Infrastructure Australia have released Future Cities: Planning for our growing population. This latest paper in their Reform Series offers advice for Australian governments on improving productivity and livability in Australia’s largest cities. The report offers models of long-term growth scenarios, including the functionality of the transport network, job access, green space and social infrastructure for both Melbourne and Sydney, and is supported by online interactive maps.

Infrastructure Australia is calling for the Australian Government to take a greater leadership role in the global competitiveness of Sydney and Melbourne, including setting national objectives and introducing greater structures and accountability in investment. The report recommends the implementation of a framework that would incentivise the delivery of national benefits within Australian cities.

Key findings in the report include:

• Unplanned growth delivers the worst outcomes for Australia’s fastest growing cities.
• We need to use existing infrastructure in our largest cities more efficiently.
• Land-use and infrastructure planning can help to address inequality of access across our largest cities but supporting social and economic policies are also required.
• As our largest cities grow and densify, green and public spaces play an increasingly important role in maintaining liveability.

Recommendations for Australian Governments include:

• improve the quality and accessibility of community engagement at the strategic planning stage of a city’s development.
• focus on outcomes rather than outputs when developing the policy and regulatory frameworks that respond to changing technologies and services.
• prepare metropolitan resilience strategies which establish clear policy, regulation and guidelines for strengthening the resilience of the planning, coordination and construction of our cities as they grow.
• work collaboratively to establish a stable national framework to response to climate change and reduce emissions in line with our international commitments.

Read more here.