Australian city’s new housing plan reveals ‘big mistake’

A bold plan to make it easier to build houses in the Australian capital contains a “big mistake”, a leading planning expert has warned. Bureaucratic red tape will be cut to “simplify subdivision”, the city fringe will be expanded and high-rise buildings will be allowed around railway stations.

It’s part of the Victorian Government’s exciting plan to help millennials buy homes. “I consider this the fight of my life,” Prime Minister Jacinta Allan told the Melbourne Press Club last week.

But on Monday urban planning expert Professor Sarah Bekessy said the Government’s new property announcements had problems that would impact people, the climate and wildlife.

“None of them are actually good for nature… I think this topic has been overlooked in all the discussions,” she told Yahoo News.

“We know that people’s health and well-being are critically dependent on access to nature, and most of the many threatened species are found in and around cities, so we really need to consider that as part of the conversation.”

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There is no doubt that Melbourne is better than other states at keeping house prices low.

In Sydney, millennials who haven’t yet bought a home or don’t have access to family wealth are essentially locked out of the market or forced to buy in the suburbs. Homes in Melbourne are more than 40 per cent cheaper than Sydney, and the city also tops the price list when it comes to affordability, ahead of Canberra and Brisbane.

But as Melbourne continues to announce new policies that make the dream of homeownership more accessible, will the city that once called itself the “Garden State” lose quality of life?

How we can provide more housing and preserve green spaces.

Bekessy is Professor of Sustainable Development and Urban Planning at RMIT and lead advisor to the Biodiversity Council and welcomes the debate on affordable housing provision. But she believes there are better solutions.

She believes the answers can be found in Berlin, which has a population density similar to Melbourne.

“You have buildings that are four to six stories high and a semi-private courtyard. You can all go there and let your kids play while you drink a gin and tonic. And it’s really wonderful,” she said.

Unlike Sydney, the city of Melbourne has already lost its kookaburras because the hollow trees they need to nest in have been destroyed. If shrubs and trees are removed from yards, common species such as wattles, magpies and lorikeets may disappear.

If the houses were replaced with low-rise apartment buildings rather than townhouses, green space that provides a haven for wildlife could be preserved. Unlike townhouses, which typically don’t have gardens, these larger public spaces can also bring neighbors together outdoors.

“I recognize the need to have more homes, but I think we’re just making a big mistake by not considering biodiversity in nature as part of our decision-making process,” Bekessy said.

Why Destroying Yards Can Increase Energy Costs

Less green space also makes the city hotter. Concrete, asphalt and roofing absorb solar radiation, which raises temperatures and keeps homes hot at night, causing higher energy bills as we try to regulate the temperature inside.

“We’ve known for a long time that cities will turn into hellholes due to climate change if we don’t understand that we have a proper urban forest. It’s such a step backwards to say that now we can get rid of all the yards for housing,” Bekessy said.

When it comes to tall buildings, Bekesi fears the plan will further distance residents from nature and cost more to operate because they are “energy inefficient.”

“Imagine being on top of a 20-story building—they can’t even see the birds flying by,” she said.

“It’s better for both people and nature to have an urban form that provides community, connection to the streetscape and connection to nature.”

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