Shaping the Sydney vision

UNSW's Faculty of Built Environment will work with the City of Sydney on sustainability, affordable housing and other key urban issues under an agreement announced by Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore this week.

Councillor Moore announced the Memorandum of Understanding between FBE and the City of Sydney while speaking about her vision for Sydney in 2030 in the third Utzon Lecture for 2011.

In her speech, an edited text of which ran in the Sydney Morning Herald, Councillor Moore called for an end to short-term, politically convenient decision-making which she said had kept NSW in "a holding pattern".

"There has been little interest in long-term planning; no vision or investment in our future; and no action that would step on the toes of vested interests, or anger the shock jocks," she said.

"Our state is lagging behind in effective action on global warming, there's a lack of decisiveness on land use planning, and a backlog of vital infrastructure needed for Sydney's effective functioning and competitiveness. It is time for leadership, vision and long-term planning."

Councillor Moore said the MoU between the City of Sydney and FBE would align research activities with the needs of Sydney.

"It will coordinate research into city planning, architecture and development, while providing professional development opportunities for our staff and opportunities for under-graduate and post-graduate teaching and research," she said.

"I am particularly excited about the possibilities for practical research projects and design studios, some of which are already under way this year at Heffron Hall in Darlinghurst, and around Taylor Square."

Dean of FBE Professor Alec Tzannes, FBE Associate Dean (Research) Professor Bill Randolph, and Associate Dean (Education) Dr Nancy Marshall, will sit on a steering committee for the agreement with senior city planners.

Media contact: Peter Trute, UNSW Media Office | 02 9385 1933 | p.trute@unsw.edu.au