Shaping Melbourne Volume Two - Released August 5. [29.07.2010]
MELBOURNE BEYOND 5 MILLION: VOLUME TWO – DENSITY AND LOCALISED ECONOMIES
In 2010, Melbourne is a thriving, cosmopolitan city that will only continue to grow. Our ongoing challenge, therefore, is to ensure that we get better as we get bigger.
In Volume One of this series, we explored the importance of appropriate governance and effective decision making in making our city the very best it can be in future. We also broadly articulated a long-term proposition or vision for how we feel Melbourne could best benefit from addressing issues of physical shape, population, development, growth and regional relations.
Here, in Volume Two, we take a closer look at the pressing issue of density and discuss the value of both creating new localised economies and reinforcing those that already exist.
These key issues have nuances that are critical to our city’s future prosperity and liveability, and it is fair to say that neither is without its fair share of controversy or opposition. This is precisely why they must be raised and debated now.
If we are to truly get better as we get bigger, then we must plan accordingly. Our planning must be considered and, importantly, it must not be limited to a minimum expectation of growth. We must think beyond a city of five million. In more ways than one, our future depends on it.
Density has long been viewed negatively. For many, it conjures images of unattractive high-rise towers and cramped, unappealing living. But this simply shouldn’t be the case. In many instances, the increased densities contemplated are often mild by local and international standards.
Clearly, density offers a number of challenges that must be carefully considered and decisively met. Complicating its already negative perception are issues surrounding construction affordability, the maintenance and enhancement of community character, and the need to create family-friendly open space designs. But, with vision and forethought, these are in no way insurmountable.
The importance of a vibrant local economy and engaging, dynamic community must not be underestimated. Indeed, increasing our density offers us many opportunities to enhance Melbourne’s liveability and economic prosperity, both locally and citywide.
In Volume One, we noted that it is preferable to embrace our city’s growth and plan accordingly, rather than just ignore it and pretend that it is not happening. The same applies to density. The long-term benefits of planning for it, far outweigh the potential negatives of simply letting it evolve organically and unconstrained.
Let’s plan for density and discuss it, together. Let’s weigh up the options and look at ways that increasing density can ultimately enhance our city’s liveability by providing extra facilities and economies of scale around communities. We agree that Melbourne must get better as it gets bigger. So, let’s plan for it.