The Coronavirus pandemic has briefly pushed pause on our busy cities. Will things go back to the way they were before COVID-19? Not necessarily and maybe they shouldn’t.
This might be the opportunity to step back and re-imagine what we want our cities, towns and neighbourhoods to look like in the next 20 years.
The urban planning decisions we make today shape our societies. Economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, population growth and changing demographics will impact on this busy hub in the south of Canberra.
As people have been forced to spend more time in their homes and neighbourhoods, their aspirations for their town may have changed. We asked a group of people who live, work and play in the Woden Valley what their wish list would be for the Woden of 2040?
Part 1
The Council – Woden Valley Community Council President, Jenny Stewart
As Canberra families have been forced to spend more time at home – first to avoid the smoke from the bushfires and now isolating due to the pandemic; it has brought into sharper focus our hunger for well-planned green infrastructure. A network of quality green spaces that connect the different parts of our town centre to public transport, places to eat, work and play, as well as our residential areas.
Part 2
The Business Owner – Tom Adam from Canberra Martial Arts & Fitness
Local Phillip business owner and President of the Phillip Business Community, Master Tom Adam started Canberra Martial Arts & Fitness (CMAF) in January 2011 after moving to Canberra with his wife and two young children (they’ve had another since).
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Part 3
The Scientist – Jenny Edwards from Light House Architecture and Science
Jenny Edwards has a Masters degree in science and is an ACT licensed Building Energy Efficiency Assessor. Since 2011, Jenny has been a Director of the award-winning company Jigsaw Housing Pty Ltd, which has traded as Light House Architecture & Science since the end of 2015. In 2019, the ACT branch of the Institute of Architects awarded Jenny the Clem Cummings prize for “outstanding contribution to architecture and the built environment”. Jenny’s wish list for the Woden of 2040 is all about creating quality homes that suit our climate and are a joy to live in.
Part 4
The Residents
We spoke to a number of Woden residents – single, married, families with young children, families with teenagers, older people, young people, people with disabilities, people who like to exercise, people who use public transport and people who don’t – to work out what they would like on their urban planning wish list for the Woden of 2040.
The article has been published in the Woden Business News. You can view it here