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Our major cities are the engine rooms of the economy and where most Australians live.
Planning and investing for good growth in our cities must be a national priority to drive our economic development, create opportunities for the future and deliver a great quality of life for all Australians. In recent years Australia has taken some important steps in the way we approach planning for our cities whether at the metropolitan, state or national level. The Commonwealth Government’s City Deals model – a concept championed by the Property Council – is spear-heading this new way forward. This week’s announcement of a City Deal for the booming South East Queensland region which will be home to one in seven Australians marks a significant milestone in the development of the City Deal model in Australia. At its heart a City Deal is a single economic development strategy for a city region that aligns the planning and investment of all three levels of government. The objective is to lift productivity and jobs through a holistic approach to shaping the future of a city. The latest announcement of a SEQ City Deal is a testament to the work of the Queensland Government and SEQ lord mayors, as well as the leadership of the federal government. It’s a welcome commitment to joined up decision-making to support good growth in our rapidly expanding cities. With a federal election on the horizon, it’s vital we maintain the momentum and continue the good work that has been done to date. That includes a commitment to making City Deals ‘real deals’ with meaningful funding commitments for city-shaping projects. As a strong advocate for City Deals, we’ll be keeping the pressure on for governments to deliver. |