Urban development doesn’t just mean inner-city development. There are many opportunities – some would argue significantly more – for development and redevelopment of our suburban environment.
The opportunities for suburban economic, property and community development are the focus of a one day international conference being held in Brisbane on Wednesday, 18 April.
“The Future of Suburbia” explores the reasons why the suburban domain will continue to support the lion’s share of urban growth, and why the jobs of the future – particularly in health and education but also in the professional and scientific sectors – are most likely to need suburban locations, meaning new opportunities for suburban centre development.
The conference taps into some of the best global thinking on this subject via Professor Alan Berger, who heads up the world leading MIT (Boston) “Centre for Advanced Urbanism”.
Alan has also recently co-produced a comprehensive global study into suburban development, featuring over 50 expert authors from around the world.
Alan’s speech to the Brisbane conference is the same title as this book: “Infinite Suburbia.” Alan’s presentation will also reveal some of the cutting edge work that MIT has been doing in imagining the suburb of the future – some 40 or 50 years from now.
Related reading: Global Urbanists Joel Kotkin and Alan Berger on the Future of Suburbia
Joining Alan in a stellar line up will be the federal government’s Cities Minister, Hon Paul Fletcher. Paul is giving a statement on suburban renewal and development on behalf of the National Government. Brisbane’s Lord Mayor Graham Quirk is also giving a plenary address on his view of the importance of suburbia to Brisbane and the region.
The significance of suburbia is fast gaining renewed industry and government acceptance.
The Victorian government has established an Office of Suburban Development with its own responsible Minister. Andrew Newman from that office will preview some extensive research into suburban employment at the Future of Suburbia event.
In New South Wales, the Greater Sydney Commission has realised the folly of concentrating growth (especially jobs) in one centre and has now embraced a “three cities” approach to encourage new economic hubs around the new western airport and Parramatta.
The former Mayor of Parramatta and former State Housing Minister, David Borger, will also be speaking at “The Future of Suburbia.”
There are more than a dozen additional speakers – from property development, design, urban planning, economics, State and Local agencies – making up a hugely compelling program for a one day event.
Organised by the Suburban Alliance and BDA The Committee for Brisbane, The Future of Suburbia has The Urban Developer as its media partner.
Other sponsors include Lendlease, Springfield City Group, Logan Council and Consolidated Properties. APP has come on board as networking sponsor. The Property Council is an industry partner and QUT a Venue Partner.
The range and quality of speakers and the financial supporters of this event are a signal that The Future of Suburbia is regarded as a compelling issue and opportunity for South East Queensland.
While it’s become fashionable in some quarters to imagine that life as we know it only exists with the magic five-kilometre ring around our CBDs (also called the “goat cheese curtain”), leading developers and global thought leaders alike realise this isn’t so. The opportunities in suburbia are immense and this conference seeks to explore them.
Don’t miss The Future of Suburbia. It will give you an entirely new and fresh outlook on opportunities in urban development in Australia.
Click here for tickets and more information.
Main image courtesy of MIT.
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