Australia is a nation of neighbours — but are we still good friends?
As Australian cities rise up, grow out and fill in, urban planners will find themselves facing a dilemma: how do you rack, pack and stack a population without eroding its sense of solidarity?
Australia, often touted as a nation of neighbours, grapples with a paradox. While more Australians are living closer together due to soaring housing densities, they reportedly feel increasingly disconnected. The nation's housing affordability crisis has spurred a push for higher-density housing, but this development is raising questions about whether it will erode social cohesion.
Experts like social researcher Hugh Mackay and Ending Loneliness Together CEO Michelle Lim argue that simply stacking people in tall buildings won't foster connection. Instead, they advocate for a more intentional approach to urban planning, incorporating community spaces and encouraging interactions between residents. Mount Barker, an Adelaide Hills town, serves as a cautionary tale.
In just two decades, the town morphed from a countryside locale to a bustling suburb, leading to a rare instance of a public official publicly acknowledging the government's planning failings.
In response, residents like Graeme Parsons opted to create Miller's Corner, an eco-housing enclave in the heart of Mount Barker. Instead of pursuing the typical development route, Parsons chose to design a community-oriented living space, emphasizing proximity to amenities and fostering neighborly relationships. This example underscores the fact that the essence of being Australia's neighbour lies not just in living close together but also in cultivating meaningful connections, an aspect that planners must carefully balance with urban development.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
