In PX115 our guest is Liz Mackevicius. Liz is an urban planner who has taken a new role as an organisational coach for those in the built environment industry. She will be leading the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) program ‘Pathway to Lead’. Information about the program, and the link to register for the session is:
https://www.planning.org.au/eventsandcpdnew/additional-programs.
It’s for consultants across Australia.
An accredited organisational coach, Liz has built a reputation of strong but supportive coaching. She values accountability, acknowledging this is what helps us translate aspirations into real breakthroughs. She has worked with a range of clients, building their confidence, resolve and satisfaction.
Liz is also a trainer and facilitator with a passion and commitment to helping those who create our liveable cities be more effective and have rewarding work. She believes that the challenge and problem solving we experience at work should be part of a fulfilling life – but that we often need to do the work to create that for ourselves.
Liz is also a public policy expert with nearly 20 years’ experience in urban planning, government advisory, strategy and policy development across a range of consulting and State and Local government roles. She understands the challenges of consulting, including balancing client demands with deep and creative thinking, leading people with different working and communication preferences, working with clients on tricky problems and developing strategies and policy in a constantly changing context.
In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner Liz recommends The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner
https://ericweinerbooks.com/books/the-geography-of-bliss/
Jess recommends Oppenheimer the movie (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppenheimer_(film))
Pete recommends: Dragon Sakura TV series Netflix https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81488898 and ‘Modern Talking’ hear their song ‘Who will save the world’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDIT-R8LYkg&list=RDiDIT-R8LYkg&start_radio=1 or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD_UHyaN3dc
Audio produced by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 9 April 2024.
In PX114, our interview guest is Anna Lowder, a co-founder and director of Hampstead, a New Urbanist community in Montgomery, Alabama, inspired by her experiences while living in London before returning to Montgomery. Established in 2008, the 416-acre master-planned residential and mixed-use development features homes, townhomes, condos, apartments, restaurants, shops, workspaces and a school, farm, and a lake. Anna helped Hampstead and Montgomery become the first neighborhood and largest city to adopt the SmartCode, an innovative zoning code that encourages diverse, mixed-use community for all ages and stages of life. She is a member of the National Town Builders Association and the Congress for the New Urbanism.
Interview topics include, New Urbanism, Multigenerational Design, Designing for Sustainable Communities, SmartCode Adoption and Breaking Barriers with New Urbanism.
In podcast extra / culture corner, Anna recommends ‘The Bear’ TV series https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bear_(TV_series)
Jess recommends: ‘Wholesome by Sarah’, recipes and a new cookbook coming https://www.wholesomebysarah.com.au
and Pete recommends local history books including ‘The Enigma of Snake Island’ by Rob Ganly https://images.app.goo.gl/HnmAvU3VcHZPgFEGA
Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 21 March 2024.
Episode PX113 is all about Advanced Aerial Mobility (AAM) aircraft, these are typically electric or hybrid powered, air taxis and the like. They have appeared in various science fiction films such as Blade Runner 2019 and Blade Runner 2049 (nicknamed ‘spinners’). They will soon be appearing above our cities and towns. Clem Newton-Brown our guest is CEO and founder of Skyportz (https://skyportz.com), the only Australian business developing a network of landing sites for a future air taxi network. Clem’s background as a former Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Member of Victorian Parliament and barrister specialising in planning and property development has put him at the forefront of this emerging industry. More details on Clem are found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clem_Newton-Brown.
Clem serves on several Federal, State, industry and international committees advancing the development of the rules and regulations around establishing a whole new era in clean, green electric aviation. The success of the industry depends on these changes along with a network of Skyportz sites from which air taxis will operate. These are known as ‘vertiports’.
We note some AAM's aircraft might have alternative power sources or run as hybrids.
Skyportz has over 600 property partner sites in Australia and New Zealand which are ready to activate when regulations permit.
A terrific interview subject with a great passion for new business concepts, cities and aviation.
In podcast extra / culture corner, Clem recommends the great outdoors and getting away form technology (for a little bit). Jess recommends: Duolingo ‘Learning Italian’: https://www.duolingo.comthe
Pete recommends: ‘A Rebel from the start - Setting the record straight’ by Avi Yemini https://www.amazon.com.au/Rebel-Start-Setting-Record-Straight/dp/B0C91KG18N
Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 1 March 2024.
In PX112, our interview guest is Jessica Lee, a principal architect at Fender Katsalidis Architects (https://fkaustralia.com).
Jessica discusses the ‘Alba’ project, the conversion of a 1970’s former office building into 150 rooms of age appropriate housing (retirement accommodation and aged care). The site is located within South Melbourne, an inner city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria Australia. The cost of the conversion was $125m (AU). Whilst not being significantly cheaper than a rebuild there were environmental savings according to Jessica.
In the interview Jessica discusses the project from start to finish. There was the initial ‘whats the building like’, ‘’whats under the surfaces’, to scoping the logistics of conversions (very different from a vacant site), finding a suitable builder (not all high rise builders have the equipment or skill set to do this type of work), services upgrades and the intricate details of providing contemporary residential accommodation (along with the end user needs).
Jessica indicates that a review of the Melbourne CBD found only 6% of sites are candidates for such conversions. Frequent killers of such projects are the depth of a site and the position of lift cores, the reasons being apartments need natural light unlike office buildings. Also the ‘bones’ of a structure building in terms of structure and floor to floor heights may not be suitable. Applying contemporary safety and environmental standards are also difficult to satisfy.
The interview explores the design concept as well as the ’nuts and bolts’ and up close descriptions of the building project. At times it is like being on site mid project with hard hat, boots and vest.
The conversion of office buildings to residential has been touted in many planning publications and strategies as a solution to various housing crisis. The interview reveals that such conversions are possible but not many sites are suitable and there are specialist requirements in undertaking the challenge. Jessica provides a clear eyed view of a not well understood issue.
One insight from the interview is that blanket planning policies or government subsidies promoting such conversions at the expense of complete rebuilds may not be cost effective, environmentally benefical or practical.
A terrific interview subject with a great passion for buildings, cities and life.
In podcast extra / culture corner, Jessica recommends
Rob Adams - Urban Choreography Central Melbourne 1985 - MUP https://www.mup.com.au/authors/rob-adams
Jess N recommends: Duolingo ‘Learning Italian’: https://www.duolingo.comthe
Pete recommends: Break Point on Netflix (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Break_Point_(2023_TV_series) and celebrates his sporting triumphs over 2023
Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 2 January 2024. Happy New Year to all our listeners.
In PX111, our interview guest is Jesse Suskin, Head of Government Relations & Public Policy at Wing Aviation (https://wing.com).
We talk all things drone delivery particularly the experience learnt in Logan in Queensland, Australia where there has been extensive delivery operations over a lengthy time period.
Wing Aviation is an offshoot of Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc.
Jesse Suskin is the head of government relations and public policy in Australia for Wing, a company that sees a future where drone delivery is the safest, fastest and most environmentally friendly way to transport small items. Before joining Wing in 2018, Jesse spent over six years with Google, working in government relations, public affairs, and public policy in Washington, DC and Sydney, Australia. Earlier in his career, Jesse worked in politics and public service including at the White House as Associate Director of Communications for President George W. Bush, and as Director of Media Services for Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. Jesse also worked for the Government of Australia at its Embassy in Washington, DC, advising Ambassador Kim Beazley.
Jesse serves on a number of advisory committees including the Australian Department of Infrastructure’s New and Emerging Aviation Technology Consultative Committee, the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s Regulatory Roadmap Technical Working Group, and the University of New South Wales School of Aviation’s Industry Advisory Committee.
In the interview we talk about how drone delivery works, the testing that has gone into the systems, how drone delivery offers alternatives to car based delivery methods and lessons learnt in the various trials around the world. Jesse also discusses working with local authorities including the sharing of data.
In podcast extra / culture corner, Jesse recommends the ‘The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York’, a 1974 biography of Robert Moses by Robert Caro. Details at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Power_Broker
Jess recommends ‘The Days’ a Netflix production on the Fukushima nuclear plant that experienced a Tsunami and earthquake in 2011. Details at https://en.wikipedia.org/wikiThe_Days_(Japanese_TV_series). Technical details of the incident can be found at https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/safety-of-plants/fukushima-daiichi-accident.aspx
Pete recommends ‘Fauda’ a Netflix series on the Middle East conflict. Details at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fauda
Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 5 December 2023.
In PX110, our interview guest is Professor Tim Parkin, we talk all things Roman particularly their city life.
Tim Parkin joined the Classics and Archaeology department at the University of Melbourne in 2018 as the inaugural Elizabeth and James Tatoulis Chair in Classics. Before this he had spent over 11 years as Professor of Ancient History at the University of Manchester (UK).
Tim is a New Zealander by birth who was awarded a D.Phil. at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar and who, since 1989, has worked in universities in New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom, as well as spending over a year in Germany as an Alexander von Humboldt research fellow. His teaching covers both Greek and Roman history and classical languages. His main research is in ancient history, particularly Roman social, cultural, and demographic history. Among his publications are Demography and Roman Society (1992), Old Age in the Roman World: A Social and Cultural History (2003), Roman Social History: A Sourcebook (2007), and The Oxford Handbook of Childhood and Education in the Classical World (2014). Tim is currently working primarily on ancient sexual health, in particular sexually transmitted diseases, as well as co-editing a cultural history of old age from antiquity to the current day and a BICS supplement on domestic violence in the Roman world, and working on papers on elders in the early Christian church and the demographic realities of the ancient countryside. He is currently supervising research students in a wide range of topics including feminist readings of Ovid's Metamorphoses, the geographical writings of Solinus, concepts of revenge in the Roman world, and the uses of food, magic and drugs in the works of Apuleius. In 2023 he continues in his role as Deputy Head of the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies and he takes on a new role as Deputy Associate Dean (Partnerships) in the Faculty of Arts. He is also Honorary President of the Classical Association of Victoria.
In podcast extra / culture corner Tim recommends the NZ actor Sam Neil’s Memoir ‘Did I Ever Tell You This?’ https://www.textpublishing.com.au/books/did-i-ever-tell-you-this. Tim also recommends ‘Kellis: A Roman - Period Village in Egypt’s Dakhleh Oasis’ https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/2749916/Kellis-A-Roman-Period-Village-in-Egypts-Dakhleh-Oasis.pdf.
Jess recommends ‘Dead Tide’ by Fiona Mcintosh https://www.penguin.com.au/books/dead-tide-9781761344633
Pete recommends ‘My father and me’ by Nick Broomfield. https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/my-father-me-nick-maurice-broomfield-working-class-photographer-life Also the work of Maurice Broomfield recognised by the V & A in the book ‘Maurice Broomfield Industrial Sublime’ https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/maurice-broomfield-industrial-sublime (available in many libraries). See also https://mauricebroomfield.photography
Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 30 October 2023.
Doug is an American entomologist, ecologist and conservationist. He is a professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware. Doug advocates for home gardens and landscaping that bridge the gaps between parks and preserves in providing habitat for native species. He has spoken on the connections between plants and insects and how those relations are important to birds. He has called for smaller lawns.
He has written a number of books on nature including: ‘Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that starts in your yard.’ (Feb 2020), ‘Bringing Nature Home: How you can sustain wildlife with native plants.’ (April 2009), ‘The Nature of Oaks: The rich ecology of our most essential native trees’. (March 2021), with Rick Drake - ‘The Living Landscape: designing for beauty and biodiversity in the home garden’. (July 2014) and for children along with Sarah Thomson ‘Nature’s Best Hope (Young Readers Edition): How you can save the world in your own yard’. (April 2023)
Doug has authored 97 research publications and has taught insect-related courses for 40 years. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. His research has been ground breaking showing links between insects, plants and wildlife that had never before been envisaged. His book Bringing Nature Home, published by Timber Press in 2007, was awarded the 2008 Silver Medal by the Garden Writers’ Association. Among his awards are the Garden Club of America Margaret Douglas Medal for Conservation and the Tom Dodd, Jr. Award of Excellence, the 2018 AHS B. Y. Morrison Communication Award, and the 2019 Cynthia Westcott Scientific Writing Award.
There is an interview with Doug in the Smithsonian magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/meet-ecologist-who-wants-unleash-wild-backyard-180974372/
He appears on a number of YouTube talks and interviews.
In podcast extra / culture corner Doug talks about David Attenborough’s latest show, ‘Wild Isles’ about nature in Great Britain and Ireland. Jess recommends ‘Mirror Man’ by author Fiona Mcintosh (https://www.penguin.com.au/books/mirror-man-9781760894337). Pete mentions his ambitious plan to grow grass trees (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanthorrhoea). Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 3 October 2023.
In PX108, our interview guest is Dr Stefan Gruenert, the CEO of Odyssey House Victoria.
Odyssey House Victoria is a state-wide, specialist treatment organisation dedicated to improving the lives of individuals who experience significant or long-term problems from alcohol and other drug use.
Stefan describes the work of Odyssey House and the clients they serve. He talks of the various programs on offer. He describes how the OH facilities work and about the knowledge gained in providing effective treatment. Many drug and alcohol rehabilitation projects run the gauntlet of the development approval system. Stefan talks of his experiences with the development assessment process and makes observations about common misconceptions.
As a disclaimer, Pete has worked as a planning consultant for Odyssey House.
Podcast extra / culture corner Stefan talks about the joys of learning German listening to the podcast ‘Coffee Break German’ (https://coffeebreaklanguages.com/coffeebreakgerman/). Also he recommends the Netflix documentary series ‘Alone’ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alone_(TV_series)). Jess recommends a Netflix documentary ‘The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari’ https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81410405. Pete recommends a documentary on NHK (Japanese state broadcaster) ‘Return to an Abandoned Village: 50 Years in Tsubayama)’ https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/worldprime/20230429/3016152/
Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 5 September 2023.
In PX107, our interview guest is Kate Hardwick an exceptional planning professional originally from Australia who now works in South East Asia.
Kate takes the listener on a fascinating journey describing her professional career. Along the way she offers tips to those starting out and also to those seeking a new direction after a number of years in the job.
She talks of recognising and responding to cultural variations and social norms in many different countries. Also in gaining humility and the value, often overlooked, of actually listening and observing.
Kate looks back on her early career and identifies key change moments. She also talks of the challenges and rewards of working on large scale 'new world' urban development projects both oin the west and east. There is a particular segment of note on how Singapore does planning.
In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner, Kate recommends ‘War Transformed’ by Major General Mick Ryan https://mickryan.com.au/books-%26-writing. Jess recommends the pleasures of farmers markets while Pete reads a poem about his new dog.
Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 27 July 2023.
In PX106, our interview guest is James Vincent who is the CTO at NCS NEXT Australia, a global digital, data and cloud services consultancy (https://www.ncs.co/en-au/next/). James is a senior people leader with 25 years’ commercial IT experience and an established authority in large-scale strategic transformation in enterprise environments and delivering business outcomes through technology.
In this episode James shares four smart city technology solutions government could adopt to improve citizen services amid a rapidly growing urban population. Smart meters, sensor technology and AI in buildings to reduce environmental footprint are some of the examples that James touches on.
With Australia’s population projected to reach 30 million between 2029 and 2033, adding pressure to the quality and delivery of services for the community, James describes how it’s becoming more important to leverage modern technology to improve experiences and the efficiency of infrastructure, public transport, travel and roads.
He has previously stated: “Urban populations are growing at unprecedented rates, so we need to keep investing in smart city technology to create a brighter and more stable future. When further demand is added to systems such as public transport and traffic networks, some will struggle to cope – leading to overcrowding and poor-quality experiences.
“Modern technology is making safe, scalable, sustainable cities and performant governments a reality. In particular, smart city technology helps accommodate large and rapid urban population growth, facilitate resource conservation such as water and carbon, and improve the quality of services for the community across utilities, transport, healthcare, waste management, air quality, safety and wellbeing, and emergency response.
“We’re already starting to see various levels of Government engage in public-private partnerships and sponsored collaboration to modernise and advance services through technology. It’s a great step in improving access for citizens and the broader community and one we hope will continue in response to the changing population’s needs.”
The concept of ’Smart Cities’ has been touted before. In this episode we talk about how technologies and systems thinking has created previously unrealisable outcomes. James, in a very broad discussion talks about how these technologies are just as relevant in developing nations as they are in first world countries. We also talk about the potential downsides of such technologies in terms of civic life. In the interview we also discuss visions of the future portrayed through popular culture.
A wide ranging and testing interview on a topic that those responsibility ofor cities and towns will have to grapple with. We hope the episode makes a positive contribution to an understanding of the issues.
In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner, James recommends the Emperor series by British author Con Iggulden https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conn_Iggulden. The series follows the life of Julius Caesar. On another note he describes his efforts trying to build an acoustic guitar, quite a challenge! He revels in the hands on, craft aspect of the task.
Jess has a TV show recommendation, Fisk (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisk_(TV_series)).
Pete recommends Wuthering Heights (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuthering_Heights) and the PlanningxChange Spotify playlist!
Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 3 July 2023.
In PX105, our interview guest is Torie Brown, Executive Director of the Student Accommodation Council. The Council was formed in 2022 by the Property Council to give a voice to the critically important purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) sector which provides homes for over 76,500 students per year, a figure that continues to grow. https://www.propertycouncil.com.au/advocacy/our-divisions/student-accommodation-council
Providing vibrant and connected housing options for students underpins Australia’s largest service export – international education. Ensuring a strong pipeline of beds also reduces pressure on the broader residential rental market by providing a safe, student-only housing choice.
Torie talks about the vital importance of this type of housing stock and along the way dispels various misconceptions about the users of such housing and the housing type. She talks about the evolution of design practice and how this is linked to the constant feedback provided by occupants. She also identifies good locational PBSA criteria and makes various suggestions to policy makers on how to facilitate the growth of this sector. There are 200+ PBSA developments in Australia. It is the fourth largest student market in the world.
In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner, Torie recommends an article ‘Investors backing student beds in downturn’ (https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/investors-backing-student-beds-in-downturn) and ‘Poker Face’ on Stan (https://www.stan.com.au/watch/poker-face-2023).
Jess has no book ar film recommendations but does discuss the joy of setting aside an hour each week, early morning, in a cafe, for ‘life admin’.
Pete recommends the film clip of AC/DC - It’s a Long Way to the Top (If you wanna rock ’n’ roll). The band plays the song on the back of a flatbed truck travelling slowly down the main street of Melbourne’s CBD, in 1976. A great audacious, larrikin performance (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQluGs2SFRs).
Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 5 June 2023.
In PX104, our interview guest is Vanessa Schernickau, the Chief Executive Officer of the Geelong Regional Library Corporation (GRLC). The GRLC provides library and information services to residents and visitors across the Geelong region on behalf of five local government councils.
The network consists of a central library, 18 community libraries, three mobile libraries and website. It provides free, universal access to lifelong learning, reading and discovery.
The Geelong Library began in 1858 as part of the Mechanics Institute.
Vanessa talks about her first library book and a lifetime love of libraries. She talks of the dynamic changes that have led to the modern library model. This model has changed with the times and now a substantial component of user requirements are not associated with physical books.
As the industrialist and great patron of public libraries Andrew Carnegie famously put it more than a century ago, “A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never-failing spring in the desert.” His words ring true today.
We chose libraries as an interview topic as they represent one of the few public places in our towns and cities. They also provide a good deal of assistance to people navigating government services and simply as pleasant places to rest and relax.
In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner, Vanessa recommends two books, ‘The Colony’ by Audrey Magee and ’Small things like these’ by Claire Keegan.
Jess recommends ‘The House of Eve’ by Sadeqa Johnson.
Pete recommends ‘100 Poems, 100 Poets (Hyaku-nin isshu).
Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 1 May 2023.
In PX103, our interview subject is Tim Jackson, a +40 year veteran of local government. Tim recently retired for a second time from the paid workforce after completing his four year role as the State Government appointed Administrator at the District of Council of Coober Pedy in South Australia in February. This was the first time an Administrator had been appointed to a South Australian Council in almost forty years.
Prior to his first retirement, Tim was CEO of the City of Playford in South Australia for eighteen years. Playford was and is South Australia’s fastest growing local government area. At the time of his departure, it was the eleventh fastest growing local government area in Australia. Prior to his time in South Australia, he was employed in Victoria by the City of Prahran which became the City of Stonnington after the reorganisation of local government in Victoria in the early 1990s.
Tim principal interest throughout his career has been about empowering citizens and employees. Tim has simultaneously performed many voluntary non executive roles in the for purpose sector.
In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner, Tim recommends Utopia the TV series (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopia_(Australian_TV_series) and the biography of Sir Edmund Hillary, ‘Edmund Hillary – A Biography: The extraordinary life of the beekeeper who climbed Everest’ by Michael Gill. Details on Hillary are found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Hillary
Jess recommends ‘Madoff - The Monster of Wall Street’ on Netflix.
Pete recommends the short stories of W. Somerset Maugham including ‘Far Eastern Tales’ on Audible. Details of Maugham can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Somerset_Maugham.
Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 24 March 2023.
In this episode, PlanningxChange delves into the history of heritage conservation in Australia. James Lesh is an urban historian specialising in heritage conservation. He is interested in the potential for history and heritage to enhance cities, places and society.
His latest book is Values in Cities: Urban Heritage in Twentieth-Century Australia (Routledge, 2022). It synthesises the history of the Australian heritage movement and advocates for innovative modes of heritage practice.
James is a Lecturer in Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies at Deakin University in Naarm/Melbourne, Australia. He has previously researched and taught at the University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, and King’s College London.
In podcast extra or culture corner:
James recommends ‘The Lost City Of Melbourne’ documentary, ‘Monkey Grip’ - film, ‘Dogs in Space’ - film. ‘The Bear’ TV show.
Jess recommends ‘King Richard’ film and yoga as an exercise.
Pete recommends ‘The Legend of Ben Hall’ (bushranger movie) and on Youtube ‘The making of The Legend of Ben Hall’.
Episode released 23 February 2023. Audio production by Jack Bavage.
In PX101 our guests are Natalia Weglarz and Peter Johns. Natalia is a planner at the Canberra office of WSP (www.wsp.com). She has been in Canberra for eight years, prior to that she was in Sydney and the UK. Peter Johns has lived in Canberra since the mid 1960's and has worked as a planner in Canberra over several decades.
They describe the history of Canberra, the orginal grand plan for the city developed in 1911, how it has evolved and its role as Australia's most planned city. Should there be greater expectations of a planned city is one of the questions raised. They also talk of the difficult balance (and tensions) between respecting the original strategic plan whilst grafting on changes that reflect modern societal needs.
In podcast extra / culture corner, Peter Johns recommends: Jane Harpers ‘Exiles’ (Rural noir theme):https://janeharper.com.au/books/exiles
A recommendation Jess endorses.
Natalia recommends two items: the podcast ’99% invisible’ https://99percentinvisible.org and Netflix's ‘Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story’ https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81287562
Pete recommends 'Aussie Mega Mechanics'
https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/aussie-mega-mechanics-series-1-2018/37983/
Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 8 January 2023.
To celebrate our 100th episode we re-interview four of our previous guests. We ask them about their experiences with the podcast and what has happened in their professional sphere since their earlier interview.
To begin with, Jess has a brief introduction where she explains the origins of PX and the subsequent journey over the past eight years.
Our first guest is Chris Abery, one of Australia's leading retail planning analysts. Chris is at the consultancy Deep End Services
https://www.deependservices.com.au
Chris was our very first guest (PX1) on the podcast which was released on 7 December 2014. His podcast extra recommendation is 'get a dog'. His is named 'Freddie'.
Our second guest is Liz Hui, an accoustic engineer who is at Marshall Day
https://www.marshallday.com.au
She is also a Planning Panels Victoria Member. Liz appeared in PX73 which was released on the 22nd December 2020. Her podcast extra recommendation is the Melbourne School of Design (MSD) Youtube channel where a video featuring Trevor Cox 'Soundscapes' should hopefully appear soon. The MSD Youtube channel is at
https://www.youtube.com/@MelbourneSchoolofDesign-MSD
Our third guest is Mark Sheppard, an urban design expert and author. Mark is at Kinetica
https://www.kinetica.net.au/home/
He is also the President of VPELA, our major sponsor
Mark appeared in PX14 on the 10th December 2015. His podcast extra recommendation is 'Antifragile - Things That Gain from Disorder' by Nassim Nicholas Taleb.
Our final guest is Nicola Smith, an urban planner who has her business Niche Planning Studio, which has offices in Melbourne and Perth.
https://www.nicheplanningstudio.com.au
Nicola appeared in PX12 which was released on the 30th October 2015. Her podcast extra recommendation is 'Love Island'
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Island_Australia
The edition finishes with some closing comments by Jess and Pete.
Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 14 December 2022.
In PlanningxChange episode 99 our guest is Alex Fenech, a landscape architect based in Florida. At the time we recorded the interview Alex was a Vice President at EDSA (https://www.edsaplan.com) one of America’s leading landscape and urban design firms.
Alex is the past President of ALSA Florida (American Society of Landscape architects) - https://www.aslaflorida.org/AboutFL
In a wide ranging interview Alex talks of the many parts of a landscape architect’s role. These include not just technical knowledge such as soil types and nutrients, drainage and plant characteristics but also an understanding of how people relate to settings. Alex outlines that ‘people’ are not one standard type but that there are social, cultural and generational differences on how we perceive our environment, and the landscape design needs to understand the variety of user experiences. He talks of the need to plan for the life of a landscape environment in terms of care and maintenance, which is often overlooked.
Alex discusses the considerable amenity uplift that well considered landscaping can provide to a variety of settings including as a ‘link’ between buildings, town and city image and the improvement that well curated landscaping can have on heavily used transport corridors. A number of EDSA projects are mentioned as examples.
He talks of understanding the client brief and the skill in ‘steering’ a client to possibilities they might not have expected. There are a number of examples he provides in America and overseas where landscaping and urban form produce outstanding sensory perceptions.
In Podcast extra or Culture Corner (a segment inspired by the ‘London Calling’ podcast), Alex recommends ‘Drain the Oceans’ shown on National Geographic (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drain_the_Oceans), this program considers the ocean floor using underwater scanning systems that bring new insights into archeology and sometimes challenge conventional wisdom.
Jess praises the movie ‘The Lost City of Melbourne’. https://www.thelostcityofmelbourne.org which considers many of the demolished buildings of Melbourne which in contemporary times would obtain heritage listing. Her second ‘extra’ is the book ‘The couple upstairs’, by Holly Wainwright https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781761263071/. ‘Writing with both a light touch and vivid intensity, Holly Wainwright explores love, regret, whether you can stop history repeating, and whether or not you should.’
Pete talks about his life long interest in bushrangers and the website: https://aguidetoaustralianbushranging.com.
Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 28 October 2022.
In PlanningxChange episode 98 our guest is Tim Ellis one of the world’s leading magicians. Details about Tim are found at https://www.timellismagic.com and at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Ellis_(magician)
What do magic and city planning have in common? The connection to this episode is Tim organising the Melbourne Magic Festival - MMF (https://melbournemagicfestival.com). This is the largest magic festival in the Southern Hemisphere. It typically occurs late June/early July each year. It consists of a main venue in central Melbourne comprising four different sized theatres and various satellite venues in Melbourne’s suburbs and country Victoria. The festival is a purely private venture receiving no public support grants.
How is a festival put together? What are the logistics, what makes it a success? How does one gauge success? What does it mean for the host city?
Tim with many years of experience organising and financing the MMF is well placed to answer these questions and illuminate the creative impulses and tensions putting on one of Australia’s best events.
In Podcast extra or Culture Corner (a segment inspired by the ‘London Calling’ podcast), Tim recommends any ‘Derren Brown Specials’ (on Netflix), master magician and on Disney +, ‘In & of itself’ by Frank Oz. (preview at www.youtube.com/watch?v=_62BeXxd_jo)
Jess praises the work and resources available through local historical societies (in Victoria see https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/societies/). Pete talks of an article he has had published in ‘Bellcord’, the newsletter of the Melbourne Tram Museum (https://www.trammuseum.org.au/bellcord.htm) about the Tramway Union Banner of 1916.
Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 2 October 2022.
In PlanningxChange episode 97 our guest is David Beaumont one of Australia's leading landscape and portrait painters. David is based in the historic seaside town of Queenscliff. From there he embarks on various solitary sojourns to the outback to immerse himself in the breadth and depth of the Australian landscape. He is also a frequent observer of the gritty parts of Melbourne where he observes the human condition in its rawest expression.
We are fortunate to have him on the podcast to talk about art in the city, a topic far from strategic master plans and city planning ordinances. The discussion rambles through art history, contemporary approaches to public art, the palette of the city and the absurdity of life.
Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 1 September 2022.
In PlanningxChange episode 96 our guest is Simon Kuestenmacher, one of Australia’s leading demographers.
Simon is a Director and Co-founder of The Demographics Group based in Melbourne, Australia.
Simon holds degrees in geography from leading universities in Berlin and Melbourne and worked for several years as a business consultant with KPMG Australia.
In 2017 Simon, with Bernard Salt, co-founded The Demographics Group. The group provides specialist advice on demographic, consumer and social trends for business.
Simon has presented to numerous corporate and industry audiences across Australia and overseas on demographic trends, consumer insights and cultural change in Australia.
His presentations and quirky observations are enjoyed by groups from the financial services, property, government, education, technology, retail and professional services industries, among others.
Simon is a columnist for The New Daily newspaper and a contributor to The Australian newspaper and he is a media commentator on demographic and data matters.
Simon has amassed 300,000 global followers on social media, reaches over 25 million people every month and ranks as one of the world’s Top 10 influencers in data visualisation. If you can’t get enough of data that explains how the world works, make sure to follow him on Twitter or any of his other social channels.
Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 1 August 2022.
In PlanningxChange episode 95 our guest is Lucinda Hartley. Her bio reads as follows: ‘Urban designer turned entrepreneur, Lucinda Hartley uses big data to measure the quality of life and wellbeing of neighbourhoods. She is a co-founder of Neighbourlytics, a social analytics platform which has created data for more than 500 neighbourhoods in over 10 countries and is influencing some of world’s most significant urban development decisions. Lucinda was recently named as one of 100 Women of Influence by the Australian Financial Review and one of Melbourne's Top 100 most influential people by The Age.
With over a decade of experience in urban innovation, Lucinda was a Myer Innovation Fellow, Westpac Social Change Fellow, and was previously co-founder and CEO of award-winning placemaking consultancy, CoDesign Studio. Prior to this her insights contributed to defining UN Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Cities). A designer turned tech-founder, Lucinda is alumni of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Singularity University. Lucinda doesn’t separate work and personal life: first we shape our cities, then they shape us.’
Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 11 July 2022.
In PlanningxChange episode 94 our guest is Laura Gannon an Associate Director at Meridan Urban with almost 20 years of experience in strategic land use planning, bushfire risk and community resilience across both the public and private sectors. Laura specialises in management consulting approaches to the integration of natural hazard risk management into land use planning policy and strategy, with a particular emphasis on bushfire risk and resilience, floodplain risk management and climate adaptation. She has extensive experience in the areas of planning policy, strategic and statutory planning accumulated through a number of senior leadership positions.
Laura is a corporate member of PIA, Member of the Fire Protection Association of Australia and the Australian Institute of Emergency Services. Laura holds relevant Planning, Bushfire Management and Project Management qualifications.
Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 14 June 2022.
In PlanningxChange 93 the tables are turned and we are interviewed. PX was a guest at the Ratio Consultants breakfast speaker series. Colleen Peterson (PX23), the CEO of Ratio presented and asked questions. The interview reveals the formation of PX, the mechanics of how we put interviews together, what we have learnt and how we work together. A bit self indulgent but there you go. We hope you enjoy this.
The interview was recorded on the 7th April 2022. Interview produced by Jack Bavage. The podcast release date is the 18th May 2022.
In PlanningxChange episode 92 the subject is Phil Priest, Group Manager City Development at the Moreland City Council. The following is an extract from VPELA's Journal 'Revue' of October 2021 which described Phil’s career and his recent awarding of the Paul Jerome Award for contributions to the public sector.
“When planners think of Moreland Council, they think of Phil Priest. Phil has been a mainstay in planning in the inner city for decades, providing exemplarily service to the public sector and leading Moreland’s successful transition from a dying industrial heartland to a beacon for inner city urban renewal. Phil earn’t his stripes at City of Melbourne, before joining Moreland in
2003 as the Manager of Urban Development. For the next 17 years, he had a variety of managerial and planning roles, including Group Manager City Development, where he led multi disciplinary teams of over 70 professionals with responsibilities for town planning, building and environmental health.
After a brief stint at DELWP as the Director of Developer Approvals and Design, Phil has returned to his old stomping ground at Moreland Council as Acting Director City Futures. But Phil’s contribution to planning and the public sector goes beyond titles. He is very approachable, facilitative and reasonable, always finding a sensible balance between local community pressures to limit development and pursuing urban consolidation in Moreland’s activity centre’s and transit corridors.
As the manufacturing industry dwindled in the 80’s and 90’s, Phil oversaw a seismic shift in Moreland’s industrial precincts that has seen them embrace change and become exemplars for inner city urban renewal.
During his time, Moreland has earned a reputation as a pioneer and leader in Local Government planning circles. He has led many planning initiatives including the Moreland Apartment Design Code prior to the introduction of BADS, the introduction of the ESD Policy in the Moreland Planning Scheme and more recently initiatives to reduce emissions. He has championed planning leadership at Moreland through proactive, forward looking initiatives such as VicSmart for 2 lot subdivisions. These are consistent with Phil’s unwavering commitment to process improvement and driving efficiencies.
Phil directed the implementation of a digital planning system at Moreland, well before others. This proved fortuitous when Covid hit, with Moreland well prepared for the mad scramble away from paper. A quick look at the Moreland website today shows a leading Council who understands their community’s needs and the responsibilities of an effective planning system.
Phil is particularly supportive to planners entering the industry and provides an excellent working environment where staff are encouraged to succeed. His sensible approach and ‘can do’ attitude has earn’t him a solid reputation amongst planners and the wider industry.”
Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 27 April 2022.
In PlanningxChange episode 91 we interview Matt Roberts about Ian Nairn, an architectural and planning critic in the UK during the 1950s - 1970s. Matt is an architectural historian and a member of the podcast team that produces About Buildings and Cities. Details are at https://aboutbuildingsandcities.org.
The About Buildings and Cities podcast produced a three part series on Ian Nairn. This is highly recommended as a lively and insightful review of the broad career of Ian Nairn, his times and his impact on the public imagination.
Nairn came to prominence with a special edition of the Architectural Review called ‘Outrage’ published in 1955. In this he coined the term ’Subtopia’ for areas around cities that had been failed by urban planning and lost their sense of place. ‘Outrage’ was followed soon afterwards by ‘Counter-Attack’. Nairn also contributed to various books on British cities and architecture (although not a trained architect) such as ‘The Buildings of England’.
Nairn also contributed to the evolution of guide books most notably with his ‘Nairn’s London’ (1966) and ‘Nairn’s Paris’ (1968).
Of his writings Jonathon Meades has said:
Mere architectural description could not suffice for that land of joke-oak and real rhododendron; what it demands is an acute sense of place and the gift to render that sense. Nairn possessed both, and in his London book he showed a third gift, that of the realization of the emotional power of townscape. That trinity of gifts made him a great poet of the metropolis.
Nairn also enjoyed a lengthy TV career producing programs on various British towns and cities and on places on the continent.
Many of these programs are available through YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQfgA_6HLT0&list=PLzBwppKDCE9BLOqw1SqWdH14H_onhYgWn
The BBC produced a program ‘The Man who fought the planners: The story of ian Nairn’ which is available on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvoXJ1Ye9R4&t=137s
Many of the insights of Nairn are as relevant today as then.
Matt Roberts provides us with a fascinating insight into the life and times and legacy of Nairn; we are very grateful to our podcast ‘cousin’ for sharing this knowledge. Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 25 March 2022.