This week my class and I went to Queanbeyan to get some perspective on planning in NSW. The trip included a presentation from a Queanbeyan City Council social planner and a brief walk around Queanbeyan.The presenter showed us what work she had done for the council, the Queanbeyan community strategic plan 2010-2020, Queanbeyan Tomorrow Community Vision 2021 and talked about the wants and needs of the Queanbeyan community. We also discussed the notion that Queanbeyan is a satellite city to Canberra. This is because the vast majority of its residents work within the ACT, rely on services coming from the ACT and choose ACT schooling for their children.
The presenter also explained the methods they use for seeking public opinion which included offering food to those who attended public consultation gatherings. I mentioned that it was probably worth investigating a mandatory community involvement, such as the paid service of performing jury duty, to get a wider community input.
We then discussed the growing fringe of Queanbeyan and that the area is expected to grow by tens of thousands over the next 10 years.
After the presentation, we went for a walk around Queanbeyan and noticed a council refurbishment project under development called the Crawford Street Lifestyle Precinct. It gives the impression of a safe, sustainable-living street, which is in stark contrast to the neglected adjoining streets.I enjoyed our trip to Queanbeyan and came out seriously wondering whether or not the ACT’s borders will ever be expanded to accommodate it and whether the council can focus on improving local services so it can become more independent.
There are many cross-border region that are collaborating each other in the world(e.g. German and French towns). It would be interesting if you could look at these examples and how they are creating synergies to bring better quality of life to the people.
ReplyDeleteThat's actually a good point. I know that Basel, Switzerland's third most populous city, is on the triangle French-German-Swiss border and even has several suburbs inside France and Germany. They speak a variant of Swiss-German and due to the ever growing cross border traffic, immigration checks ceased in late 2008. This is a synergy that has brought a better quality of life to Basel's residents.
ReplyDeleteThere's also the Øresund Bridge between Sweden and Denmark. It makes you think that if countries can create a connection despite being separated by sea, creating better links between Canberra and Queanbeyan should be easy!
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