Leadership and the city form

What we need is our leadership to engage in debate about issues of density, place making, character and liveability and not simply deny that growth is happening and believe the city fringe is an exhaustible resource that can soak up growth like a sponge.

Which brings us to growth as a broader regional question in Australian cities. If density is not achievable politically, or economically, or even technically, given the infrastructure limitations, then dealing with growth becomes a broader debate that needs to include regional development as a tool.

None of our major cities can grow and densify indefinitely. Sydney in particular groans under the weight of its growth, its sheer size and having to provide infrastructure to its extremities. At some stage, the growth of Sydney must include a back story of regionalism, about what does Sydney mean in relation to its near regional cities of Newcastle, Wollongong and for that matter Canberra.

Surely the growth of Sydney should be inextricably linked with these centres. In a low carbon economy the value of a fast train connection with these centres becomes not only a provable business case but a case that can be won on the basis of promotion of regional development and sustainable growth. Add energy to the equation and a fast train connection from Sydney to Melbourne via Canberra sits in the realm of the bleeding obvious.

Melbourne has run and won this very argument with strong rail connections to Geelong, Shepparton and Bendigo which allows these centres to participate in, and directly benefit from, the growth and development of Melbourne.

Now more than ever as cities grow, we need leadership by our public representatives on the nature, form and shape of our cities and suburbs where 9 out of 10 of us live work and raise a family. This requires all of us however to engage the debate.

Sleepers wake – the future of your neighbourhood is at stake.