UDFQ 82: June 2008
It is early days, but in contrast with the Howard era, it seems that the Rudd Federal Government is taking a renewed interest in Australian cities. A recent speech by Anthony Albanese, Federal Minster for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, included the following:
“…The Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics has estimated that urban congestion alone will cost nearly $20 billion by 2020 if we persist with current policies. What’s more, at least 1 in 10 working parents are estimated to spend longer in their cars commuting to and from work, than at home with their children. … This disengagement cannot continue if we are serious about securing our national prosperity. That’s why I am pleased to announce the Government’s next step towards making sure Australia’s major cities remain places where people want to live, work, raise a family and do business.
To this end, the Government will establish and resource a Major Cities Unit in my Department, renewing the Commonwealth’s focus on cities and, more broadly, on urban development. By major cities, I mean more than our eight capital cities. For example, critical regional centres like Townsville, Newcastle, the Gold Coast and Geelong have grown enormously. As these centres expand, they face many of the same infrastructure and planning challenges our capital cities have encountered. Currently our cities deal with a myriad of federal government departments which affect their economic, social, and environmental outcomes. A more coordinated and integrated approach is needed. The Major Cities Unit will do just that.”
Optimistic responses
The response to this announcement has generally been optimistic. “… a new Major Cities Unit shows the Rudd Government’s commitment to fixing Australia’s cities and regional centres”, says Infrastructure Partnerships Australia – the nation’s peak infrastructure body.
“For too long, Australia has been amongst the only developed nations without a national plan for growth in our cities.” said IPA Chairman Mark Birrell. (From 1992-96 Birrell was Minister for Major Projects in the Victorian State Government).
The peak building and construction industry association, Master Builders Australia, has strongly endorsed the Government’s decision to establish a Major Cities Unit . “A Major Cities Unit which will renew the Commonwealth’s focus on cities and urban development is welcomed by the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA)”, says Di Jay, PIA CEO. “The Commonwealth now has the opportunity to foster integrated planning, housing, urban management and infrastructure investment systems to deliver sustainable communities across Australia.”
The proof of the pudding…
The renewed Federal Government interest in Australian cities is long over due, and very welcome. However, exactly what the Major Cities Unit will do is not yet clear. How will it deal with more than a decade of neglect? Will it just produce a series of major engineering projects? Will it facilitate the provision of public transport, and other community facilities, at a level that seriously addresses the challenge of climate change? Will it embrace urban design as a key focus for achieving sustainable cities? Urban Design Forum invites contributions setting out your ideas and expectations about the Major Cities Unit for inclusion in future editions.