Breaking Point: The Future of Australian Cities

by Peter Seamer

The way we plan and build cities in Australia needs to change. Australia’s population is growing: between 2017 and 2046 it is projected to increase by 11.8 million, the equivalent of adding a city the size of Canberra each year for thirty years. Most of this growth will occur in the major cities, and already its effects are being felt: inner-city property prices are skyrocketing and the more affordable middle and outer suburbs lack essential services and infrastructure. The result is inequality: while wealthy inner-city dwellers enjoy access to government-subsidised services – public transport, cultural and sporting facilities – new home buyers, pushed further out, pay the lion’s share of the costs. So how can we create affordable housing for everyone and still get them to work in the morning? What does sustainable urban development look like? In this timely critique of our nation’s urban development and planning culture, Peter Seamer argues that vested interests often distort rational thinking on our cities. Looking to the future, he sets out cogent new strategies to resolve congestion, transport and expenditure problems, offering a blueprint for multi-centred Australian cities that are more localised, urban and equitable in nature.

Genres: Nonfiction, Australia

300 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 5, 2019

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Peter Seamer wants Australian cities to be less dependent on their central business districts. A highly experienced former CEO of the Victorian Planning Authority, he argues that there is too much of a gap between high value inner city jobs and where people live. He contends that Australian governments are spending too much on building and operating radial transport networks that get people in and out of the central city at peak hour. Rather than move people from their homes to where the jobs are, Seamer would prefer that the jobs are located closer to where people live, in the suburbs. His vision is for a series of alternative CBDs scattered throughout the suburbs.

That's all very well for a utopian vision, but beyond the inclusion of activity centres on strategic city plans and the provision of orbital transport routes, Seamer does not really present a convincing plan for how this might be achieved. Like many strategic planners, he at times reverts to the notion that we should 'move' businesses to these activity centres. That is, of course, not the way that business works. Businesses locate where it makes sense for them to do so - where they can find the optimal combination of labour, land, capital, knowledge and entrepreneurship. The productivity of central cities eclipses the suburbs; Seamer does not really grapple with the logical consequences of constraining the growth of inner cities - lower productivity growth and lower living standards.

Seamer's arguments are not always in line with research. His case is built on his belief that the future will soon be dominated by self-driving Ubers, making private car ownership redundant. I'm not convinced we can yet conclude this with such certainty. The City of Melbourne is not just home to 24% of Melbourne's jobs, it accounts for 37% of Melbourne's economic output. He argues that inner suburban residents are subsidised by other Melbourne residents, yet does not provide any research to substantiate this (I'm sceptical - the commuting distance of outer suburban residents is about three times as far as that of inner suburban residents).

Breaking Point represents itself as a book about Australia's cities, yet it is focussed almost exclusively on urban planning. Seamer argues that cities are for people, but does not consider that more than this, they are constituted of people. Many things have made our cities the way they are - immigration, education, transport, trade, research, industries, environments and urban planning. Seamer engages with only one or two of these.

Nevertheless, this is a thought provoking read and I thoroughly enjoyed engaging with its arguments. It's a valuable contribution to the debate about the future of Australian cities.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hit me over the head with a brick, this is a repetitive essay expounding decentralising Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to reduce travel times between home and work.
After reading it, I am a convert to the polycentric city. But one of the reasons I don’t read much business non-fiction is that the authors tend to be one trick ponies: one idea bashed into you, chapter after chapter.
Given the length of the book, it could have explored other issues / examples that it did not touch on.
Such as the disastrous de-localisation of schools in Melbourne, and emphasis on private schools, that is feeding driving children to school. School children should go to their closest school, not have a choice to drive to another one, and governments shouldn’t subsidise private schools. It doesn’t make them any cheaper and it means children travel across town to get to their private school.
And beyond regional universities, there are essential services like hospitals and other attractors like art, eg. the roving Archibald exhibition in regional Victoria (in it’s home state it is shown in Sydney) and Bendigo Art Gallery’s fashion exhibitions.

[Stephen Torsi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting examination of the issues facing Australian cities. Transport, housing urban design, population, jobs, infrastructure all come under the microscope as the author takes a critical look at the recent past, present and future of urban development, paying close attention to Melbourne and Sydney. Its packed full of interesting stats but has a bureaucratic tone which is probably for the target audience. As a more generalist reader I was put off by this tone and frustrated by the elitist and managerial mindset and approach to the issues.

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was refreshing to read an urban planning book about Australian cities, particularly Melbourne.
Although this book was a bit repetitive, there were some good evidence based arguments about radial public transport systems and retaining talent in regional hubs.
What I struggled with was how this (and most urban planning books to be honest) lack human insight. The arguments in the book were based around solving business problems rather than solving human problems like - if Monash becomes a central business district, how might people want to build a diverse community around a science hub?

[Graeme Robin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Surely the best way to handle a problem such as this, is at the source - an ever increasing population. However the author used 200+ pages but not once did he examine - or even mention - the prospect of reducing the inflow either from immigration or from natural birth rates. He ignored the whole notion of a stable population base.
I would expect more from a man with the responsibility that he has shouldered over the years.
No wonder we are in a mess!

[Mathew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fantastic overview of the past, present, and future of Australian urban life and the planning required, written by a somewhat opinionated, jaded, and partisan veteran of the planning industry in Victoria.
Would highly recommend reading it, but skip through sections where Seamer repeats himself for the 10th time, and keep an open mind that while he has a good knowledge of past events, his opinions and judgements on events list badly to one side of the political spectrum.

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a lot on this topic and his main point (localised cities) is great. But man he is way off base with housing how cities effect different classes. Just a very mainstream lib bureaucrat, very smart but lacking that analysis makes r3al change.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book for any citizen of Australia, rural and urban (and likely outside of Australia too). Peter Seamer does a good job of explaining the problems facing our cities transport future and then does just as good a job providing feasible solutions, all well documented with data, justifications and case studies.

By the end of the book one is left imagining an Australia with regional growth, with affordable job opportunities in Australia's more beautiful but less central locations and wanting to get politically active and engage with their local government in achieving this. I would greatly love to see this book discussed by the public more.

My only complaints would be the sections on self driving cars are a lot more hypothetical and less data driven than the other sections, and at times the book is a little repetitive.