Communiqués
Local Government and Planning Ministers Council
4 June 2004, Canberra
National summit on the future of Australia’s cities and towns
Today state and territory planning ministers participated in a National Summit to discuss issues affecting the sustainability in the development and management of Australia's cities and towns.
New Zealand has also shown strong support for the National Summit through the attendance of the New Zealand Minister for Urban Issues.
The Ministers have agreed to take the outcomes of the Summit to the next meeting of the Local Government and Planning Ministers' Council to be considered as forming the basis of a National Cities and Towns Policy.
The National Summit, initiated by all state and territory ministers, was held over two days at Old Parliament House, and supported by the Australian Local Government Association, the Planning Institute of Australia and the Property Council of Australia.
Over 90 invited delegates from across Australia included: state and territory planning ministers; representatives of local government; officials from Commonwealth and state agencies; industry; academia; environmental; youth and indigenous and social service groups.
Delegates identified major issues facing our cities and towns and put forward strategies to respond to these challenges.
The Summit identified that to be successful into the future, the vision for Australia's cities and towns must:
- be diverse, vibrant and inclusive communities
- be globally competitive
- reduce ecological impacts
- enhance equity of access
- demonstrate good quality design
Strategies to achieve the vision include: developing a national. shared vision; an integrated governance framework; foster and improve the information base; develop a national settlement strategy; providing active citizen programs; improving infrastructure; conducting a sustainability audit of taxes and charges; and funding and pricing.
These strategies form the basis of a National Action Framework to be considered by ministers within their own jurisdictions and at the-next Ministerial Council meeting.
Components of the National Action Framework include:
- a shared national vision
- benchmarking framework
- office of sustainable communities
- national information exchange and analytical tools
- community engagement
- reduced car dependency
- equitable broadband connectivity
- managed growth and decline
- cities for climate protection
- national infrastructure funding program
- a signed Kyoto protocol
Ministers expressed their gratitude for the input, commitment and expertise from National Summit delegates.
4 June 2004
- Hon Desley Boyle, Minister for Local Government, Planning and Women, Queensland
- Hon Diane Beamer, Assistant Minister - Infrastructure and Planning, New South Wales
- Mr Simon Corbell, Minister for Planning, Australia Capital Territory
- Hon Judy Jackson, Minister for Environment and Planning, Tasmania
- Hon Mary Delahunty, Minister for Planning, Victoria
- Hon Alannah MacTiernan, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Western Australia
- Hon Trish White, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, South Australia
- Mr Len Kiely, Deputy Chairman of Committees, Northern Territory
Media contacts:
Monika Boogs - Tel: 02 6205 0493 Mob: 0419 423 603 David Moncrieff - Tel: 02 6207 5595 Mob: 0419 858 989
Ministers’ comments
Victorian Minister for Planning, Mary Delahunty, said:
"The directions of the Summit support the Bracks Government’s commitment to sustainable development through its Melbourne 2030 plan.
"Whilst we have been criticised in some quarters for our metropolitan strategy, the fact is that all states and territories are wrestling with the same issues. "They are of national importance and require a national response, involving all levels of government."
NSW Assistant Minister - Infrastructure and Planning, Diane Bearner, said it was clear that Australia needed a National Infrastructure Funding program.
"We must explore all funding avenues including a National Infrastructure Bank and possible taxation reform to make investment in infrastructure more attractive for our superannuation funds."
Media adviser: Steve Adams 041 1 253 3455
WA Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Ms Alannah MacTiernan, said:
"This is not about develop-ing a standardised model of a city, but about sharing information and tools and developing policy together that will help make our cities and towns sustainable."
SA Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Ms Trish White, said:
"Planning for better cities and towns needs to be seen as a shared responsibility across all tiers of government and the private sector through appropriate forms of investment in community and social infrastructure."
