A Presentation by Alec McHarg on Regional and Urban Sustainable Issues… As part of a sustainable and Socially Cohesive Society… Deep in our culture is the notion that a small-scale community, whether by itself or as the neighbourhood in a larger city, is at the core of what connects us not just to a place, but to a profound sense of community. These days, such places arise and disappear much more quickly than at any time in human history. And if we cannot live there long enough to make them our own, and if they cannot develop over time, what makes them real places that create social, cultural and physical foundations for shared our experience of the world then have we lost contact with each other… …And can we build the character and sense of place in our Regional Town and Country Centres, can we do this instantly and let it fade away without fear?

This Talk is on the The re-vitalisation of Regional Cities and Towns… If Regional and country towns continue to develop the way they are we are going to end up with towns that are devoid of social and cultural life that is sustainable…in Three (3) parts Part One what is happening to Regional & country towns in terms of urban planning & Social-disconnections …and consists of three parts Part Two why it is happening in three parts and… Part Three What can be done about it is also in three parts

Part One is on what is happening to Regional and country towns in terms of urban planning & consists of three parts Lack of Master Plan-Integrated Planning: Town assets being drawn-away…& new city services, residential, commercial, retail developments are often constructed outside of city/town centres & are based upon a single zone-by-zone approach creating a Regional version of a car dependent Large-city urban-sprawl society Strategic-Alliances are between government, developers & major interest groups & are combined with State/Federal-planning laws Overriding local planning laws, and local community involvement in urban planning is limited to community-consultation and not participation. The social, cultural and creative Life of Regional Towns and cities is being Systematically influenced & replaced by a weaker-form of pre-packaged global social connections between people replacing the traditional attributes of regional life…

Part Two is Why it is happening in three parts and… Single ownership and control of city sites& out of the control of the local community (global control of local assets) privatisation of The public realm & management by external agencies Owners of single town centre precincts can impose their own Building standards, architectural styles and codes of behaviour and use their own (outside) contractors & consultants They effectively stifle local debate & their ideas appeal to a sanitised version of a consumption-based society that focuses on individual needs and development rather than integrated alliances between government, business & residents where the focus is on developing social & creative communities

Social & cultural life of towns retained in the city centre the cities Art-in-the-public realm, cultural activities & street-theatre run on a regular basis… developing a local Creative-Class society with an emphasis on local development & an identity arranged around centrally located squares With historical & cultural features Education campuses & government services located in city/town centres: Promote re-location of government facilities to regional centres with integrated light-rail connection to external city campuses, sports venues & other services not retained in Centres & linked to (airport, heavy rail and bus systems) Definitive town-centre boundaries. Mixed-Development include residential apartments with ground-floor services/restaurants/boutique Hotels & cultural consumption venues attracting permanent, medium & Short stay inhabitants & minimal stand-alone functional buildings Use of integrated perspective with greenscape & emphasis away from town-centre single-site ownership Part Three What can done about it In three parts

CONCLUSION Some Considerations The Town Centre to Act as a mixed focal point For Indigenous Art, Local Business & Craft-based Centres Move from Pre-packaged Entertainment to Venues motivated To include local Street-Theatre Walkable-City Art-in-the Public Realm supported by Alliances With Business & Community Based Organisations with Artists training linked to Agriculture, Business & Building Vocational programmes Residential, Art & Creative venues To include one of a Kind type shops & Eaterys Community Green-living & Rural-Innovation centre Located in Town Centre With neighbourhood Shops in Mixed zones Town Centre Residential complexes To include Rooftop Gardens & external Balconies in Park-land areas Buildings that Reflect the Areas Unique Character as Part of a architectural City centre design competition Focus on the Area as a promoter Of Solar & Renewable Energy