Draft National Urban Policy calls for coordinated and strategic approach to achieve liveable and sustainable cities

On 23 May 2024, at the Planning Institute of Australia's (PIA) National congress, the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, released the Draft National Urban Policy (Draft Policy) for consultation. 

The Draft Policy aims to develop and implement a framework for decision-making about planning, housing, and investment, with the overall goal of addressing the current housing affordability and climate crises and deliver more sustainable and adaptive urban development across Australia.

Drawing on consultation with State and local governments, the Federal Government proposes a suite of goals and objectives to enable urban areas to be liveable, equitable, productive, sustainable and resilient, which is intended to be delivered through cross-portfolio engagement.

Submissions on the Draft Policy can be made until 4 July 2024.

Overview of the Draft Policy

The Australian Government previously released a National Urban Policy in 2011 which focused on a national approach to planning and managing cities to improve productivity, sustainability and liveability. This policy was aimed at combatting many long-term challenges that are still current to society today, including population growth, demographic change, climate change, resource limitations and housing affordability.

This latest Draft Policy expands the scope to target and set a framework to address the (now) more urgent challenges our cities and urban areas now face, including housing affordability, productivity, social cohesion, disaster resilience and climate action.

The Draft Policy calls for more coordinated leadership and policies and encourages the expression of First Nations cultural heritage, language, and knowledge in planning Australia’s future. The policy aims to reinvigorate urban spaces to encourage them to adapt to better meet people’s diverse needs. These goals are underscored with the initiatives of inclusivity, gender and safety in cities and towns.

Importantly, the Draft Policy is intended to support the development of national framework for national growth areas which establishes standards for infrastructure and services. In line with the national approach, the Draft Policy emphasises the importance of strengthening the circular economy, valuing green space and setting benchmarks for climate change adaptation and resilience. The Draft Policy also calls for a national standard for considering disaster and climate risk in land use planning.

The framework contained in the Draft Policy consists of a suite of goals, objectives and principles which are aimed at delivering what is referred to as a shared vision for better coordination of urban policy across the country, and better integration of future strategic decision-making, investment and policy moving forward.

Key goals, objectives, and principles for Australian cities

To deliver the shared vision, the Federal Government has set five key goals for what our cities and urban areas should be:

1. Liveable – Where people can live in a place of their choosing, within their means, suitable to their needs. This is a safe, well designed, well-built city that promotes active, independent living, quality of life and connections within the community.
2. Equitable – Where everyone has fair access to resources, opportunities and amenities, no matter where they live or their socio-economic status.
3. Productive – Where cities foster shared prosperity and provide economic opportunities by enabling goods and services to move efficiently, and providing people with access to employment, services and infrastructure.
4. Sustainable – Where governments, industry and community work together to appropriately plan for urban growth, reduce emissions, promote a circular economy and adapt to climate change to ensure that our urban areas meet the needs of diverse communities and that our natural environments are rehabilitated for future generations.
5. Resilient – Where our cities are economically, socially and environmentally resilient to the impacts of change, including changing climate and increasing exposure to climate-related hazards.

Key objectives

The Draft Policy provides six key objectives which are to be applied to support achievement of the key goals and may be relevant to one or more of those goals.

Objective 1: No-one and no place left behind

Creating communities with equitable access to infrastructure, education, jobs and cultural activities. We will increase the availability of housing that is well located, well designed, accessible and affordable so everyone can feel safe and secure. As our communities grow and change, our urban spaces should adapt to meet people’s needs.

This objective is identified as supporting achievement of the Liveable, Equitable and Productive goals.

Objective 2: All people belong and are welcome

Promoting equitable access to arts and cultural facilities, as well as ensuring universal design in urban planning, fosters inclusive environments. Celebrating First Nations cultural heritage, culturally and linguistically diverse communities and effectively managing the night-time economy can further contribute to a vibrant, culturally diverse urban landscape. Increasing sustainability and accessibility in tourism, and investing in sport infrastructure can improve social cohesion and a sense of belonging in communities.

This objective is identified as supporting the achievement of Liveable, Equitable and Productive goals.

Objective 3: Our urban areas are safe

Urban safety encompasses inclusivity and crime prevention strategies while enhancing climate resilience and disaster preparedness. Paying attention to public spaces, addressing crime risks for marginalised groups, and implementing evidence-based safety measures are crucial for promoting community wellbeing. Cities must also address climate challenges, such as flooding, through improved planning, infrastructure standards, and urban design.

This objective is identified as supporting the achievement of Liveable, Equitable and Resilient goals.

Objective 4: Our urban areas are sustainable

Supporting urban areas to improve sustainability and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. This will include ensuring strategic planning, land use and infrastructure frameworks improve climate mitigation, and aid the transition to a circular economy.

This objective is identified as supporting the achievement of Liveable, Sustainable and Resilient goals.

Objective 5: Our urban environments and communities promote health and wellbeing

Strengthening connections between public spaces in urban neighbourhoods to enable people from all communities to lead healthy lifestyles, socially connect, and access natural environments and services.

This objective is identified as supporting the achievement of Liveable, Sustainable and Resilient goals.

Objective 6: Our urban areas promote productivity

Improving connection between people and goods through efficient, low-cost, accessible and active transport options and expanded telecommunications connectivity so people from all communities can work from anywhere and easily move between jobs, contributing to improved work-life balance. Ensuring that the migration system attracts workers with the right skills and that an effective and inclusive education system supports workers from all communities.

This objective is identified as supporting the achievement of Productive, Equitable and Resilient goals.

Key principles

The Draft Policy builds upon the key principles developed at the at the Urban Policy Forum in November 2023, which are aimed helping guide decision-making to achieve the key goals:

• City planning and governance must be collaborative and adoptive: this requires integrated long-term strategic planning, including vertically across all levels of government and horizontally across different portfolios.
• Purposeful place-making should increase wellbeing and connection: this means renewed investment, development and retrofitting must result in urban area design in line with national best practice guidelines, urban areas that improve, urban areas that improve health and wellbeing, adequate standards of living and environmentally sensitive design.
• Urban development should actively improve social, environmental and economic outcomes: avoiding business as usual approaches and seek out transformational changes in urban planning through urban investment and decision-making that reduces urban greenhouse gases, integrates circular practices and employs sustainable procurement practices.
• Improving the evidence base will underpin urban innovation: this can be achieved through monitoring the implementation of changes in cities to provide the evidence to inform future changes and drive improvement and innovation.
• Fair and inclusive development will build equitable communities: a stronger focus on the consideration of social and environmental outcomes to become a mandatory part of decision-making to enhance urban wellbeing and equity.
• Fostering innovation and creativity hubs enhance diversity and broadens opportunities: supporting Australia's education system as a national asset to enable urban communities to diversify and expand skills, technology and innovation.