Planning by numbers

Leading planning and geospatial figures are calling for a coordinated approach to digitising and streamlining Australia’s urban planning systems.

Covid-19 shows the need to accelerate national policymaking

If Covid-19 has taught us anything, it’s that Australia needs to link long-term planning with emergency and operational coordination.

The road more travelled

Unsanctioned footpaths across open ground defy design, but is that necessarily a bad thing?

The 20 minute neighbourhood

Allowing people to work, live and play within 20 minutes’ reach of their own homes is the new gold standard for urban planning.

Learning from disaster

Australia was largely unprepared for either the major bushfires of the summer or the current pandemic. The government’s response to each was very difficult, but both hold lessons as we plan to face future challenges.

Cracks in the pavement

Two of Australia’s leading strategic urban plans could be expanded to promote better places to live for all residents, according to an expert report.

Australian cities pay the price for blocking council input

In many countries, city-shaping mega-projects are generally overseen by local government, but in Australia state governments often step in and exclude council and community representatives from the process.

A patchwork of City Deals or a national settlement strategy: what’s best for our growing cities?

The Commonwealth government has a long history of intervening in cities, from addressing housing shortages to funding urban infrastructure, but is a more formal national urban planning process required?

Planning the “20 minute” cities of tomorrow

Melbourne is growing fast, and planners hope it will become a network of connected “20-minute cities”, where people will be able to walk or cycle to shops and services, reducing traffic while increasing population density.

Slow decline or a brighter future? Shaping Australia’s national outlook

Boosting Australia’s future prosperity will require bold action on a number of fronts and a deliberate commitment to careful and considered long-term thinking, according to a new CSIRO report.

Helping plan for hotter cities

As Australian cities heat up, local governments and planning practices will increasingly have to address rising temperatures and urban heat island effects. A new tool, incorporating scientific models, case studies and broad guidelines, has been released to help.

How big data can help city residents

Analysing big data can tell us how a big city ticks and help individual citizens – as well as public planners and tech corporations – get the jobs, housing and services they need.