By Design
The Yarralumla Brickworks. Photo: Graham Tidy
This week Tony Trobe speaks with David Flannery, a Canberra consultant architect and urban planning commentator.
TT: David, you've been an urban planning advocate and critic now for several years. What triggered your interest in this?
DF: This interest started a few years ago when I was appointed to the Chapter Council of the Australian Institute of Architects and ultimately served as its chapter president for two years. I then began to better appreciate the advocacy role of our chapter to make comment on planning legislation as it affects the built form of Canberra and its urban realm. After many years working on one-off projects for clients, I began to focus more on the wider importance of architecture and design to the overall form of the city.
TT: What was happening in that role that particularly stirred your passions?
DF: Initially we were involved preparing submissions and presentations to government, some commentary on proposed changes to planning legislation, and in providing input into the consultation phase of a number of proposed infill residential developments. Concurrently, we were aware that many of the urban planning issues being debated closely affected the people of Canberra, so our chapter convened a series of monthly forums where experts on planning issues discussed urban design in some depth.
TT: What were some of these issues?
DF: We talked much about urban form - the urban sprawl versus urban density issue - population growth, housing typology and housing affordability, car dependence and public transport, walking and cycling, public health, local food production, water and energy, waste and recycling, climate change science and peak oil concerns, new technology, landscape urbanism and biodiversity - all in the context of the history and future of Canberra's development.
TT: Transport seems to be the major determinant of Canberra's form.
DF: Canberra has since the 1960s been so dependent on the motor car for travel, and the city is so spread out! In much of the outskirts every journey away from home has to begin in a car. I'm a strong supporter of better public transport for Canberra including light rail in the city and high-speed rail to the other capitals.
TT: You mentioned project advocacy; any projects in particular?
DF: The residential extension of Yarralumla to fund the rehabilitation of the Yarralumla Brickworks was one. That was a highly commendable proposal to capture some otherwise unused land to the south of the suburb, including the creation of four new urban parks. Regretfully, after much local public objection, the project floundered.
TT: What then are your hopes for Canberra's planning future?
DF: I hope more of us are soon much more accepting of well-considered and well-designed infill projects and pursue passionately the implementation of a well-frequented suburban public transport network.
Tony Trobe is Australian Institute of Architects ACT president
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