Media Release
April 13 2011
Liveliness and pleasure are keys to City's future
The
future of the City of Adelaide is tied to its liveability and quality of
life, according to leading research economist
Professor Richard Blandy.
Professor Blandy, an Adjunct Professor with UniSA’s
School of Management
and a Fellow of the Academy of the
Social Sciences in Australia, says liveliness and pleasurable
experiences are fundamental to the City’s future success.
He will give a lecture on ‘The Future of the City of Adelaide’ next
Wednesday April 20 at the Adelaide Town Hall. The lecture is being
sponsored by UniSA, the
City of Adelaide,
and the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia.
Prof Blandy says that in 25 years time, the population of the City of
Adelaide will be 40,000 to 50,000 people, living predominantly in
multi-storey apartments.
“These people will be younger, more economically active, more highly
skilled, more cosmopolitan and richer even than the population of
Adelaide as a whole,” he says.
“They will want very high quality living spaces to meet their needs –
think Paris. We need attractive laneways, a rethought Rundle Mall with
water features, some winding pathways, trees and flower boxes, and our
Squares developed for recreation rather than simply being traffic
intersections. Our parklands need more active and passive recreation
possibilities; we need more cafes, restaurants and playgrounds, and a
footbridge across the Torrens to Adelaide Oval.
“The City’s future could be one of fast growth or slow growth, depending
on what decisions are made, but its future really depends on it being
lively, liveable and pleasurable.”
Prof Blandy will base his lecture on detailed economic analysis and
projections for the City to 2026.
“The lecture is set to affect the debate about how Adelaide should plan
for its future. It will change perceptions about how the City, the
parklands and the inner suburbs should evolve,” he says.
Following Prof Blandy’s lecture, UniSA Vice Chancellor Prof Peter Høj
and City of Adelaide Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood will respond.
Media contact
- Kelly Stone office (08) 8302 0963 mobile 0417 861 832 email kelly.stone@unisa.edu.au