City by city, the data on CBD visitors vary with the severity of COVID-19 outbreaks and restrictions. But none of the CBDs has recovered former activity levels, and some might never fully recover.
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If Australia created more age-friendly neighbourhoods — which really are more liveable for everyone — then we wouldn’t have to rely so heavily on underfunded, substandard aged-care homes.
The states are primarily responsible for providing infrastructure, but lack the budgets, especially since the pandemic hit revenues. Making up the shortfall depends very much on the Commonwealth.
In Australia, we do housing and we do health, but they sit in different portfolios of government and the policy dots aren’t joined often enough.
Universities are being forced to move to less suitable locations in order to “revitalise” cities.
Current housing stimulus measures aim to boost buyer demand and are too small to sustain a recovery. A second round of stimulus is likely to be needed, and it should go into social housing supply.
Australia found shelter for more than 33,000 rough sleepers and other homeless people during the pandemic, but a coming surge in homelessness demands a comprehensive national housing strategy.
The differences in sentiment in areas of high and low neighbourhood amenity have been clear under Melbourne’s tough COVID restrictions. It’s further evidence of the impacts of inequity on well-being.
Australian bicycles are largely influenced by sport, not utility. We should embrace cargo bikes for their usefulness, over speed.
All parks are not equal. The response to the opening of golf courses to the public during the COVID pandemic shows the quality of green open space is a big issue for city residents.
Coronavirus has changed population projections and behaviours across society. With fewer commuters we need to shift transport planning based on a hub-and-spoke network to focus on more local travel.
There’s a program ready. It’d create 30,000 homes and renovate thousands more, creating up to 18,000 jobs.
Anthony Albanese will highlight the potential of spending on social housing as a job creator in his Thursday night budget reply.
Motorways were once seen as a way of reducing congestion in our towns and cities. But the more we build, the more they fill with drivers.
The impacts of the pandemic on jobs and incomes have been so widespread and severe that low-income households can afford very few properties despite rents falling in some parts of our capital cities.
Third places – where people meet outside of work and home – foster a sense of belonging, particularly for retirees. COVID-19 restrictions shut them down, so can online communities fill the void?
Proposals to improve the capital’s urban design and density must also take account of the city’s unique streetscapes.
Manufactured home estates are popping up as a “cheaper” option for retirees. But they’ll end up costing more, and could be in hazard prone or affected areas.
When the moratorium on evictions ends, even more Australians will face housing insecurity and homelessness. Beyond the moral and health cases, there’s a powerful financial reason to end homelessness.
Surveys with householders showed they want safety and security. Post-COVID that desire will be even stronger.
What was once the stuff of urban legends now spreads virally through social media claims the tunnels beneath our cities are used for child trafficking. The truth is both more mundane and important.
The fallout from COVID-19 for housing and homelessness just adds to the urgency of fixing the long-standing ills of the housing market. The well-being of Australia’s economy and people depends on it.
Melbourne’s Innovation Districts were launched a few years ago, but the impacts of COVID-19 have added urgency to having places to trial new ways of urban living.
Low-paid workers at both ends of the supply chain – the small farmers who grow most of the crop and the casual staff who serve you at the cafe – weren’t well off even before the pandemic hit.
While the focus has been on containing ‘hot spots’ of COVID-19 outbreaks, understanding why some areas have few or no cases could point the way to a staged reopening that starts with these areas.