Bypassing planning regulations is likely to have impacts on social inequity and wellbeing that could prove very costly for both governments and people.
Our survey found strong opposition to Australian megacities, with most people preferring population growth to be in satellite cities and rail hubs outside the capitals.
Building underground can solve problems for city planners, but UNSW expert Dr Asal Bidarmaghz warns that planning is needed to ensure subterranean solutions are sustainable.
In many countries, city-shaping mega-projects are generally overseen by local government, but in Australia state governments often step in and exclude council and community representatives from the process.
For two decades, a competitive design process pioneered by Sydney City Council has been transforming the city skyline and, new research shows, raising standards as it goes.
