By Angela Dorizas

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has proposed greater Federal Government involvement in the planning of major cities to prepare for future population growth.

In an address to the Business Council of Australia in Sydney last week, Mr Rudd said Commonwealth Government involvement in future planning of major cities was “critical to achieving our goals of lifting productivity, tackling climate change and improving the lives of millions of Australians”.

Australia’s population is set to rise by 60 per cent over the next 40 years to reach a total of 35 million people, Mr Rudd said.

“Australia’s rapid population growth will have profound implications for our destiny as a nation,” he said.

“The century ahead stands to be the greatest century of economic growth and nation-building in Australian history.”

Mr Rudd said the reform agenda would not supplant the roles of the states, territories and local government, but would build a “new national partnership” for urban planning.

“In partnerships with the states and territories we’ll now propose the development of a national criteria for the future strategic planning of our major cities,” he said.

“This will be occurring for the first time in our country’s history and the Commonwealth will now consider linking all future infrastructure funding to compliance with these criteria.”

Mr Rudd said the plan would ensure there was provision of affordable housing and adequate transport infrastructure, along with reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has welcomed the Prime Minister’s reform agenda.

“The Australian Government is looking at possibly engaging in much more investment in our major metropolitan centres,” ALGA chief executive officer Adrian Beresford-Wylie told Government News.

“It’s something we’ve been calling for. We do feel that the challenge facing our urban areas is something that requires engagement with the national government.

“We do think that there is a need, however, to make sure that there is a collaborative approach by all three levels of government in dealing with the issues that are going to come up.”

Property developers welcomed the federal intervention, but called for greater flexibility within the industry.

The Urban Taskforce’s chief executive, Aaron Gadiel, said that the Federal Government mas moving towards a “more enduring commitment” to city planning.

“Strong federal financial backing for credible strategic transport plans will solve one of the biggest urban challenges we face,” Mr Gadiel said.

“The key will be ensuring that the federally-backed plans make iron-clad commitments about publicly funded infrastructure, but still give the private sector the flexibility to respond to changing market needs.

“Strategies should be adaptable – so they accommodate a wide range of potential changes in population and economic activity.

“Plans must also ensure that the supply of land available for development – in greenfield and infill areas – always exceeds market demand.”