living

A Thesis: Across the walls - Gated communities and the neighbourhood public realm in Sydney

This thesis was submitted by David Hayes in partial fulfilment of the requirements for Honours, University of Sydney 2007.

Amongst his acknowledgements in his thesis David said... "A big thank you to the residents and neighbours of The Manor and Zenith Garden and the various developers, marketers and local government representatives who generously shared their thoughts, experiences and time. Without you this research project would not have been possible. "

We were delighted to hear that David got his results and passed with First Class Honours - congratulations!

Introduction

The growth of private walled residential estates, or gated communities, in Australia since
the mid-1980s has sparked spirited debate over the consequences of these communities for
Australian society. A recent estimate suggests that around 100,000 Australians are living in
gated communities. It has been argued by authors in Australia and overseas that gated
communities are causing the splintering of the public realm and socio-economic
polarisation.

This thesis uses the qualitative study of two case study communities in northern Sydney
(The Manor in Cherrybrook and Zenith Garden in Frenchs Forest) to explore how the estate
community, estate walls and other societal factors are impacting upon the vitality of the
public realm on a neighbourhood scale.

The study of gated communities in Australia and overseas has tended to focus on the
attitudes and experiences of residents of gated communities. This thesis fills an academic
void by utilising interviews with individuals who live on the estate perimeter, as well as
estate residents.

To read the full thesis along with the findings, click here.

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Consider your neighbours' feelings

• If you're renovating, have a "power tool free" day every few weeks
• Give advance notice of any noisy activity such as a party
• Ask visitors not to park on your neighbours' nature strip - it will damage their grass
• Avoid mowing when neighbours' toddlers are usually down for a sleep
• In an apartment, wear soft shoes on floorboards and don't flush your toilet in the middle of the night
• Discuss changes like extensions or tree pruning in advance

Fences make for good neighbours !

Should you ever be faced with a problem regarding one of your neighbours, the Zenith Garden Executive Committee encourages you to resolve the issue directly with them. A friendly chat can often be all that is needed.

The Zenith Garden Management Statement provides the by-laws of the Estate. Any issues should be lodged in writing with the Managing Agent providing as much detail as possible. The Managing Agent will handle all complaints on an anonymous basis, whenever possible.

Getting on with the Neighbours

"Tensions between neighbours can stem from different lifestyles," says Janet Sutherland of NSW Community Justice Centres. These may be as simple as the way we like to socialise (quiet dinners versus all-night parties), our hours of work (shifts or 9 to 5), or age (retirees next to a student share house). "You may not like your neighbours' lifestyle, but remember we all value different things."

So, next time the folks next door have the stereo turned up, try to hold your tongue. You're more likely to work things out if you give them every chance to be the good guys.

• Invite them for coffee to talk about how you could help each other live more comfortably. Maintain an even tone and avoid placing blame.
• Start the discussion by saying you want to know if anything you are doing is a problem for them. You might discover they have an issue with hearing your TV at 2:00 a.m.
• Offer solutions, then point out how you value a street where neighbours help each other. they may not know, for instance, that you rescue mail falling out of their broken mailbox or pick up stray rubbish
• Once your neighbours know you consider them, there's more chance they will want to reciprocate. Now you can suggest: "I was hoping you might be able to help with my problem."
• Couch it in terms of impact rather than annoyance. "Don't go in there criticising their taste in music," Sutherland says. "Explain the effect it's having - that the music is keeping you awake and you're tired at work."
• Agree to try the "solution" for a set time and to talk again if it isn't working.