The autonomous vehicle revolution was, according to its proponents, meant to have transformed daily travel by now. But they underestimated the task of developing a safe, truly driverless vehicle.
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Rent assistance can ease rental stress, but it won’t help low-income earners find secure and affordable housing when it’s in such short supply, nor stop disadvantage being concentrated in some areas.
In any given town, community and neighbourhood there will be homeless children, sometimes as young as 10, who are surviving without the effective care and protection of parents or guardians.
A study of 230 electric vehicles found only 25% of charging happens during peak demand periods. Their patterns of use also mean spare battery capacity could be fed into the grid at these times.
Brisbane rents are up nearly 50% more than the national average and homelessness in Queensland is increasing at the fastest rate in the country. The state can take several steps to turn things around.
Ensuring public transport vehicles comply with the laws on disability access is just the tip of the iceberg. Access issues across the transport system point to the need for on-demand services.
Why are some of the problems with housing stress and homelessness worse in New South Wales than in other states?
Almost half of the participants in a study of bedrooms said they have or might have a sleep problem and they would prefer not to use the room for multiple activities.
Speed limits are coming down to improve road safety. Expanding the policy to target high-carbon emission vehicles would be a simple and effective climate strategy.
A big reason the idea is gaining momentum globally is that the benefits for the health of individuals, communities and the environment are clear and almost immediate.
The very people most in need of the cost savings from installing solar panels are missing out. Better policies are needed to make home solar systems accessible to all Australians.
Deciding when someone no longer has the ability to drive safely can be difficult – and it’s not just a matter of age. But there are practical steps we can take to ensure older drivers are safe.
The recovery rate from construction and demolition waste has been rising steadily in Australia. However, the use of recycled materials is still not the norm across the construction industry.
Apartments have lower waste recycling rates than houses, which means the growing numbers of apartment dwellers could add to Australia’s waste management crisis. But there are solutions to the problem.
As Australians struggle to find affordable housing, there have been hostile responses to reports of a sudden influx of international students from China. It’s time for a reality check.
Despite a common belief that councils won’t approve tiny houses and modular and container homes, early findings from a national survey suggest planners are increasingly open to these housing options.
Many small towns badly need to attract new blood to prosper. Yet some residents are so bound up in their community – it’s part of their identity – that they struggle with the changes newcomers bring.
Cities are starting to restore natural systems such as waterways, wetlands and bushland. But restoration on the scale these systems need to function properly calls for a rethink of urban planning.
The beach community at Muriwai has experienced deadly landslide in the past, but houses were nevertheless allowed to be built on the debris of former slips.
One-third of local councils have rules to stop pet cats roaming because of their major impacts on wildlife. More councils want to get on board but many are hampered by state laws.
Top contributors
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Associate Professor, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University
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Professor of Housing Research and Policy, and Associate Director, City Futures Research Centre, UNSW Sydney
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Professor of Future Urban Mobility, Swinburne University of Technology
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Neil G Sipe is a Friend of The Conversation.
Honorary Professor of Planning, The University of Queensland
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Senior Lecturer in Retail Marketing, University of Tasmania
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Research Associate, Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology
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Professor of Housing Research, University of Adelaide
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Associate Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research & Innovation, College of Design & Social Context, RMIT University
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Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University
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Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
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Alan Morris is a Friend of The Conversation.
Professor, Institute for Public Policy and Governance, University of Technology Sydney
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Adjunct Research Fellow, The University of Western Australia
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Lecturer in Planning and Human Geography, La Trobe University
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Professor of Housing & Social Policy, Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology
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Senior Industry Fellow, RMIT University
