Sandshoe survey

Observer: Kimberley Razay

Weather:

Temperature:

City: Launceston

Neighbourhood: Summerhill

Day/date/time:

Neighbourhood boundaries

1. At the right exit from the prospect roundabout there is a sign with and upwards pointing
arrow and the words ‘summerhill’ written on it, which indicates the commencement of the
suburb.

2. There are no commercial streets or areas in this neighbourhood.

3.

4. The neighbourhood does not have an alternative/informal name.

Housing

1. The majority of houses in this neighbourhood seem to be built in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
However, there are also a few modern houses which seem to have only been built recently.
These houses are all situated in the one street. The houses in this neighbourhood are made out
of brick and weatherboard.

2. There are several units in this neighbourhood; however the majority of dwellings are
houses. There was also a caravan parked inside the driveway of one house.

3. The houses have lawns are in front of them and nature strips. The lawns and nature strips
are all well kept. The lawns are watered and trimmed and many residents have flowers or
bushes in front of their house which are also well kept.

4. The majority of houses are in good condition, with no signs of disrepair.

5. There are cars in the drive ways, with many residents having more than one car. In some
drive ways, there were also boats. Most cars are fairly new, with a few older type cars.
However, residents with older cars had at least one other car.

6. As many drive ways did not have cars in them during the day, but did in the evening, it
appeared that most of the residents were at work during the day.

7. There are no rundown buildings.

8. There are several houses for sale, which are spread out over the suburb.

9. There are streetlights on the main road, which goes past the school and shops, but not on
the residential streets. There are many footpaths, curbs and gutters in this suburb and no open
drains.

Open spaces

1. There is a lot of open space in this neighbourhood.

2. There are several parks and reserves in this neighbourhood. There is also a basketball
court, a soccer field and a dog walking area.

3. There is new playground equipment in one of the park, which is on asphalt. The
playground equipment is in good condition, however it is new. However, the swings at the
park are not new, and are based on woodchips. These swings are not in good condition, with
the safety strap on the child’s swing having been broken off.

4. The grounds of the park, basketball court, soccer field and reserves are fenced, but not
illuminated.

5. The open spaces are public and are used by residents.

6. There is a small amount of litter in the park and reserves, but no glass or rubble.

Shopping areas

1. There is one small cafe and one real estate agency in summerhill.

2. The cafe and real estate agency are situated next to each other and on the main street of
summerhill in which both the school and medical centre as situated on.

3. There are no ethnic stores in this neighbourhood.

4. There are advertising signs for both shops. These advertisements are displayed around the
shop, on the opposite side of the shops and further down the road.

Schools

1. There is one school named summerdale primary and is a public school.

2. There are playgrounds, basketball courts and a sports field which are connected to the
school.

3. Graffiti is evident in and around the school. The playground equipment, concrete paths and
some sides of the school buildings have graffiti on them.

4. The grounds appear to be well maintained, with the grass of the soccer field cut short and
well watered.
5. There is a bus stop outside both sides of the street outside the school entrance and there are
two crossings which have crossing guards attending to them during before and after school
hours.

Religion

1. There is a Baptist church, which is used by the people who go to that church.

2. There is no evidence that the church is used for other reasons, however the car park is
sometimes used for garage sales on a saturday.

Human services

1. The health services are located near the primary school and near the church.

2. There is a doctors’ surgery, pharmacy and a child health centre.

3. There are no complementary medicine practitioners or centres.

4. There are no social agencies available.

5. There is a family day care centre, which is located two streets away from the other
facilities.

Transportation

1. People get in and out of the neighbourhood via car, walking and the bus.

2.

3. The streets are in good condition and are paved.

4. There are footpaths which are in good condition, but no bike tracks. Although, there does
not seem to be much evidence that people in this neighbourhood ride bikes.

5. Formal bus stops are visible.

6. Public transport operates frequently. Buses pass through summerhill every fifteen to thrity
minutes during the morning till the evening and each hour at night.

7. This is not a high traffic area and speed limit signs are posted. There are no speeds sign
that are above fifty kilometres per hour.

8. There is not a major highway near to the suburb.

Protective Services

1. There is no evidence of police, fire or emergency services.

2.

3. Several of the houses in the neighbourhood have safety systems, but the majority do not.
4.

Neighbourhood life

1. The majority of people on the streets are young children, older men and women.

2.

3. There are no bilingual signs anywhere.

4. Often children will hangout at the park in the playground and young men will play
basketball in the basketball court. There are often older ladies who hang out at the cafe during
the day.

5. Karate?

6. There is evidence of interaction between neighbours.

7. There is no evidence of homelessness

8. There are no stray cats or dogs

Council centre?