At FCPIA’s recent workshop, internationally respected urban strategist Steven Burgess challenged many of the assumptions that have shaped the Fraser Coast for decades.
His presentation was deliberately thought-provoking. Are we designing our city primarily for cars, or are we creating places where people actually want to live, walk, gather, shop and spend time?
Cars will remain essential in a regional community, but that does not mean every decision should prioritise traffic movement and parking above people, local businesses and liveability. Steven’s message was about providing greater choice: better walking connections, shaded streets, safer crossings, more town centre housing and stronger public spaces.
One of his most important challenges related to attracting and retaining younger people. Young people want more than affordable housing and employment. They also want lively centres, things to do at night, connected communities, diverse housing choices and the ability to live without being completely dependent on a car.
If we continue building more detached housing further from employment, services and activity centres, we should not be surprised when traffic increases, infrastructure costs rise and our younger population looks elsewhere.
Steven argued that the Fraser Coast needs a genuine step change. More of the same will produce more of the same.
That does not mean copying a capital city or transforming Hervey Bay overnight. It could start with encouraging duplexes, townhouses and apartments around key centres, creating greener and more walkable streets, reducing unnecessary barriers to medium density development and designing town centres as places to stay, not simply drive through.
We do not need to implement every idea Steven presented. However, if Council, government and industry worked together to deliver even two or three of them, the Fraser Coast would be a more liveable, prosperous and attractive city.
The future is not predetermined. We are making decisions today that will shape this community for generations. The real question is whether we are prepared to challenge current thinking and choose to create a better place.
