Planning
No matter how mundane a city’s origins, urban concentrations can have magical consequences. So says the great urban economist Edward Glaeser.
He points out that the Romans settled on an island in the Seine because it was a good spot to protect themselves against unfriendly Gauls. Two thousand years later we have Paris, one of the greatest centres of cultural and economic innovation on the planet.
Here in Australia, our cities are mere infants compared to Paris but, like cities pretty much everywhere, ours face an immense array of challenges. We are among the most urbanised of nations with three out of every four Australians living in cities. And though we might be good at farming and mining, it is our cities that generate 80 per cent of our wealth.
Continue reading "Cities, not the mines, are our economic powerhouses" »
I just returned from almost three weeks in Hong Kong. It is a city that I fell in love with some five years ago when I worked there with Oxfam Hong Kong.
There is a great deal that Australia’s major cities could learn from Hong Kong: it is a city that promotes and rewards efficiency, cleanliness and creativity – aspects that we often neglect.
This is clearly evident in the integrated design of the public transport system that is regular, clean, safe and on time. (Please note NSW State Rail Authority: the definition of ‘on time’ does not change at regular intervals but is kind of set). For example, last Saturday I missed a bus – my irritation was subdued when I informed the next one was ‘four minutes’ away. We can compare this to the two-hour gap between busses on the 370 route between Leichhardt and Coogee which I was faced with only a week later: and this is in the eastern suburbs if Sydney – the best served public transport corridor.
Continue reading "How we think about water is a classic progress trap" »
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Bep says:
Brad got owned. Read more »
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Jordan Rastrick says:
@sheps: You’ve accused past governments of mismanagement through overallocation. Now government is flagging that it may propose to buy the excessive allocations back from anyone prepared to voluntarily sell them - so wouldn’t you support this newfound responsibility on the government’s part? Anyway, I’m just a city slicker with, I’ll… Read more »
At the outset I declare that I am unashamedly pro-bike. Cycling is a great sport, a clean form of transport, and has undoubted health benefits for those who regularly ride.
Most years the annual “pollie pedal” route is through my electorate – as was the case this year. Had I not been heavily pregnant, I would have ridden with the team again (albeit for a short distance).
But I have to say: what’s the deal with designated bike lanes?
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Anna says:
You’re right Scott, I was obviously an idiot for assuming that you would understand that I was using a figure of speech with “cost nothing”. I was on the V1 today, or the “brisbane bikeway” as you call it. I suggest you borrow a bike and take it. And take… Read more »
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Arios says:
In Japan people are allowed to cycle on the footpaths - everywhere. Hardcore cyclists can still ride on the road, but is certainly way more riskier. The footpaths provide a safe alternative for children and slower cyclists. The only downside is that pedestrians have to constantly watch out for bicycles… Read more »
If Melbourne was a person she would have been sent to Trinny and Susannah by now.
It wouldn’t be her idea of course - it’s one of those shows she would sneer at - but her loved ones would have given her that little encouraging nudge.
She’d go and be full of fake bravado, giving as much lip at Catherine Deveny on Logies night, bragging about her coffee, her restaurants, her laneways and festivals.
Continue reading "Oh Melbourne, get over yourself daaaahling" »
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Leisha says:
Hmmm, yes I agree. Australia is a beautiful country all over. Perhaps with the exception of Alice Springs…..oops! Read more »
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Leisha says:
Yeah, the AFL worship does annoy me in Melbourne. Even when footy season is over, people just keep talking about the draft picks. It’s hard to escape when you live here, it’s the only real negative for me though. Read more »
Former Prime Minister, Paul Keating, has long been a champion of better architecture and planning. Most recently, he caused a stir by describing our national capital as “a great mistake”.
Keating also lamented the bulldozing of much of Melbourne’s heritage in the 1970s, but even had a shot at some of the Victorian buildings that remained.
“I used to call it Whorehouse Rococo and Bordello Baroque”, he said. And he teased Australia’s “heritage mafia” for making a crust out of pretending that old buildings are of significance.
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Joe Rossi ex MP says:
Mr. Don Dunstan his idol organised the Natural gas Pipelines Authority building and roof leaked in the first winter. Mr. Don Dunstan organised the Natural gas Pipelines Authority building and roof leaked in the first winter. Mr. Don Dunstan organised the building of Adelaide Festival centre behind Parliament House and… Read more »
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Terry Walsh says:
As the Urban Development Institute of Australia (SA) Executive Director I see Adelaide as having an opportunity to become a city of good design, not only on buildings but of communities with integrated spaces for housing, transport access, leisure and retail. We have the desire in the development industry, we… Read more »
The environmental policy of “planned retreat” pioneered by the excellent folks at the Byron Bay Council has created a handy precedent for those who find themselves locked in reluctant weekend battle with the forces of nature.
That group of people - often referred to as “husbands” - now has at its disposal a noble excuse for refusing to trim the edges, sweep up the lawn clippings or take out the vegetable scraps.
The next time you get a death stare because you’re entering your third hour on the couch in front of Fox Sports, the handy zen-like rationale is that you’re not bludging but walking lightly on this earth.
Continue reading "Our home and part of the living room is girt by sea" »
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regina says:
oh you speak the truth dave. that death stare you get when you’re sitting on the couch trying your very best to save the planet can sometimes be rather hard to take. especially when there is little time in the few ad breaks and between beer and chip bowl refills… Read more »
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Wayne says:
You would be surprised at just how little power council has to enforce anything. The Australian Constitution does not recognize local Government. There has been 2 attempts by the Federal Government to alter the constitution to recognize our council as a local Government but it has failed twice. The last… Read more »
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