Infrastructure Australia has released a new report, Future Cities: Planning for our growing population that models future growth scenarios for Melbourne and Sydney, and looks at the impact these would have on the cities’ transport network, job accessibility and access to, and demand for, social infrastructure and green space.
The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) chair Linda Corkery says AILA welcomes the release of the new report and the inclusion of several key recommendations on green infrastructure, place-based planning and more inclusive community engagement.
“AILA has been advocating to government for the need to consider the demand for quality green infrastructure and all of the health, economic and social benefits it brings to our communities. We support the reports call on government to adopt some of AILA’s key messages on the issue and acknowledge how green infrastructure and the public realm contribute significantly to the liveability of our cities,” says Linda.
The report recommends that the Australian Government could maintain and enhance green infrastructure through a combination of taxation, planning incentives and policy and regulatory reforms.
“The benefits of green infrastructure are well documented and something AILA has continually engaged with government about. We’re encouraged by the emphasis Infrastructure Australia has taken to provide practical solutions to encourage more quality green space. AILA supports the call for the Australian government to develop regulatory frameworks that enable investment in green infrastructure for the benefit of the community,” says Linda.
The release of the report coincided with a strategic planning workshop held by the AILA Board and chief executive in February 2018 to define the top priorities for AILA’s advocacy platform for the next year.
“It’s pleasing to see that the growing voice of AILA’s members can influence such a significant report,” says AILA’s chief executive Tim Arnold.
“The majority of an AILA submission to Infrastructure Australia in 2015 focused on green infrastructure. This continues to be a significant focus for the organisation, which was also confirmed as the number one advocacy issue in the 2017 AILA Member Survey.”
