Editorial licence

Bernard McNamara Editor and Director, BMDA Development Advisory

Safe tidings. Unfortunately, this is my second ‘intra-COVID lock down’ editorial! How are you managing things? For myself, I know so much more about my ‘walkable neighbourhood’ And, in one effort to remain connected with my Brighton swimming group (that beach is outside my 5km), I have joined a book club over Zoom. We commenced with Viktor Frankl’s ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’, followed by Orwell’s 1984 … do you think there is a pattern developing?

I recently listened to Hugh McKay, who observed that contemporary society has opted for a segregated urban form, the price of which is leaving a large proportion of our citizens lonely and disconnected. He suggested a positive that might emerge from the pandemic lockdown is that we, as individuals, become more connected in our neighbourhoods and build more compassion and kindness, leading to better communities. Maybe something there.

What a strong and engaged community we are at VPELA! In a ‘normal’ year, as editor, I had the simple task of filling the October Revue with the various presentations and goings-on from the VPELA Conference. Not this year.

Fearing a thin offering, and with a little invention, I ‘pivoted’ (as everyone is doing!) and sought some contributions from a range of our members by asking for their responses to a set of questions.

(

See ‘11 Questions to 11 Professionals’)

But wait, there’s more! Instead of a single-digit number of essays/contributions, as I would normally expect, I have been inundated with articles, from our wide areas of interest.

In addition to our wonderful group of regular contributors, we have articles from new contributors tackling the difficult issue of housing, the operation of residential zones, growth area planning, landscape values and more. So, a packed edition for you to wander through … online.

Rob Pradolin and Peter Mares have provided worthy articles on how the industry, and not just government, needs to address the provision of affordable housing. The housing focus extends onto how we regulate our housing and whether the common good is being lost with the preservation of existing. Andrew Clarke’s article on the under-performance of the Residential Growth Zone is telling, and when read with Sam D’Amico’s lighthearted, but pointed article on residential overlooking controls, the point is well made that new housing by formula is on a problematic course.

The Future of Cities, post Covid-19 was the subject of a VPELA webinar. Tim Nichols picks up the discussion and extends the proposition, articulated by Alain Bertaud that planners need to see the city more as a product of labour market demands rather than arising from an orderly design.

Through these economic forces, density and housing costs have been higher in the areas where jobs are at a premium, i.e. the central city. The question now is to what extent the pandemic disruption (with the dispersal of large sections of the workforce) will have on how the city functions? Will all our investments in infrastructure – in radial public transport and freeway systems (designed to provide high connectivity to the centre) – be what we need in 2025 onwards? How much will society alter?

According to WA sources, life in Perth is back to the ‘old normal’. But with a 5 million population, Melbourne needs to be a different city. Could the pandemic be a catalyst? And are we sufficiently smart to harness it?

On the point of how we plan the growth areas, we have two contributions. The first is from Stuart Mosley, CEO of the Victorian Planning Authority introducing the new Precinct Structure Plan guidelines, with an eye also on what might arise from a post COVID city. The 2020 version will replace the 2009 version, providing a ‘refresh’, setting new targets on accessibility etc, while encouraging innovation, and more local differentiation.

I see that the dictum of the 20 Minute Neighbourhood being rolled out. (And again, I state that all the ‘facilities/services’ which we need to access, over our changing demographic, don’t need to be in the one combined location!)

The other contribution on growth area planning comes from Charter Group 39, a group of senior planning professionals who, when looking at growth area outcomes, believe much needs to improve. The article is drawn from their publication, ‘Growing Pains: The Crisis in Growth Area Planning’. It is a critique of what these practitioners consider is not working in the production of growth area suburbs. The report assesses what has materialised on the ground against the current (former?) PSP guidelines and calls for changes in governance, transport systems, sustainability measures and open space planning, with a more dense and different housing mix.

Sadly in this issue we are also recording the death of another of our members – lawyer, Annabel Viner. I commend Cazz Redding’s article in which she sets out her own, brave challenge with mental illness, emphasising the importance of kindness, empathy and connection.

Let me conclude by joining in the salutations to our new Richard J Evans award winner, Michael Barlow, a very worthy recipient and a colleague with whom I go back decades. The successful rise of Urbis is largely an outcome of Mike’s strong professional, leadership and business qualities. Congratulations also to VPELA’s new Fellows – all outstanding professionals and people.

So, lots of important reading and a bit of fun too. As per usual (is there such a state?), comments/criticisms etc to e: bernard.mcnamara@bmda.com.au