The online home of the Bus Industry Confederation and the Australian Public Transport Industrial Association
Moving Australia
Australia’s capital city Lord Mayors are leading the way by investing and developing technologies and practices that are rapidly transforming our capitals into ‘smart cities’. Working together, across government and with industry, Local Government can provide effective and efficient solutions for our communities.
Backed by the strategic investment in the Ten Gigabit Adelaide high-speed data network, the City of Adelaide is quickly becoming a leader in this
space. Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Martin Haese, explained to guests how smart city technology is being used to reduce operating costs, enhance
the daily visitor experience, support local businesses to thrive, and create greater prosperity for communities.
Download the Presentation.
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
| Next | |||
John Stanley is a Senior Research Fellow in Sustainable Land Transport and is published widely in books, journals and reports. John is the current Chair of People and Parks Foundation, and a director of Road Safety Inspections P/L. He was a member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee advising Victoria’s Minister for Planning on Melbourne’s new Metropolitan Planning Strategy and was awarded a Centenary Medal for services to public transport and conservation.
Countries around the world are pushing hard for closer integration between land use planning and integrated transport. Many do it much better than Australia. How Great Cities Happen, co-authored by Adjunct Professor John Stanley formulates the development of a wider, all encompassing agenda for more productive, inclusive and sustainable cities , including the concept of 20 minute neighbourhoods, where people can do most of the things, most of the time that they need for a good life within 20 minutes of where they live by walking, cycling or public transport.
The presentation had a strong focus on the critical role of the federal government in Australia’s future cities. This included a high level strategic policy role and a funding and investment role based around state, territory and local governments only receiving federal funding based on developing and sticking to long term City development plans (40 years) that include defined outcomes in relation to the type of cities we want to live in and how this might be achieved.
The presentation provided examples of a number of cities and regions around the world that are getting the right mix of land use and transport integration, also providing insights into the importance of agreed governance (federal, state, local) arrangements to ensure that long term objectives and plans can be met to minimise the impact of the election cycle and ensure a city’s design and functionality is suited to the surrounding local environment.
Copies of "How Great Cities Happen" can be ordered through Edward Elgar Publishing house online.
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
| Next | |||
Philip Davies is the CEO of Infrastructure Australia. Prior to leading Infrastructure Australia, Philip led AECOM's Infrastructure Advisory business in Asia Pacific. He has over 25 years of experience in shaping infrastructure policy. Philip is a Chartered Engineers and a Fellow of Engineers Australia.
Event Focus
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
| Next | |||
Brent Toderian is the former Chief Planner for the City of Vancouver, Canada. He highlighted in his speech that both Australia and Canada are two of the most liveable countries in the world. He is an advocate for a radical rethink in the way conversations are held regarding the designs and developments of cities.
Event Focus
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
| Next | |||
Australian infrastructure planners seeking to lift economic productivity should look to UK City Deals as a model for our cities and regions. Paul Low explained that a long term funding arrangement between 1 to 3 decades must unite funding with agreed economic and social/environmental outcomes. A deal will unite local and higher level governments to prioritise infrastructure in an economic region. This will guarantee agreed funding mechanisms to deliver infrastructure plans.
City Deals is the innovative strategy for building stronger urban and regional growth via smarter strategic planning, infrastructure investment and local governance. The City Deal model originated in the United Kingdom (UK) with more than 20 City Deals already signed – with more on the way. In 2016 the Commonwealth Government announced the focus of the first three Australian City Deals – but is this kind of model a good bet for Australia?
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  | |
Ed Sullivan has over 45 years of experience as a lawyer and lecturer in planning laws and as counsel to local government on planning and urban
growth. He is a member of the Amicus Curiae Committee of the American Planning Association and is Chair of the Legislative and Policy Advisory
Committee of its Oregon Chapter. In addition to teaching graduate and law school levels at Portland State University, Ed is a highly accomplished
author published widely in the area of planning laws and urban growth. His work has contributed to the planning and growth of the State of
Oregon, and now he wants to spread the message of what was done right in his home state.
The Oregon Story owes its existence to The Transportation Planning Rule (TPR) OF 1981. The TPR aimed to promote a safe, efficient and convenient transportation system; and the integration of transportation and spatial planning. It also aimed to limit the appeal and dependency on any single mode of transportation and reduction of VMT (Vehicle Miles Travelled). Ed Sullivan also highlighted the future issues such as the changing nature of transportation, funding, and moving away from single occupancy vehicle.
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
 |  | ||
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
Population growth plays out spatially in very distinct ways. Infrastructure Australia for the first time in its Australian Infrastructure Plan recognised the location of population growth hotspots and linked it with needed investment. Governments are grappling with how we plan for and support this growth. Growing Up and Growing Out explored the dynamics of population growth and demographic change, including a spotlight on the fast growing outer suburbs.
|
An expert panel discussed the implications of growth and megatrends for planning and investment with Kate Middleton from The Saturday Paper as moderator. Expert panel includes:
Full YouTube clip at: https://youtu.be/gJ5Z9iV-P60 |
|
The event also saw Brendan Nelson, President of the Planning Institute of Australia, launch their first report of their Journey towards 50 million initiative. The report titled Through the lens: megatrends shaping our future, outlines a range of demographic and disruptive megatreends that will shape the future of Australia. Find out more. Full youtube clip at: https://youtu.be/ltPyVFckEE0 |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
| Next | |||
Philip Davies is the newly appointed CEO of Infrastructure Australia. Infrastructure Australia advocates for reforms on key issues including means
of financing, delivering and operating infrastructure and how to better plan and utilise infrastructure networks. Philip is an experienced
infrastructure executive who has had over 25 years shaping policy, delivering nationally significant infrastructure projects and leading reform
within the infrastructure sector.
Australian cities are growing. The November 2015 Parliamentary Friendship Group for Better Cities key focus was on the infrastructure of our Australian cities and the challenges ahead. Davies keynote address delivered an insight into Infrastructure Australia’s current activities including the release of the Infrastructure Audit. Davies also touched on the development of the 15 Year Australian Infrastructure Plan.
| Philip Davies, CEO of Infrastructure Australia
Full YouTube clip at: https://youtu.be/Izd4zmFu5fs |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
| Next | |||
Associate Professor Matthew Burke is Deputy Director and an Australian Research Council (ARC)
Discovery Future Fellow at the Urban Research Program at Griffith University. Matthew’s research
explores transport and land use planning and transport policy with particular interests in how the built
environment influences travel behaviour. He has projects exploring commuting and employment location,
children’s school travel and the effects of the Gold Coast’s new light rail scheme. Matthew is keenly
interested in how Australian cities may encourage more use of active and public modes of transport.
With the ever growing Australian population, the June 2015 Parliamentary Friends Group of Better Cities event focused on how the journeys we take
shape us and the importance of increased public transport investment from Federal and State Governments. The benefits of active and public
transport is absolutely undeniable and utilising smarter bus routes that are more direct can have an increased effect of patronage, decrease
congestion and can also help increase property values.
This event also saw the launch of 5th National Survey on Australian’s attitudes to investment in active travel, which was co-produced by the Cycling
Promotion Fund and the National Heart Foundation. Australians are struggling to find the time to participate in physical activities. This lack
of physical activity is taking its toll on our health and is increasing our risk of chronic illnesses. Investing and advocating active travel,
which involves walking, cycling and utilising public transport, could be one of the first steps in combating this issue. The national survey
specifically sought to find out what the level of support within the community is for the Government to invest more in active transport. Read
the full report by clicking on the link below.
PFG_2015_June_Burke (10444 KB)
Bitumen, buses, bikes and bodies: active transport solutions for better cities
Download Matthews Burks Presentation by clicking the link below. |
Associate Professor Matthew Burke - Deputy Director and an Australian Research Council (ARC) presents Australia's capital and major cities more liveable, resilient & productive. Why transport matters, active transport, the way forward for the transport industry and how transport is shaping our lives. Burke, identifies in his address to Senators, Parliamentary Staff and Better Cities friends and guests, the following benefits of investment in active transport:
Full youTube clip at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWbZhVjOnKg; |
Launch of the 5th National Survey on Australian's attitudes to active transport.
Download the complete survey by clicking on the link below. |
Steven Hodge representing the Cycling Promotion Fund launches the 5th National Survey on Australian's attitude to active transport.
This survey specifically sought to find out what the level of support within the community is for the Government to invest more
in active transport. Some of the key statistics to come out of this survey are:
|
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
| Next | |||
Lucy Hughes Turnbull AO is an urbanist, businesswoman and philanthropist with longstanding interest in cities, and technological and social innovation. She chairs the Committee for Sydney and is Chairman of Prima BioMed Limited, an ASX- listed biomedical company undertaking clinical development for an immuno-therapeutic cancer treatment. She is a director of Sealink Travel Group Limited. She is currently a board member of the Australian Technology Park, the Redfern Foundation Limited, the Turnbull Foundation and the Grattan Institute.
She was deputy chair of the Council of Australian Government’s (COAG) City Expert Advisory Panel. She was the first female Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney from 2003-4. In 2011 she became an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the community, local government and business. In 2012 she was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Business by the University of NSW.
| Lucy Hughes Turnbull AO
Full youtube clip at: http://youtu.be/jnmxAsqW1ww |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
The launch event for the Parliamentary Friendship Group for Better Cities was an opportunity for the co-convenors of the Group to outline their respective views on the role of the Federal Government in Australia's major and regional cities and for the Supporter Members of the Group to make contact with Parliamentarians and key bureaucrats in this space.
