Census year is the time to work together on a national settlement strategy
- Written by Halvard Dalheim, Practitioner in Residence, The Henry Halloran Trust, University of Sydney
COVID-19 has raised many questions about how we plan our cities. The issues affect all of us, whether you are in Perth or 3,300 kilometres away in Sydney. Common issues suggest a common approach, but how might we achieve that?
Common approaches require a common understanding and by chance next year, 2021, is census year. The output from the census is one of the most important inputs to city and regional planning. It’s an opportunity for planners to directly reference the detailed data of the people and households of the communities that make up Australia.
The issues the COVID-19 pandemic has confronted us with raise the question of what other common-ground issues could be explored.
Read more: Coronavirus has changed our sense of place, so together we must re-imagine our cities
Why do this?
Interestingly, an “alignment of the stars” is occurring to some degree.
The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) is calling for a national settlement strategy. Among other things the institute suggests a national settlement strategy should:
express long-term growth and liveability outcomes - nationally and for the states and regions
provide a context for a national population policy
set performance measures for liveability and productivity outcomes.
A core benefit would be better-targeted infrastructure funding.
But the states and territories have already signed off on 57 regional and capital city plans. We need to think a little about what these plans mean – we cannot just stick them together. We need to understand where the common connections and objectives are.
As planning is a state responsibility, the states must drive this process. However, the states have a poor record of collaboration on strategic planning matters. Yes, we see a few good connections from time to time, but not a deliberative collaboration on city and regional planning issues.
The constitution does not provide the federal Parliament with powers to make laws relating to planning. However, the federal government has sought to deliver city outcomes, through the current City Deals as well as, in the past, the Building Better Cities program and the National Urban and Regional Development Authority.
Read more: Urban policy: could the federal government finally ‘get’ cities?
Our common understanding and approach must therefore start and finish with collaboration by the states, with Commonwealth support.
Common planning themes already exist
Most Australian capital cities have developed metropolitan plans. The current plans were generally developed in 2017-18. With plans often reviewed every five years, some deep-dive research aligned with the 2021 census would sit well with that timing.
My review of the main themes of each capital city plan reveals areas of commonality (very few across all), as well as some clear local considerations.
Authors: Halvard Dalheim, Practitioner in Residence, The Henry Halloran Trust, University of Sydney