HOW TO VOTE

20-MINUTE CITIES

THE MVCC HAS SIGNED UP TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT’S 20-MINUTE NEIGHBOURHOOD INITIATIVE. I HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE.

ALTHOUGH ON A CURSORY VIEW THE PROPOSAL SOUNDS LAUDABLE, ON CLOSER INSPECTION THERE ARE SERIOUS POTENTIAL PROBLEMS.

Authorised by:  David Wright 2 Orr St., Strathmore 3041

20-MINUTE CITIES

“Restricting use of the car is impractical, unsafe and very inconvenient for residents.”

“Our city should be built around the needs of the residents, not the ideology of the day.”

20-minute cities (neighbourhoods) are an urban planning concept where everything a resident needs can be accessed within a 20-minute journey by walking, riding a bicycle or public transport. Sometimes they are referred to as 15-minute cities.

The emphasis is on restricting the use of the automobile

20-MINUTE NEIGHBOURHOODS – CLEAN GREEN NIRVANA or DYSTOPIAN ORWELLIAN CONTROL?

The following link provides an analysis of the pro’s and cons of the 20-minute neighbourhood.

https://www.spaciable.io/blog/truman-neighbourhoods-exploring-the-positives-and-challenges-of-the-15-minute-city-model

My concerns are the emphasis placed on limiting the use of the automobile and relying on walking; bike riding and public transport. The problems with this approach are:

  • Automobiles remain the most practical/convenient form of transport for residents. Why should you be discouraged from using the car to pick up groceries or take the children to swim lessons? Restricting the use of cars disadvantages older residents and residents with families.
  • Automobiles remain the most comfortable form of transport in cold, rainy and otherwise inclement weather and they are the safest form of transport at night. Do you want your daughter/son walking home alone at midnight from the train station?
  • It discourages specialised and vibrant precincts (large shopping hubs, entertainment precincts such as Puckle St, Keilor Rd. Mt Alexander Rd., recreation precincts such as Maribyrnong River; Boeing reserve, Riverside). These are large precincts and cannot be located within a 15-20 minute walk/bike ride from every resident.
  • It will divide the city into a series of small isolated villages.

The 15-minute city concept is being trialled in Oxford, England. Many residents have expressed alarm at suggestions to limit the number of journeys outside their area to 176 journeys. Any journey over the 176 quota would attract a ‘fee’. To police this policy surveillance cameras with number plate recognition technology would be employed.

I hasten to add that there have been no such suggestions from the Moonee Valley City Council – but these matters can develop!

On a positive note, the plans to green the environment and have parks, recreation areas and village-like amenities within easy distance are laudable.

Direct Democracy – Taking the Politics out of Council and Strengthening the Consultation Process.

In the 2022-2023 Annual Report the council failed the consultation KPI. I would be looking to strengthen this consultation process.

Proposals outside of the council’s mandate should go through a very defined and rigorous process.

  • Prepare a Discussion Paper describing the proposal and include initial arguments for and against – no doubt there will be councillors in favour of the proposal and no doubt councillors against. Both groups should prepare the respective initial arguments.
  • Publish the Discussion Paper and invite public comment. This public comment should expand on the arguments for and against. The councillors for and against the proposal should distil the public comment and resubmit updated arguments for and against.
  • Republish the updated Discussion Paper and conduct a survey to gauge public sentiment either for or against the proposal. Based on the results of the survey either abandon or adopt the proposal. Without going in to specific design details, the survey could range from sampling a representative but small group through to a full distribution of voting documents (Direct Democracy)

 

Example: Moreland Council  recently changed its city name from Moreland to Merri-bec.  There was nothing wrong with the proposal however the process totally lacked transparency and appropriate consultation with the community. The cost and inconvenience of the change was not clearly and accurately presented and only a small, biased survey was performed. I quite like the name Merri-bec. That is not my argument. My concern is that without due process the will of the majority of residents / rate payers may / may not have been followed.

Liveable Cities

“Liveable Cities are build around the needs of the residents, not the ideology of the day.”

20 MINUTE NEIGHBOURHOODS – CLEAN GREEN NIRVANA or DYSTOPIAN ORWELLIAN CONTROL?

The MVCC has signed up to the State Government’s 20- minute neighbourhood initiative. I have grave concerns about this initiative. Although on a cursory view  the proposal sounds laudable, on closer inspection there are serious potential problems.

20 minute neighbourhoods are an urban planning concept where everything a resident needs can be accessed within a 20-minute journey (walking, riding bicycles, public transport). Sometimes they are referred to as 15 minute cities.

The following link provides an analysis of the pro’s and cons of the 20-minute neighbourhood.

https://www.spaciable.io/blog/truman-neighbourhoods-exploring-the-positives-and-challenges-of-the-15-minute-city-model

My concerns are the emphasis placed on walking; bike riding and public transport and limiting the use of the automobile. The problems with this approach are:

  • It divides the city into a series of small villages
  • It disadvantages older residents and younger residents with families (why should you be discouraged from using the car to pick up groceries or take your children to swim lessons? And worse – difficulties, restrictions and obstacles put in your way to discourage car use)
  • It discourages specialised and vibrant precincts (large shopping hubs, entertainment precincts such as Puckle St, Keilor Rd. Mt Alexander Rd., recreation precincts such as Maribyrnong River; Boeing reserve, Riverside)

LIVEABLE CITIES

Liveable Cities provide an amenable attractive environment, an abundance of public and green spaces; access to amenities; vibrance and culture; and convenient connection to other regions. They are build around the needs of the residents, not the ideology of the day.

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Authorised by:  David Wright 2 Orr St., Strathmore 3041