Exerts from 'Time to Talk - Canberra 2030'

Canberra is a forum. It is a symbol. It is a hub. It is the capital of a country with multiple values. 'Time to Talk - Canberra 2030' is a collaboration of the thoughts and future needs of the Canberra community.

Some exerts regarding the prospective future which I have found quite provocative are as follows:


"Canberrans, young and old, valuethe egalitarian nature of their city and its liveability"



"Canberra will maintain its reputation as a “capital in the bush” and as a city known for clean air, open space and convenience. Canberra will be at the centre of a region offering stimulating, highly
skilled jobs in a clean, green economy."



"Canberra’s open spaces will be leafy places for people to enjoy and to socialise in with friends and
neighbours."



"There will be a shift from its current dependency on the motor vehicle to more sustainable options. Electric cars, walking and cycling and the newly built light rail/ sustainable public transport system will make Canberra a city less dependent on motor vehicles."


"By 2030 new development will create a more compact city. Broad and early community engagement will be led by Government who will take a more “open government” approach to the future planning of the city."



"Universal design will ensure buildings enable aging in place, have a long life and are appropriate for the young, older people and those Canberrans with disabilities."



"The community will build a sustainable long-term economy not only as a national capital but as a regional hub."



"Supporting this will be an education system that will attract families to Canberra and offer excellent education, from early childhood through to tertiary education. This will help build Canberrans’ skills and bring more people into the local economy of Canberra. "



"The innovation that shaped Canberra’s past will be inherent in guiding its future to make a Canberra that meets our needs in 2030."


Key messages from the community

• Population growth and the needs of young and old Canberrans
• Management of resources, including energy, water and land
• Housing affordability and diversity
• Integrated and sustainable transport
• A compact city and quality urban development
• Canberra’s role in the region.

The needs of the Canberra community and what they will require to succeed in the future are fairly obvious from this publication (available at http://canberra2030.org.au/ ), HOWEVER....


Population growth requires space to expand; there is a large challenge in improving a city for growing population WHILST creating a more compact city at the same time.