Australia is a nation of cities

"… we need a new approach [to urban government] that builds on the central virtues of the city - its role as a place of conviviality, a place where people meet, trade, exchange, share ideas, and an approach that avoids the error of seeking to replace the vitality of the city…."

The starting point is to give city government the resources to act strategically.

It's very interesting that you have to go back to 1972 and Billy McMahon to read a speech by a federal conservative politician about the importance of urban Australia. Federal Labor was readier with the cash but often attached too many strings.

Too often, state governments occupy cities as squatters rather than support them with resources and let city government get on with the job.

This is where the Property Council can help. We can work with you to persuade federal and state governments to confer clearer authority and appropriate resources to capital cities.

For its part, the Property Council has undertaken several tasks:

We have proposed a best practice development control system that we are negotiating with state governments (with the co-operation of the Local Government Association);

We have embarked on a design dividend project - which aims to prove that good design results in higher investment returns.

We are exploring what we call the 'ecology of cities', which ranges from trading in carbon credits and energy codes for buildings, as well as city greening and transforming derelict sites into attractive recreation areas.

We are conducting a series of studies around the country to promote the profile, role, opportunities and needs of our capital cities and their city centres in particular.

The aim is to portray a picture of our national capitals that highlights their vital role in the economic and cultural life of the nation.

From this research, the Property Council will articulate a suite of hardware and software priorities designed to nurture the ongoing growth of cities.