Long-lived passion for better urban design takes flight

Bill Chandler’s long-lived passion to improve urban design in Australia was publicly endorsed in Melbourne on Thursday, April 22.

Nearly 50 people meet in the “Melbourne Room” at the city town hall in Swanston St to enthusiastically to support an idea that would see Australia have its own version of Britain’s Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE).

For about a decade Bill has felt Australia should have its version of CABE and in the March edition of the Urban Design Forum, the quarterly magazine of the Victorian based UDF, Bill discussed the value of CABE and how Australia would benefit from something similar.

Bill, a co-founder and honorary editor of Urban Design Forum, was convinced that Australia had both the appropriately skilled and qualified people for a “CABE down-under”, as it has been colloquially described, and an evident need for such a body.

It was only at the March lunch meeting of the UDF that Bill first formally proposed the idea to others involved with the group and in discussions it was agreed a small group should meet to further discuss the idea.

Among those at the lunch and who is a former employee of CABE in Great Britain, Leon Yates, who presently works with the Victoria’s Department of Planning and Community Development, and he was confident other former CABE employees would support Bill’s idea.

Arrangements were made for a meeting on April 22 of just several people at the Urban Initiatives office of UDF co-founder Bruce Echberg, but interest spread and so with the support of Melbourne City Council, the meeting was moved to a town hall.

Bill’s idea was enthusiastically taken up and so what had been little more than just an idea simmering in Bill’s mind had boiled over to become a movement that has spread interstate, attracting interest from all parts of the country.

A 90-minute discussion resulted in the formation of ten-strong initial working group, as it was called, to further consider the idea and determine a clear direction of how to progress “CABEDU”.

That initial working group is: David Rayson, Geoffrey London (State Architect- top right), Laura-Jo Mellan, Emma Appleton, Justin Kelly, Gerry McLoughlin, Bruce Echberg, Leon Yates, Rod Duncan and Bill Chandler.

Also among those at the April 22 meeting was Melbourne City Council’s Director of City Design, Rob Adams (above right).

In an email circulated the day after the event, Bill Chandler said: “Thanks for your contributions yesterday. The feedback is very positive, and already the interest is spreading to those who were not able to be there, including interstaters”.

Many meet at Tatura to hear about sustainability

Nearly 50 people gathered in Tatura’s St Mary’s Hall on April 22 to hear about sustainability from LaTrobe University’s director of the Centre of Sustainable Regional Communities, Professor John Martin.
Prof Martin avoided too much talk about big picture issues and concentrated and matters that people such as those involved with the Tatura Transition group could address.
The April 22 conversation was organized by Tatura Transitions, a relatively small group from the Tatura community that is eager to see the town recognize and prepare itself for the dilemmas it will face through the changes brought on by climate change and peak oil.
Prof Martin, based in Bendigo, was excited by the dialogue created by such meetings as that in Tatura.
He emphasized the importance of doing whatever people can at community level that on the surface may appear of little value, but considered more broadly, it can have a big impact on the town’s resilience.
Those with any questions about what is happening in Tatura should contact Ross Musolino 5824 1038.

Tatura talk about sustainability

The idea of sustainability will be discussed on Thursday night, April 22, in Tatura.
La Trobe University’s director of the Centre of Sustainable Regional Communities, Professor John Martin (right), will be the guest speaker.
His visit has been coordinated by Tatura Transition, a small group of people working towards preparing the town for the dilemmas it will face as climate change begins to bite and the troubles that will arise through peak oil.
Thursday night’s meeting starts at 7:30pm in St Mary’s Hall in Hogan St opposite the Sacred Heart Church and admission is free. Tea, coffee and nibbles will be provided.
Those with questions should contact Mr Ross Musolino 5824 1038.