Trends
Question 4a. The trends that will have the greatest impact on the city
Survey respondents were asked: The City of Melbourne would like the community to explore five future trends as part of the refresh of the Future Melbourne 2008 plan. Which trends do you think will have the greatest impact on the city?
Choose from the list below: Growth and urban density; Climate change; Future economies; Citizens and government; Digital city
Question 4b. Why people chose particular trends
The answers to the question were organised under the relevant trends that respondents discussed. These are presented below.
Urban Growth and Density
Summary
This trend was chosen by people who felt that better planning and management was required to address present and future urban growth and density challenges. A large number of people stressed the importance of planning, management and regulation by the Council, to address an increase in population and changes to infrastructure, including housing and apartment complexes, transport and other civic amenities. A large number of people saw a connection between urban density, growth and climate change, expressing the need to address climate change within urban growth policies. A few people saw social and economic impacts in increasing urban growth and density, including the need to integrate diverse groups of people and increase employment.
Management and planning of growth and density
A large number of people expressed that urban growth and density were important issues to consider in relation to Melbourne’s future. A large number of respondents stated that Melbourne is a growing city and good management and planning of urban growth and density were important to make the city an attractive place to live. Many people mentioned that if these were not done well, that future quality of life will diminish.
Growth and urban density respond well to meticulous and long term planning and can result either a strong vibrant economy and rich urban experience or in degraded, polluted environments that affect every other aspect of life if not well managed
A large number of people associated urban density with the increase in Melbourne’s population. Many of these people stated that it was essential to have good planning and management in relation to urban growth and density, including well-planned civic amenities, housing, public transport and other services, which were both comfortable and environmentally sustainable.
Some people saw the need to constrain the city’s population growth, as a way to control density and urban growth. People were slightly divided over how much density should be encouraged within the city. A couple of people saw urban density as a solution to controlling urban sprawl, which is seen to be reducing green spaces outside the city.
Another person felt that encouraging the development of satellite towns around Melbourne would help reduce the population flow into the city.
Quality of infrastructure, transport and other services
A large number of people expressed the need for better infrastructure and services within the city, to respond to urban growth and density. Such infrastructure and services included transport and roads, housing, schools, community and public spaces, water and sewage systems. Many people saw Melbourne as a growing city, and this means providing its residents with infrastructure and services that are well planned and managed.
Several people identified urban growth and density with a rapidly increasing population, currently and into the future. These people expressed that Melbourne needs well-planned and managed infrastructure to cope with the increase in population.
With the current population growth and expected population growth and the present construction and future construction more pressure will be placed onto the infrastructure and very limited and unusable and/or overcrowded public spaces.
Several people expressed that urban growth and density within Melbourne has already had a negative impact on the city’s infrastructure and services, and that they need improving. A few people expressed that there is a need to slow down the rate of urban growth and density, so as to check the strain on current infrastructure. One person mentioned that better housing and other facilities within the city could increase its density, and hence reduce urban sprawl.
A large number of people spoke specifically of the need to improve transportation facilities within the city, either in anticipation of future growth, or to cope with the current rate of growth within the city. Many people expressed that the rate at which Melbourne has grown as a city (as well as the increase in its population), has already put a strain on the current transport and road systems. This has led to increased congestion, traffic and overcrowded public transport.
Some people anticipated an increase in the city’s population, and hence also its density. They thought that transport infrastructure needs to be well-planned and managed to deal with this in the future.
Growth and urban density are important because with a population boom it is important to make sure that Melbourne doesn't turn into a city full of dark shadows from towers and impossible roadways
Some people expressed a dissatisfaction with how the current transport and road systems are planned and managed. They stated that this needs to change if Melbourne continues to grow and increase in density.
Two people mentioned the use of technology to help make transport infrastructure more efficient. One was a general comment and the other stated that that technologies like self-driven cars would only increase congestion, not reduce it, as their efficiency is yet to be proven.
Management of apartment buildings and general housing facilities
A large number of people expressed unhappiness with the number of high-rise apartment complexes and skyscrapers built within the city of Melbourne in recent times. Several people felt that the sudden increase in these buildings was driven by the interests of developers and investors, in an unregulated manner. Furthermore, a large number of people felt that the apartment buildings were not well-regulated in terms of size, design quality, quality of building materials and safety codes. A few people were unhappy about how many apartment buildings lie vacant as they are owned by overseas investors or people who do not wish to occupy them.
Several people saw detrimental effects to having a large number of skyscrapers and apartment buildings within the city. Some said that it would increase population density within the city. A few saw it as reducing daylight, increasing shadow, and creating wind tunnels within the city. This comment illustrates this point.
Plesse stop building so many highrise buildings. They will block the natural daylight and creat wind tunneels. More mid - lower story density living will create a more liveable and harmonious space.
Another person expressed unhappiness with a growing number of sub-cultures of migrant populations within apartments, which did not accurately reflect the nature of the neighbourhood. One person mentioned that optimal urban density could be achieved without skyscrapers within the city.
Many respondents also made comments related to other types of housing facilities within the city, in relation to increasing urban density and growth. Some of these comments noted the need to plan for increased housing facilities, and affordable housing options. A few comments also stated the need to check the increased housing prices in Melbourne. People expressed the need for diverse and affordable housing options for both buying and renting. Some people mentioned the need to check the rate and type of property development happening across Melbourne. This comment illustrates this point.
Melbourne is growing, and I am worried that property development is not being regulated properly, we need more medium density affordable housing, of good quality.
A few people expressed the need to regulate high-density housing, such as apartment buildings, for better building standards, safety codes and size of apartments.
Impact of urban growth and density on climate change
A large number of people saw a connection between urban growth, density and climate change, and agreed that it was a critical issue that needs addressing. Many people mentioned that an increase in urban density would only increase climate change impacts in Melbourne. Along with this, several people mentioned the need to introduce better policies; urban planning and management that account for, and address climate change.
Two other people stated that since climate change is already happening, there is a need to plan for and build more sustainable homes and buildings. A couple of people pointed out that urban density could help reduce climate change. For instance, concentrating a large number of people within the city, supported by better infrastructure and services, would reduce the need for them to drive too far for anything. This in turn would reduce emissions impacts on climate change.
social impacts of urban growth and density
Several people indicated various social impacts from increased urban growth and density. These included providing more schools for immigrants who go on to become naturalized citizens; more public facilities, such as parks and child care centres that are family oriented rather than ‘individual-oriented’; ensuring urban growth and density occur in a planned and fair manner; and, being inclusive of all citizens, including those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
A couple of people saw negative impacts to increased urban growth and density. These points were: immigrants residing in high-rise apartment buildings creating sub-cultures that are not reflective of the surrounding neighbourhood, and people becoming less friendly.
Economic impacts of urban growth and density
Several people talked about the economic impact of increased urban growth and density. A few people mentioned the importance of creating more jobs and businesses, especially for the younger residents of the city - both present and future residents. A couple of people mentioned that the city was becoming unaffordable to stay in, so it was important to control rising housing prices and other costs. One person made a general comment on the need to focus on what was controllable, like the economy, and ensure that it grows to make the city a vibrant, liveable one.
Benefits of Urban Growth and density
A few people saw direct benefits related to urban growth and density. A couple of people saw this as an opportunity to include people from different cultures, whether they be international visitors or migrants to the country. One person saw growth and density as a means to attract young people to live in Melbourne, which would in turn boost the city’s economy.
Other comments
Many people made varied comments on the topic of urban growth and density. These included: a need to engage citizens in urban planning processes and management; a growing population and increased number of people are moving to Australia and Melbourne; Melbourne becoming the biggest Australian city does not serve its citizens’ best interests; an increasing divide between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’; the need for technology and a digital economy to address high urban density and growth; failure of middle suburbs to address their hollowing out leading to an unsustainable city; high density creating a sense of claustrophobia in the city, and leading to mental illness; and, space becoming a premium with high-density.
Opposition to urban growth and density
Opposition to the topic of urban growth and density occurred in two ways. A few people directly opposed the idea of increasing urban growth and density within Melbourne, stating that it would be detrimental to the city and its infrastructure. Two comments opposed the need to focus on this issue as a priority. The reasons given for this were that growth and density would increase anyway, and these ideas do not need to be driven like other trends, and that others need to be fostered more.
Digital City
Summary
Many people expressed the importance of making Melbourne a digital city. Several of these people stated that becoming digital was the way of the future, making Melbourne internationally relevant and better equipped to deal with a future that would be digital. Several people stated that there were economic benefits to making Melbourne a digital city. These included more opportunities in terms of jobs, businesses, innovation and collaboration. Several people felt that Melbourne should have already been leading, or must lead the way — to a digital future. A few people expressed the need to improve Melbourne’s infrastructure such as Wi-Fi connections for better digital connections. A few people felt that going digital was inevitable in the future, and hence other trends should become the focus.
Going digital, the key for future growth
Many people stated the importance of ‘going digital’ for the future of Melbourne city. Many people generally stated that it was important to make Melbourne a digital city because it was the way to the future or that the future would consist of digital technologies and hence Melbourne should embrace it too. Several people emphasized the importance of becoming a digital city to help make Melbourne more internationally relevant, help it be more connected to other cities around the world, compete better with other international cities, and that future economies would be driven by digital trends. A few people mentioned that Melbourne should be leading the world in digital technologies. Another person mentioned that going digital would mean using less paper. One other person stated that a digital city needs to be more efficient.
Economic benefits
Several people saw economic benefits arising from making Melbourne a digital city. A couple of people expressed that becoming a digital city would create and attract more job opportunities, businesses, knowledgeable people, and opportunities for innovation and collaboration. One person mentioned that the IT revolution would render many redundant, and that globalisation was shifting Australian manufacturing industries offshore. A couple of people felt that Melbourne as a city should already be leading the world in terms of digital technology. One person mentioned that Melbourne’s economy should focus on digital technology, including being smarter and cheaper. One person mentioned that advancing technology would boost the city’s productivity.
Need for improved facilities
Several people mentioned the need for better facilities to make Melbourne a digital city. In this regard, these people mentioned the need for better, faster Wi-Fi connections, NBN and FTTP in the city. Many felt that Melbourne needs to improve technologically, getting rid of obsolete internet infrastructure.
Interconnected people and city
Several people expressed that making Melbourne a digital city would improve connections between people, in turn bringing other positive outcomes. One person mentioned that digitally better-connected people could instantaneously share ideas and knowledge, hence creating ways to great things. A couple of people mentioned that digital technology would be key to knowledge sharing, and accessing facilities such as medical tests from the doctor would be much easier. Another person said that making Melbourne a digital city would help it engage with other cities better, improving relations nationally and internationally, which would in turn benefit the city. One person mentioned the importance of teaching staff employed in varied places, and also the elderly; how to use technology, so they are also on a par with everyone else.
Opposition
A few people stated reasons for why they chose other trends over Melbourne being a digital city. One person pointed out that other, more basic infrastructure and civic amenities, such as water, need to be focused on. In their view, if these were not readily available to the public, there would be no point in being a digitally advanced city. A couple of people mentioned that digital technology was going to be the way of the future in any case; or that it was just a mode of delivery that applied to almost everything, and therefore did not need to be focused on.
One person stated that a digital city presupposes that digital options are better, and suggested that the city should be technology neutral. One other person stated that they did not know what a digital city meant.
Climate Change
Summary
A large number of people stated that addressing climate change is an important issue. Many people mentioned that climate change is a factor that will affect other trends and thus needs to be dealt with. Additionally, several people mentioned that more severe climate change impacts will make other issues irrelevant. They saw climate change as a pressing issue of urgency that needs addressing now. These statements are indicative of the viewpoints expressed by many people.
Climate change will also have a huge impact, as it already affects all facets of life and will continue to do so at ever-increasing rates.
These impacts are all interconnected but if climate change is not addressed, nothing else matters.
Need to reduce impact
A large number of people made statements emphasising the need to reduce the environmental impact that Melbourne has as a city. Several of these comments made specific points on the need to plan and manage the city’s urban growth and density better, both for the present and the future. This included the use of environmentally friendly building materials, increasing green spaces in the city, reducing emissions and growing in a sustainable manner. This statement sums up the above.
Climate change is linked to this as well, if we build high rise buildings with lots of concrete and no green space we create ghettos of consumption with no leverage from an eco sustainable perspective. Walls of banked up apartments running air con as our summers grow longer and hotter...nightmare
A few people mentioned that Melbourne should be, or needs to be, leading on the issues of climate change on an international level.
Mitigating impacts of climate change
Many people talked about devising strategies to mitigate possible and potential impacts of climate change on Melbourne. This statement was representative of many.
Climate change will continue to impact Melbourne and surrounds, and whilst the city should look to contribute meaningfully to reducing its effects in the long term, we must also develop strategies to reducing effects in the short term. These trends are not mutually exclusive either, and should be addressed accordingly.
Several people emphasised the need to increase trees, gardens and other green spaces within the city. Some people talked of the need to use environmentally friendly building materials, as well as to better regulate buildings within the city to mitigate the impact of climate change. A few people mentioned a need to devise methods that reduce emissions and Melbourne’s carbon footprint.
Council and government actions, plans and policies
Many people pointed to the importance of The Council, government and citizens working together to address climate change. Several people mentioned the need for The Council and government to improve their interactions and engagement with the people, involving them more in decision-making processes. This statement is representative of the above.
The government needs to have a better connection with the citizens and implement policies that will enable the city and its people to adapt to climate change and urban growth and density.
A few people emphasised that policies on urban growth and density also need to address issues of climate change. A couple of people were dissatisfied with the lack of action from the federal government on the issues. Therefore, they felt that local action needs to be taken.
Economy and climate change
Several people saw connections between the city’s economy and climate change. A few people made general comments on the economy being shaped or affected, both in the present and future. Some people mentioned the need to change economic models, our values and modes of consumption to help introduce more sustainable use of environmental resources. This statement sums up this point.
Climate change is the future economy we should all be focussing on - an economy where scarcity is the norm and we are forced to stop treating the world and its resources like they will last forever. And the only way to make people do the right thing is to make tough decisions that force them to act they way they should. If people AND BUSINESSES had to pay for the rubbish they throw away, they might think twice about what they buy, how they use it and if they can afford to throw it away more.
City infrastructure and climate change
Some people mentioned the relationship between the city infrastructure and impacts of climate change, for example stress from excessive rain. A couple of people talked of the need to change infrastructure, including building and housing to reduce Melbourne’s environmental impact. One person mentioned the need to encourage more public rather than private transport, to reduce emissions.
General
A few people elaborated on why they chose other trends over climate change. One person felt that other trends, such as citizens and government were more important. Another person felt that climate change was not controllable and hence did not need to be focused on. A couple of people expressed how issues of climate change should be dealt with, or how they are affecting people. This included suggestions as to how climate change should be dealt with at a national level; and beliefs that cities (being the centres for the rich and powerful) were largely shielded from the effects of climate change.
Future Economies
Summary
Many people made general comments on future economies as being an important trend to address. A few of these related to how future economies will be influenced, and in turn will influence other trends such as climate change and urban growth and density. Several people stressed the need for future economic success for a better future. Some of the specific reasons given for this include: a thriving economy would help achieve other goals such as reducing climate change, an eco-city etc.; a weak economy would lead to unemployment and increased crime; and success will maintain Melbourne as an attractive city for businesses, enabling funding for other good work.
Structure of work and communities
Many people spoke of how the structure of work and communities would change, or will need to change within future economies. Some people spoke of the need to change the current structure of work to address other issues such as climate change, unemployment, increasing contract-based work and a more stable economy. This comment illustrates the above.
I chose future economies because I don't think it is possible to sustain the system as it stands, there is already unrest, rising unemployment and mental health problems because I think people want good health, more time with their families and loved ones, wellbeing etc The current economy is unsustainable, there needs to be more encouragement, research and investment into creating new alternate economies so people can contribute.
A few people mentioned the need to structure future work to account for increased urban density and growth within Melbourne.
A couple of people mentioned the declining manufacturing industries within Melbourne, and the need to address this gap in future work and community structures.
Future opportunities
Several people made statements about the kind of opportunities that need to be created, with a few people making general comments on the need to create better future opportunities, which will be significant for education, knowledge and engaging young people. A couple of people made specific comments on the death of manufacturing industries, and the need to create opportunities within the service and other sectors to fill this gap. A couple of people emphasized the need to be more inclusive of minority groups and immigrants.
Climate change and future economies
Several people made statements about the relationship between the economy and climate change. Most of these statements related to how economies would be shaped by the way climate change issues were addressed at present and in the future. Others saw the need to modify the structure of economies to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Technology and future economies
Several people made comment on the need to incubate and embrace technology-related industries within Melbourne. These people stated that technology (especially digital technology) would boom in the future, and that future economies need to embrace these trends to grow.
One person stressed the need to grow the technology sector, so as not to lose talented people to other cities such as San Francisco. One person saw this as a way to fill the gap left by a declining manufacturing sector.
arts and future economies
A few people stressed the need to include the arts sector. One person stressed the need to include arts in the face of decreased funding and support from the federal government. Another person pointed out the importance of the contribution the arts could make to both the economy and in addressing issues of climate change.
Other
A few people made comments mainly related to why they chose other trends over this one. One person expressed that the economy was a never-ending factor rather than a trend. Another person stated that future economies were generally out of their hands. A third person expressed that future economy is weird and that they don’t know what it is.
Citizens and Government
Council and citizens’ engagement
Many people in this topic made comment on the need for increased engagement between The Council and citizens. A few saw the need for increased collaboration between citizens and council to achieve other goals. This statement illustrates this.
Similarly, the relationship between the citizenry and our government is crucial to harness, and should be fostered in a productive and creative way
Some people felt the council and government were disconnected from the people, or did not consult them enough within decision-making processes. One person mentioned the need to expand; for public consultation to include more than just online tools. Another person mentioned the need for the public to be more proactive in shaping the structure of The Council. This statement is representative of most of the statements made here.
Regarding citizens and government, it's increasingly disturbing how disconnected Australian's feel from government and their representatives. Some work in this area would be welcome
Council action required
Many statements were made by people expressing the need for more Council action on various issues. Several of these were general statements on the need for The Council to engage and listen better to citizens, as well as reduce to red tape. The following provides a representative example.
And in an era when the disconnect between citizen and government is widening at an alarming rate, it is essential that citizens begin to once again respect government - and that government learns how to earn back that respect.
A few other statements expressed that The Council needs to take action, and collaborate better with citizens to address specific issues. These included climate change, public transport, schooling, housing and urban growth and density.
Citizens’ participation
Many people commented on the need for citizens to increase their engagement with The Council. A few people felt that citizens need to be more proactive and take control in the future of Melbourne city. A couple of others mentioned the need for The Council to find ways to increase citizens’ participation in decision-making processes. This short comment is representative of most people’s statements made here.
Active participation in our governance by every citizens is vital for a healthy society
General
Some people made very general comments, indicating that the engagement between citizens and governments would be very important for the future of Melbourne. A couple of people reasoned that cities were made up of people, and hence attention needs to be paid to them. This is why this trend was important to them. Two people made comments on why they did not choose Citizens and Government as a key trend. One person expressed that citizens and government are never-ending factors rather than just trends. Another person expressed that citizens and government is important, but they didn’t think people cared about it, and therefore would not make much of an impact.
General
Several people made general comments on their choice of trends. None of these comments elaborated on any specific reason as to why they chose particular trends. Others made comments that were not connected to the choices of trends.
Interconnected Responses
Many people stated that they chose particular trends because they felt that they were interconnected. Several felt that improving one or two would have an impact on the other chosen trends. Some said that focusing on the trends they chose would also impact how unchosen trends developed. The following statements illustrate the above.
Future economies will be driven by digital trends and by climate change, and these trends along with growth and density will be tied to citizens and government so I belive these trends underscore the other options.