Renewed focus on urban planning will ensure a resilient and liveable city

Some have referred to COVID-19 as ‘The Great Pause’. An unrivalled opportunity to deeply consider our future and ensure we are on a trajectory which improves quality of life for all Western Australians.

The way our cities and transport systems are planned greatly influences where we live, work and socialise, and how we move around. We have never had a better opportunity to reflect on these types of issues, and to correct course where necessary.

By 2050, an estimated 3.5 million people will be living in the Perth and Peel regions. Keeping our city liveable into the future will require working closely with local communities to build a more resilient, connected city that everyone benefits from. 

To manage growing issues such as over-reliance on personal vehicles and the resulting congestion it causes, we need to look to high-impact strategies, including better urban planning around strategically important activity centres.

Communities are stronger when residents feel physically and socially connected with each other and their environment. Now more than ever we must explore ways to provide enhanced housing diversity and reimagine the design of streets, public spaces and local centres.  While supporting increasing densities, we must also seek to preserve the things Western Australians love about where they live.