Consistency and collaboration essential for our capital cities

A more co-ordinated, collaborative approach to the management of our cities is essential for our cities to be truly productive, liveable and sustainable, says the nation’s leading green building organisation.

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has welcomed the COAG Reform Council’s recommendations, released today.

The Review of Capital City Strategic Planning Systems finds that, while governments have worked hard to improve their systems, there is much more work to do to deliver integrated strategic planning.

The COAG Reform Council’s recommendations centre on the need for a consistent, collaborative approach to the strategic planning and management of Australia’s eight capital cities. 

“This report formalises what we have known for some time: that an integrated approach to planning – both within governments and between governments – is essential,” says GBCA’s Executive Director of Advocacy and International, Robin Mellon.

“Three quarters of Australians live in cities – and this will grow to four in every five Australians by 2050.  Our cities also generate around 80 per cent of the nation’s economic activity.  We can’t afford to get it wrong when it comes to the planning and management of our cities.”

Last year, the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council, of which the GBCA is a member, issued a 'Call to Action' to highlight the urgent need for a federal Minister and Department for Cities and Urban Development to ensure a streamlined, co-ordinated approach to urban management.

“ASBEC’s call to action highlighted the significant lack of clarity and policy co-ordination across all levels of government, including 40 federal programs and strategies concerning cities, as well as inconsistently-managed programs across the eight states and territories and more than 500 local governments.  Clearly, we need an integrated, co-ordinated and nationally-consistent approach to the strategic planning and management of our capital cities.

“The Green Building Council of Australia has long advocated a collaborative approach to the planning and management of our cities, which is why we have developed the Green Star- Communities rating tool,” Mr Mellon says.

The GBCA is preparing to launch Green Star – Communities in mid-2012. 

Green Star – Communities is a third-party, independent, transparent, national scheme able to assess and certify the sustainability of community-level development projects. 

Green Star – Communities is one of the world’s first rating tools to assess environmental issues within communities – such as minimising energy and water consumption, and reducing dependence on motor vehicles – alongside broader holistic sustainability issues, such as economic prosperity, liveability and community diversity.

“We must ensure the long-term strategic vision for Australia’s cities does not become politicised, and that federal, state and local governments work together to deliver a national approach to planning and developing our cities.  Australians deserve no less,” Mr Mellon concludes.

Contact:
Karen Jamal
Communications Manager
Green Building Council of Australia
Phone: 0412 179 135
Email: karen.jamal@gbca.org.au