Page 10 - U4SSC Case study: Participatory urban planning, June 2020

The group explored ideas about growing and exporting professional design skills, services and thinking
around city making and urban renewal. It also explored the content of Melbourne’s design and built
environment sector’s key strengths, and ways that the Victorian Government and the sector could
share a role in pitching those strengths to wider local and international markets.

Ideas for how the government and the sector can work better together, and the immediate actions
seen as critical to building momentum, are detailed in the next section.

Results

The project has produced the following results:

• A Liveability Panel of Experts has been set up. In fact, building on the success of the Australian Urban
Systems cluster, Melbourne has established a panel of experts to lead design advocacy, international
networking opportunities, and drive initiatives within this project. Furthermore, the panel guides
the development of Melbourne case studies to tell the story, refine the pitch and implement the
‘livability formula’.
• There has been an increased government and industry understanding of the importance of place-
making with cooperation across government, industry and academia. Much of the livability has
been the result of building infrastructure and designing spaces for people.

Furthermore, authentic and transformative community engagement is central to the success of
Melbourne becoming the world’s most livable city. Processes include:

• Citizen Juries: Where a group of randomly chosen Melbourne citizens are paid, educated and
informed to give guidance and advice on future planning and development directions and policies.

• Creative on-line engagements where citizens vote for their favorite projects or give advice and
direction for council projects.
• Business Inspirations: Special evenings where businesses come together to learn the latest successful
business / retail practices.
• Kitchen Table Conversations: One to one, or small group conversations allowing citizens to be heard
and expose their ideas.

The Melbourne central business district is well known globally as one of the event capitals of the world.
The innovative busking street and food policy allows daily creative activation to happen day and night.
Great food trucks bring dead spaces back to life, while world-class buskers and entertainment attract
thousands at the weekend, thus supporting the activation of the everyday economy.

Such a strategic and focused plan allows the city to work 24 hours a day. The famous summer and
winter night markets at the Queen Victoria Market attract thousands of locals and tourists.

4 Case study: Participatory urban planning, June 2020