A Centre of Excellence in Tropical Design (Sustainability & Innovation) Deputy Mayor Cr. Ann Bunnell Chair of Sustainable Development Services

Sustainability – a Regional Context

Urban areas will need to perform (some) key functions to support sustainable development. This includes facilitating social and institutional change, by improving access to ideas, knowledge, and technology and by creating both the impetus and opportunity for innovation. The World Development Report, 2003 (World Bank)

Vision Statement The Idea: promote, connect and integrate community, business, industry, research/education institutions, local & state government Supported by UN decade of Education in Sustainable Development ( )

Vision Statement Another Key Idea is: Shared learning, and networking for innovation. Consistent with virtual learning community. CSIRO Sustainability Network

Seeking to bring together leading (local) thinkers from business, economics, technology, innovation and the environment to tackle the major challenge of the 21st Century – sustainability (Quote by Dr Steve Morton, CSIRO and Group Chair of Environment & Natural Resources).

Perhaps the Competitive Advantage of Townsville Coined from Michael Porters The Competitive Advantage of Nations (1998) New Book Natural Advantage Of Nations (2004)

The World Bank argues that in order to obtain the best out of our cities we need to be building knowledge and mobilizing dispersed interests as key to creating constituents that act together and even anticipate problems (World Development Report 2003, World Bank).

Sustainability Initiatives In Townsville First environment project officer Living Today, for Tomorrow RIKES report Strand Foreshore Citiplan Townsville Healthy Cities Plan Sustainable Townsville

Carbon Neutral Water Recycling Greening Townsville Strand Wind Project Total Water Cycle Management Sustain – Youth Environment Network

Accelerated Sustainability AtKisson intensive training and planning May 2004 Draft Sustainable Townsville Plan Sustainable Development Committee

Networking & Collaboration Community environmentalist/NRM groups Business-industry Development industry Port-industry Local Government

5 Day Soil Erosion Planning Courses An example of innovative collaborative partnerships Accredited by IECA One of only 3 in Australia Specifically designed for Tropics Running for 5 years

Other Significant Sustainability Work Innovative Building & Design (DPW) Riverway Project (CoT) Gough Plastics TCC and Cyberfactory Digital Dimensions Northern Tree Specialists Local research institutions (CRC, AIMS, JCU, GBRMPA) Building Communities (eg. Riverside Gardens) Defence forces

Other Environmental Collaborations between Local Government State, & Business

International Sustainable Cities New Orleans style Orlando: Disney style Pittsburgh: Smoky renaissance style Swaffham, UK ( Homes) Goa, India

Pittsburgh From Smoky City to Riverlife Renaissance

No where to go but up… A smoky Pittsburgh is a healthy Pittsburgh – we didnt mind the smoke so much, for it indicated production and it indicated prosperity old Pittsburgher 11:00 a.m. November 5, 1945, Fifth Ave. Courtesy Allegheny Conference Stefan Lorant AtKisson

Swaffam, Norfolk County, UK Two wind turbines power 20,000 homes and fully supported by the community AtKisson

Winner, Special Jury Prize, International Sustainable Cities Competition, 2003 Goa 2100: Modeling a Full Transition to Sustainability Reorganize land use around biosystem models Reorganize land use around biosystem models RUrbanism as new organizing principle RUrbanism as new organizing principle Intergration of agricultural, natural, and urban systems Intergration of agricultural, natural, and urban systems

Goa 2100: Full Transition to Sustainability Models the financial, governance, and planning changes necessary to achieve full transition Models the financial, governance, and planning changes necessary to achieve full transition

Winner, Special Jury Prize, International Sustainable Cities Competition, 2003 Goa 2100: Full Transition to Sustainability Energy & transport systems powered by mix of wind and regionally sourced natural gas Energy & transport systems powered by mix of wind and regionally sourced natural gas Involves mixture of traditional culture preservation and high-tech future Involves mixture of traditional culture preservation and high-tech future AtKisson

Visioning the Future The choice is clear………….