The Future Cities Summit brought together four innovators and policymakers to address challenges facing Australia’s planned cities. Think of the 1911 Griffin plan in Canberra. Think of the 1954 planning scheme in Melbourne. How could Sydney benefit from a careful curation of public infrastructure?
Property leaders from Australia and abroad filled the audience, and the theme of the event organised by the Property Council of Australia was “The places we need for people and the planet.” This set the tone for discussions about fostering sustainable and inclusive urban environments.
Greg Clark, global advisor, and chairman for The Business of Cities, hosted four panelists and highlighted the implication of urbanism in Australia. “We are in the 100th century of urbanisation,” he said. “But this is the century of sudden acceleration.”
Before introducing his panelists, he laid a framework for the discussion. He “Housing needs to be more dynamic, diverse, and provide dignity for everyone,” he said.
The built environment is more than real estate. It also included the passage between developments. “The connectivity in transport is enabling compactness and competitiveness in our cities.”
To catapult Sydney further into the international spotlight, the lights needed to shine around the clock. “Integrating the nighttime economy is about intentionality, investment, and creating a unique identity.” He highlighted the potential of the nighttime economy to contribute to the vibrancy and economic growth of cities.
These issues were an amalgamation of a greater, interconnected struggle within urban development. Energy, water, and community identity were not separate issues.
“Bringing different voices to the table not only enriches the conversation but also leads to more innovative and inclusive solutions,” Michelle Cramer, future communities’ leader at GHD Australia, remarked. What types of voices will make the most significant impact?
Peter Newman, professor of sustainability at Curtin University, called for greater involvement of younger generations in the sustainability movement. “Involving younger people more in the actual practice and bringing innovative ideas into that practice is crucial,” he said. He emphasised the need for fresh perspectives and creative solutions to tackle the environmental crisis.
How do we include more voices and seamlessly integrate solutions to multifaceted problems? Cramer stressed the need for long-term planning. Planning that takes into account intergenerational equity and not the short-sighted goals of termed politicians. “We must think about the kind of cities we want to leave for future generations.”
The first way to address intergenerational equity must attack a root issue at its core: environmental challenges. Rising sea levels affected more than aquatic ecosystems; it impacted home values and development projects near bodies of water and was an issue that concerns nobody more than the potential developers and dwellers of future cities.
Newman wholeheartedly agreed. He highlighted the detrimental impact of human activity on the Earth’s ecosystems, stating, “We are leaving the safe operating space for our planet, and it’s due to human activity.” He noted that “the challenge is occurring faster than at any other time in the last 60 million years of geological history.”
To address these challenges, Newman advocated on behalf of “solar batteries and electric vehicles. They are now cheaper than anything we’ve had in the past.” While he believed these technologies were the solutions, he thought they could be implemented on a larger scale than the individual consumer – public transport and synergised cross-building electric networks had a greater potential to reduce carbon emissions.
A recurring theme appeared from the discussions of climate change and social inequity. Anita Mitchell, chief executive officer at Placemaking NSW, mentioned the clear link between these two pressing issues. “Those most affected are least able to adapt.” There was no better place to address this connection than in planned urban development.
“In everything we do, equitable access is something we’re always looking for.” Steps Sydney could create walkable and livable communities, “future-proofing them,” if you will.
Mike Zorbas, chief executive officer the Property Council of Australia, elucidated next steps to address the issues the other panelists brought up.
“There’s a need for a social contract between the government and the community to prioritise key reforms,” he said, underscoring the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors. “Government has a role in zoning and risk assessment to ensure communities are not disproportionately affected.”
It was one challenge to create a city from scratch. It was a much larger one to retrofit an existing one with egalitarian and sustainable motives. “Mixed-income neighbourhoods are part of the solution to avoid segregating people based on socio-economic status,” Zorbas concluded. Planning a future city unveiled how intertwined urban issues really are.