Make My City Work

[Jonno]

Worth getting involved in so our insight, research and ideas are incorporated and influence the outcomes.

http://makemycitywork.com.au/

Our cities are home to 75 per cent of Australians and generate 80 per cent of the nation's economic activity.

Australia's cities are growing – how we deal with this growth is up to us.

Smart growth means more opportunities, higher productivity, better living standards and a healthier environment.  Dumb growth means more stress on transport, jobs and families and higher taxes into the future.

Smart growth or dumb growth, the choice is ours.

All spheres of government have a key role to play in securing the smart growth of our cities.  We call on Australia's governments to commit to a New Deal for Australia's Cities which puts cities policy at the centre of the agenda.

A New Deal for Australia's Cities would:

1.     Put cities at the centre of the national agenda

Our cities are home to 75% of Australians and generate 80% of the nation's economic activity.  In a country crying out for new way to improve productivity, making our cities work is the answer.  Cities need to be a bigger priority for the Federal Government.

2.     New Federal incentives for better planning and real action

The Federal Government should create a regime of financial incentives and penalties to drive better planning and real action to solve issues facing our cities.  Financial payments can be the incentive to bring state/territory and local governments together to deliver action to create more productive, liveable and sustainable cities.

3.     Real plans for our cities

Every city needs a clear plan, based on real engagement,  with clear targets.  These need to clearly set out how each city is expected to grow and change, and where the new housing, employment and infrastructure will be encouraged in the future.

4.     More money for the right infrastructure

Governments need to increase their commitment to the infrastructure our cities need.  The Federal Government needs to recapitalise the Building Australia Fund to kickstart national infrastructure priorities in our cities.  We need serious dollars to solve a serious problem.

5.     Clear the blockages that stop things happening

We need to simplify planning so it is clear what can and can't be built, provide quick turn-around assessment, and so decision making is transparent.   We need simpler rules to increase the use of renewable energy and better incentives to support distributed energy and green buildings.