The Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) has thrown its support behind a new report that underscores the urgency to better plan and design for Australia’s future growth to ensure prosperity, sustainability and livability.
The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport and Cities’ ‘Building Up and Moving Out’ report expresses the need for Australia’s cities and regions to be better planned, better connected, more diverse and more sustainable over the next 50 years.
The report highlights the profound changes Australian communities are – and will continue – to experience due to population growth, urbanisation, an ageing population and an evolving economy. The report provides 37 recommendations aimed at setting the national agenda to connect, reinvigorate and integrate cities and regions.
AIA’s National President, Clare Cousins said Australia needs a national strategy to guide future growth, otherwise we risk losing the amenity and liveability that sets our nation apart.
“We are strongly in favour of the concept of a national vision for our cities and regions and a national plan of settlement for the next 50 years,” she said on behalf of the AIA, “we don’t need a population policy, it’s not the size of the population that matters, but we do need a settlement strategy as it’s the characteristics and distribution of the population that is important.”
Ms Cousins said focusing on and supporting best practice design and planning is the only way for governments to assuage legitimate community concerns around congestion, meaningfully improve housing affordability and meet the challenges of inevitable population growth.
“Importantly, the Committee recommended that the Australian Government re-endorse Creating Places for People: An Urban Design Protocol for Australian Cities and provide financial support for the purposes of maintaining and promoting these design principles,” she commented.
Ken Morrison, Chief Executive of the Property Council of Australia said the‘Building Up and Moving Out’ report includes welcome recognition that planning for the successful growth of Australia’s cities should be a national policy priority involving all levels of Government.
“We need a national plan for the long-term that supports the growth of our cities while ensuring they are great places for Australians to live and work,” Mr Morrison said.
“While we won’t agree with every detailed finding in this report, this is a very substantial body of work and the Committee is to be congratulated for bringing this together,” he commented.
The full ‘Building Up and Moving Out’ report, along with a detailed summary can be found here.