Reading the City: Urban Sprawl

Across March we’ll be Reading the City; shining a light on the many ways we understand and talk about Melbourne itself. From the city as an abstract concept to the physical landscape in all its permutations, we’ll be hearing from visual artists and architects, policy makers and designers, novelists and historians. The City of Literature becomes the focus, and you’ll never read it the same way again.

Urban Sprawl, Melbourne 2030 Sunday Forum

In the first of two Sunday Public forums, the Centre teases out some of the issues and pitfalls in how we conceive of Melbourne’s growth. The state government 2030 initiative has fans and detractors, but what does it all really mean? High density or urban sprawl? More roads or improving public transport? Are our options ‘boom or bust’ or ‘boom and bust’? What price for growth?

Chaired by Sally Warhaft, the panel will include Rob Adams, Michael Buxton, Elliot Fishman and Jane-Frances Kelly.

Presenters

Sally Warhaft

Sally Warhaft is a Melbourne anthropologist and former editor of The Monthly magazine.

Rob Adams

Professor Rob Adams' decades of seminal work as an architect and urban designer was recognised in 2007 with an Order of Australia (AM) for services to urban design, town planning and architecture.

Michael Buxton

Associate Professor Michael Buxton joined RMIT in 1998 after 12 years in senior management with Victorian Government Planning and Environment agencies, and with the Victorian Environment Protection Authority.

Elliot Fishman

Elliot is one of Australia’s leading experts on sustainable transport and oil vulnerability. He has worked both internationally and around Australia on a variety of transport issues, with a special interest in energy and infrastructure planning.

Jane-Frances Kelly

Since moving to Australia in 2004, Jane-Frances Kelly has worked as a senior adviser to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Boston Consulting Group, the Vice-Chancellor at Melbourne University, the Chief Commissioner at Victoria Police, and the Victorian and Queensland Premier’s Departments.