Small cities are all the rage, so we need to ensure Hobart leads the pack

Hobart should be the next cool city attracting the attention, money and jobs, but it won’t happen by itself, writes STEVEN BURGESS.

Hobart may be small but that is no hindrance to future prosperity.

SMALL cities are the new black, so how did we get here? Everything is happening too fast! There’s too much growth! Too many people! Too much traffic!

The latest growth spurt in Tasmania has certainly created some discussion and comment about how to move forward — and watching the media one would think it is unprecedented, uncontrolled and unexpected. But, in fact, the opposite is true.

City makers and shapers from all over Australia knew Tasmania was going to grow like this. All around the world small cities like Hobart and Launceston are attracting record levels of investment and growth.

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But with finite opportunities, these small cities are now in a competitive race to the top to attract the money and the jobs.

Cheap housing and relief from the crowds and congestion are simply not enough anymore. That is in fact like a race to the bottom. It’s not sustainable for the long-term viability of any city.

Who is going to be the next cool city attracting the attention, money and jobs? Is it Wellington? Could it be Newcastle?

Of course, it could and should be Launceston or Hobart, but it won’t happen by itself.

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Steven Burgess says small cities are the new black. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Millennials and empty nesters are the key demographic and we will have to change if we want to attract and keep them.

Smart growth and quality urban places and spaces are key to happy, healthy cities. Place Score data from all around Australia tells us what people care about in our cities.

People are looking for places that are well looked after, that are green and healthy, and that are safe and welcoming to them and their families.

One of the things people don’t like in their towns and cities is cars. Cities and towns with relatively less car infrastructure attract more people activity, more vitality, and reap the rewards.

Hobart and Launceston are working towards the right type of growth: high quality walkable urban villages serviced by reliable high-frequency transit.

We have plenty of detached housing for growing families, we now need alternative housing types to attract the millennials and empty nesters. Population growth begets economic growth without a massive infrastructure bill. That should be our goal.

Tasmania is alive and happening and growth is coming. The state and local governments are doing the right thing. They know and always knew the growth was coming, and they are trying to ensure that it is clean, green and safe growth, not sprawling traffic-generating polluting growth.

It’s a choice all cities make — we will choose well.

Steven Burgess is an experienced engineer and urban strategist.