21 Mar 2022: SEQ City Deal Out of Touch with Modern City Planning

[ozbob]

Media Release: SEQ City Deal Out of Touch with Modern City Planning

21st March 2022

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers says the SEQ City Deal is completely underwhelming and is just warm and fuzzy words wrapped around old car-dependent city planning.

The SEQ City Plan talks of livability, sustainability, thriving communities, greater housing choice and better mobility for people, goods and services yet continues the car-dependent planning approach from last century.  Even the OECD recognises that this car-dependent planning is harmful to our well-being, our economy and the environment:

The well-being lens applied to transport - OECD https://youtu.be/TkNmv6LHVrI.

The SEQ City Deal will see the region and Australia fall further and further behind in a world pivoting to a carbon-neutral future. If Australia and SEQ want to complete to the world stage then we need to look to cities that are leading the way to this future.

City likes Paris, Helsinki, Milan, Brussels, Amsterdam, Vancouver, Seattle, Bogota and Barcelona - to name just a few.

These cities are prioritising walking, cycling, public transport plus regional/freight rail before motor vehicle transport and creating vibrant, mixed-use, walkable, bike-friendly, transit-oriented 15min Neighbourhoods. Neighbourhoods where people can access all of their most basic, day-to-day needs within a 15-minute walk of their home.  Neighbourhoods that reduce traffic congestion, noise and pollution, have higher retail turn-over and cost less in rates and taxes to maintain.

The SEQ City Deal is a disappointing and wasted opportunity to pivot our planning towards a carbon-neutral future. 

It's a big F- from RAIL Back On Track.

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org

Reference:

South East Queensland city deal
https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/territories-regions-cities/cities/city-deals/south-east-queensland

[ozbob]

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