Article: Rudd flags takeover of cities

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Rudd flags takeover of cities

Rudd flags takeover of cities
Article from: AAP

By Cathy Alexander

October 28, 2009 06:15am

AUSTRALIA'S cities are the latest candidates for a Federal Government takeover.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd wants to intervene in urban planning - usually the preserve of state and local governments - to make sure cities are well-run and climate change-proof.

He has told business leaders in Sydney that cities must be greener, and need better transport, water services and communications networks.

"The time has come for national leadership in our long-term city planning,'' Mr Rudd told a Business Council of Australia dinner last night.

"Cities face major challenges from the impact of climate change.''

Mr Rudd has previously proposed a takeover of hospitals and water, and a greater role in education and broadband.

Now it's cities' turn.

In his speech Mr Rudd proposed the development of national rules for the planning of cities for the first time.

And all infrastructure funding - which runs into tens of billions of dollars - could be linked to the rules.

A day after a major parliamentary report warned of the serious risks of climate change to Australia's coastal areas, Mr Rudd called for a new green approach to urban centres.

He wants long-term investment in green transport, and smarter building rules to make cities more energy-efficient.

Cities must be bulwarked against the effects of climate change, including coastal inundation, as flagged in the report.

"We have to manage the impact of rising sea levels and increased risk of flooding on our cities and coastal areas,'' Mr Rudd said.

Australia is set for a population boom, with an upcoming government report to project the headcount will surge 60 per cent to 35 million people by 2049.

Mr Rudd said this was all the more reason to get cities right.

"I have said before that I believe in a big Australia ... but managing that population growth will be challenging.''

Federal Labor's plan to get involved in city planning could face opposition from state and local governments, who set the rules.

Mr Rudd emphasised that they would not be supplanted. The Federal Government would work with the states and territories, through the Council of Australian Governments, on drafting the new national rules next year.

And land planning and day-to-day decisions would be left to the states.

"No Commonwealth minister wants to decide development applications or where to lay sewerage pipes,'' Mr Rudd said.

He outlined the areas to be governed by the new national rules. As well as the climate change initiatives, the rules would cover the planning of land release for new housing, balancing greenfield developments with urban in-fill, and world-class urban design.

The planning of transport corridors, communications and utilities networks would be covered.

And the new rules would allow governments to accept independent advice on planning, and allow for the harnessing of private capital.

[stephenk]

I think this is a good move. Australian urban areas need much better town planning to stop unsustainable urban sprawl.

[#Metro]

Wow. I can just see NIMBY groups popping up everywhere.

[ButFli]

Local management of local issues. p%ss off Kevin.

[Jon Bryant]

The Feds have realised that the unsustainability of our cities in theor current form is sending the country broke.