Last month, we explored the recent works along the Upfield rail corridor guided by volunteers from the North Western Program Alliance (NWPA), Urban Design Advisory Panel (UDAP) and Tract Consultants. Raising the railway has led to significant urban design gains in both Coburg and Brunswick, and we learnt about the intricacies and challenges of such a large-scale project, such as capturing water in the landscape, replicability to help minimise costs, integration of history and personalisation from the different communities along the corridor. Once again, thanks to all who made it and to our informative guides.
Keep an eye out on our socials to attend our next Urban Tour-ism events!
This years Mentor Forum, we have a strong lineup of urban designers, planners and architects who have generously opened up their schedules to host In-person and Online mentoring sessions, exclusively to our members.
⭐️ Targol Khorram Homes Victoria, VIC (In-person Mentor)
⭐️Jesse McNicoll City of Sydney, NSW (Online Mentor)
⭐️Nicole Allen ARUP, VIC (In-person Mentor)
⭐️Liam Mouritz City of Fremantle, WA (Online Mentor)
⭐️Rob Adams Adams Urban, VIC (In-person Mentor)
⭐️Carley Wright Urbanfold, VIC (In-person Mentor)
⭐️Riley Flanigan Urbis, VIC (Online Mentor)
⭐️Laurence Dragomir Fishermans Bend Tasforce, VIC (In-person Mentor)
⭐️Bianca Elenćevski Department of Transport and Planning, VIC (In-person Mentor)
Mentees, please keep an eye out for an email campaign, that will have a link to register to your Mentor at 12pm this Friday.
With the current Victorian Government focus on 70% of development within existing urban areas, there is a risk of neglecting the livability and sustainability of the 30% of housing that is slated to continue at the edges of our cities and towns. With the true cost of sprawl well documented, and growing awareness of our climate and biodiversity emergency, it is clear that we need a paradigm shift.
Witchcliffe Ecovillage in the Margaret River region of WA offers an extraordinary demonstration of what the future of our towns and suburbs could look like. From diverse housing options, low embodied carbon construction, food production, water self sufficiency, communal spaces and habitat restoration, the growing new neighbourhood is without peer as a new national benchmark.
Michelle Sheridan and Mike Hulme from Sustainable Settlements have been the driving force behind this vision, approaching the task of property development through the lens of permaculture. Michelle and Mike will share the story of their extraordinary project and reflect on the opportunities and barriers to accelerating innovation in the development of regenerative neighbourhoods.
The presentation will be followed by a discussion led by Nemesia Kennett, exploring how the challenges and successes of Witchcliffe might be translated into the Victorian context.
This is a free online event, and registration is required to access the webinar link.
In partnership with Streets Alive Yarra and Better Streets, Urban Design Forum submitted a joint response to the Department of Transport and Planning’s proposed modernisation of the car and bicycle parking requirements within the Victorian Planning Provisions.
The consolidation of car and bicycle parking provisions into a single tool is a positive step that treats bicycle and car parking as of equivalent importance in the planning assessment process and simplifies the operation of the planning scheme. The submission strongly supported this ambition and recommended areas of further investigation on how the tool can be used to encourage appropriate density and consideration of precinct-based requirements.