Planning prosperous, sustainable and resilient cities is a national priority. John Wynne, Urbis’ National Director of Planning, recently presented evidence to the Inquiry into the Australian Government’s role in the development of our cities.
Speaking at the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport and Cities public hearing, John emphasised that “as the physical focus of our wealth and well-being, ensuring sustainable cities is absolutely vital. Conversely, failing to plan properly will result in declining economic, social and environmental standards which will clearly undermine our much-envied quality of life.”
Australia’s population is continuing to grow and become more urbanised. It is now more important than ever to consider how national policy can foster collaborative and flexible urban planning responses. Urbis welcomed a Federal commitment to a national focus on cities in the cabinet reshuffle which led to the appointment of Paul Fletcher as the Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities.
John reiterated that Australian cities are undergoing profound change. “The megatrends of urbanisation and globalisation are propelling cities rapidly to a future vastly different from today. The complexity, speed and scale of change are challenging traditional models of planning and developing cities, presenting uncharted issues relating to equity and access, social and economic engagement, cultural identity, homelessness, housing affordability, energy and resource use, economic growth and prosperity, biodiversity, and ecological outcomes.”