Inquiry into the Australian Government’s role in the development of cities.

With Australia’s population expected to double by 2075, it is important to consider how national policy can foster collaborative and flexible urban planning responses. While recognising the primacy of state, territory and local government in the areas of planning and service provision, the Committee will examine what spatial planning mix (compact city, satellite city, etc) makes best use of natural resources, brings jobs closer to where people live, and helps ensure a high quality natural and built environment. It will also examine what planning tools, models, indicators and alternate funding options would be required to inform an assessment of the liveability, sustainability and resilience of different scenarios of urban settlement across Australia, and what settlement policy can deliver greater social equity and better health and wellbeing.

To do this, the Committee will undertake, concurrently, two sub-inquiries, dealing with these matters in relation to existing cities and new regional cities and towns respectively.

Submitters may make submissions to either or both of the sub-inquiries, but submissions should clearly articulate which part of the terms of reference they address.

The terms of reference for the two sub-inquiries are:

The Committee to inquire into and report upon:

1) Sustainability transitions in existing cities

• Identifying how the trajectories of existing cities can be directed towards a more sustainable urban form that enhances urban liveability and quality of life and reduces energy, water, and resource consumption;
• Considering what regulation and barriers exist that the Commonwealth could influence, and opportunities to cut red tape; and
• Examining the national benefits of being a global 'best practice' leader in sustainable urban development.

2) Growing new and transitioning existing sustainable regional cities and towns

• Promoting the development of regional centres, including promoting master planning of regional communities;
• Promoting private investment in regional centres and regional infrastructure;
• Promoting the competitive advantages of regional location for businesses;
• Examining ways urbanisation can be re-directed to achieve more balanced regional development; and
• Identifying the infrastructure requirements for reliable and affordable transport, clean energy, water and waste in a new settlement of reasonable size, located away from existing infrastructure.