THE URBANISATION OF POPULATIONS AROUND THE WORLD IS CREATING CHALLENGES FOR BOTH CITY PLANNING AND THE DETERIORATING ECONOMIC BASE OF REGIONAL TOWNS.
Having recently returned from New Zealand it is clear that they too are facing this global phenomenon.
It is projected that nearly ninety percent of New Zealand’s total population growth to 2026 will take place in the 12 cities, with two thirds of the total growth occurring in the Auckland region. The population growth has driven Auckland housing prices up by eleven percent in the past year. Internal migration, from regional areas to Auckland, is being driven in part by employment opportunities.
How does this relate to urban development in Western Australia?
One of the key issues for urban development is ensuring that there is sufficient employment both at a regional and local level. The role of developers in job creation is a topic of ongoing debate. It is often a requirement for greenfields development but there are only limited ways that it can be delivered, apart from the initial construction and local retail/commercial opportunities.
We know that construction is a major job creator. During the GFC the Australian Government directed money to the construction sector through the school halls and the social housing programs to stimulate the economy and safeguard jobs. This is because for every million dollars invested generates 37 direct and indirect jobs and adds $2.9m to the economy as a whole.
In New Zealand during the GFC the government looked at construction opportunities in regional areas. They invested into regional cycle tracks to create construction jobs and, in the longer term, employment and investment in the hospitality and tourism sector.
Employment generation is best achieved through industry and the government working together to get the land use planning, transport and investment operating effectively. The WA State Government has prepared a number of reports over the years such as the 2012 Economic and Employment Lands Strategy which sought to provide a coordinated approach to assisting in the facilitation of industrial land use development. The challenge is in the implementation.
And as for the cycle trails, if you are an adrenalin junkie with reasonable technical skills, the Pakihi Track on the Motu Trail is sure to get your heart pumping. Twenty two kilometres downhill on a narrow track with sheer drops. My advice, don’t do it in torrential rain!