Tuesday, July 05, 2005

Problem: The Hub is Dirty

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Last month it was reported that central Sydney was being starved of basic-wage workers, such as cleaners, room maids or waiting staff, simply because they cannot afford to live within reasonable travelling distance from the city.The problem raises once more the question of how cities can provide affordable housing close to the hub, rather than forcing the less well-off to become urban fringe-dwellers, while the convenience and lifestyle of the city becomes the reserve of the privileged.

What's needed is not just cheap housing, but housing that's located where people need to live and which is appropriate for a rapidly changing demographic, which for instance is seeing more people living on their own. It's time to seriously question developers who continue to serve up one size fits all housing as new estates sprawl farther out from the city.


Guests on this program:David Brown Architect David Brown is a Director of Wentworth Brown, a design management market research and policy development practice.


Further information:Read a summary of David Brown's report

Story Producer: Mark Wakely