Populations across Australia’s major cities, particularly in Melbourne and South East Queensland (SEQ), have seen high growth rates over the past decade. This trend of population growth is predicted to continue into 2050 with Melbourne projected to reach a population of eight million and SEQ projected to reach a population of six million. Crucial to unlocking the benefits of a larger population will be planning that ensure cities such as Melbourne can retain their “most liveable” status whilst building its economy.
Sara Stace, WSP’s Director of Cities, believes, “We need to move away from the hub and spoke model and create the best liveable cities possible - which attract and retain global talent because people want lifestyles with easy access to facilities.”
Along the East Coast of Australia, Melbourne, Sydney and SEQ are all in the beginning stages of reshaping their cities to be more liveable for future generations. Each city has taken a slightly different approach to their plan, which reflects the local characteristics of the cities, but all are aiming to be more liveable, better connected and carbon neutral by 2050. To meet these targets state and local governments will be looking to spend big on infrastructure projects that connect communities and provide better economic and social outcomes for their residents.
Connecting cities and neighbourhoods
Each east coast city has adopted a model of planning based on creating regions or neighbourhoods within and surrounding the city, that have access to key facilities whilst being well connected by multimodal transport links. To date Melbourne, Australia’s fastest growing city for the last decade, is leading the charge with their Plan Melbourne strategy which aims to create a 20 minute city accessible by transport links and a 20 minute walkable neighbourhood. “Melbourne has consistently been named one of the world’s most liveable cities but it’s growing rapidly,” says Sara. “To retain this status, the city needs residents to have access to opportunities where you don’t have to get into the car or go into the city for key facilities.
Improving Melbourne’s connectivity is already underway with major infrastructure projects such as Melbourne Metro and Suburban Rail Loop connecting Melbourne’s major infrastructure together and reshaping the city. The next step to harnessing these major infrastructure projects is clever designed multimodal station precincts.
Sara adds, “Essential to delivering more connected cities will be increasing the catchment to stations. You need to incorporate future ready integrated transport planning linked to local multimodal station precincts that include a wide range of traditional and new transport options. If you have good station design, you can create a really good neighbourhood around the station.”
Multimodal options are also important for cities to meet their net zero goals. Increasing station catchments and providing people a range of transport options other than driving reducing our carbon footprint. If multimodal choice is not available, with huge population growth but limited transport options you end up with big carbon emissions.” Says Sara.
Similar major infrastructure developments are also in planning stages in Sydney to realise its Six Cities Vision, and in SEQ as part of the SEQ City Deal. Sydney is already well into its Sydney Metro Program, the development of a second International Airport in Western Sydney and is due to have a Fast Rail strategy released this year. SEQ also have many infrastructure plans in place set to unlock the potential of the region in advance of the 2032 Olympic Games. The venues for the games are spread in various regions within SEQ, from Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Redlands, Moreton Bay and Toowoomba. The distance between venues and other key facilities means connectivity to these regional hubs will be a key considering in the planning and development of sustainable new and upgraded infrastructure.
The infrastructure for the games is being delivered years before the games, so communities can utilise these facilities. The infrastructure delivered will leave a lasting legacy for communities for decades to come with new or existing upgraded facilities and a better connected and more sustainable region.
SEQ has experienced significant population growth attributed to COVID restrictions in other states, lower house prices and lifestyle opportunities. The demand for updated infrastructure such as Faster Rail is essential to the region to support the games and organic growth of the region as people shift to work in cities but chose to live regionally for a more balanced lifestyle.
Economic benefits
There are a range of economic benefits to making cities more liveable. Government investment in cities and neighbourhoods will regenerate and reactivate areas, increasing the probability of private investment. For some areas of cities that may have had little investment in recent decades, this investment can promote new industries and development of greater facilities for residents. Creating vibrant neighbourhoods in outer city areas will reduce rents for businesses and likely create more loyal local customers.
In turn, individuals will have more accesses to key business services in their neighbourhood along with job opportunities closer to home. Creating cities with a desirable lifestyle will also pull more highly skilled workers which in turn will increase employment participation rates and GDP for local areas and cities alike.
Social benefits
One of the main focuses of liveable cities is the social benefits for communities and individuals. By developing more accessible cities with greater facilities in local areas, you are creating a better quality of life for the people who live there.
Sara highlights that, “Investing in high quality hospitals, schools and universities in local areas is essential to liveable cities. People will ultimately choose to live in a place that has great accessibility to hospitals, jobs, education and public transport.”
House affordability is a key concern across the East Coast of Australia, with Sydney, Melbourne and SEQ all seeing significant increases in house prices for a sustained period. By investing in greater facilities and better transport links you also unlock development for housing in new areas outside of the inner city.
“Better connecting our cities with transport links that include active transport also leads to healthier and more resilient neighbourhoods, concludes Sara. “Equitable access to transport that caters to the whole community will also increase people’s independence and provide greater options for people to connect with their loved ones.
“There are some significant steps being taken in the right direction to ensure the cities of Australia will be able to deliver better liveable and sustainable cities that meet the needs of growing future populations. Clever planning and delivery of key major infrastructure projects over the next decade will be critical to ensuring we realise our goals.”
For more information on our integrated transport solutions please contact Sara Stace.
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