Transformative ideas in local government
Published on 19 October 2023
Some of the stuff I do as Mayor is challenging, some is inspiring and some is downright exhilarating. I’ve had a little of all those this week, and it’s only Wednesday!
We all know the results of the referendum by now, and that the process was a challenge, no matter how we voted. I respect the fact many in our community are taking some time to process this and I want to reiterate that everyone is welcome and should feel safe in our municipality. Please be kind to each other.
Our Council meeting on Tuesday night had inspiring aspects, like awarding Ellah Cooper, the ‘Megan Dalley Trainee of the Year Award’ for 2023. Ellah was nominated for her skills as a painter and her positive attitude to her work. While a first-year apprentice, her supervisor says Ellah shows great potential, describing the quality and efficiency of her work as equal to a fully qualified tradesperson, that’s truly inspirational!
For sheer goosebumping, heart-racing full on exhilaration, the 2023 Asia Pacific Cities Summit & Mayor's Forum, which I attended last week was a cracker! Now, not all people are as excitable as I am about Local Government, I get that, but discovering new and unique ways of planning a municipal future from municipal leaders across the globe was a game changer for me.
The conference showed me new ways to identify needs in strategic planning, public engagement, the importance of interpersonal relationships and using networks to help achieve community objectives. In short, I am all fired up about what we can achieve: a thrilling new freedom in how we plan and how we live.
For instance, do we really need more suburban sprawl? If we just paved over more farmland wouldn’t thousands of people find the five bedroom home of their dreams? This idea doesn’t make sense, kick the tires, and the wheels fall off. Are supertall buildings that offer housing close to shops, services and jobs the answer? No. In an increasingly lonely world, these environments often fail as social machines.
If the extremes – more sprawl or skyscrapers – aren’t ideal, how and where can we create housing that combines affordability and social connectedness? Charles Montgomery (Presenter, Author and Urbanist) suggests planners could consider allowing residential buildings with apartments of up to six stories within metres of shopping streets. This medium-dense, urban housing would bring down costs, provide new housing and have no impact to our character.
Over-tourism discussed in places like Amsterdam, Venice, and closer to home, Angkor Wat and Kyoto, can potentially be addressed by ‘regenerative travel’ suggested Joanna Rowelle (Global City Economics Leader, London). The concept arises from the broader "regenerative" idea, which is about restoring, renewing, and growing, rather than just sustaining or conserving.
With more than 1,000 participants with a combined population of municipalities of 405,000,000 people you can't help but learn stuff!
For Kiama, the dynamic program and networking opportunities of the conference, offered a genuinely exhilarating chance to be at the forefront of local government of the future. I spoke with the Mayor of New Delhi; her LGA is such that she has 250 councillors at each meeting, makes me think our meetings aren’t so bad!