1. A Presentation by Alec McHarg on Sustainable Regional Creative Development… For the Creative Class to flourish, the town centre lacks the basic formula that is necessary for the Creative Class to develop as an integral part of a town centres Social & Cultural entity, which is an Urban-Identity that is based on mix zones rather than one that is presently fragmented by single-zoning & single-activity approaches based upon a Consumption Culture that Draw out a towns Architectural & Cultural assets & the opportunity for Creative Activity...

2. The re-vitalisation of Regional Cities & Towns This presenation suggests that if Regional & Country towns continue to develop the way they are then they are going to end up as towns that are devoid of social and cultural life that is Sustainable for the Creative-Class to develop & contribute to city life Three (3) parts Part One What is happening to Regional & Country towns in terms of a lack of an Integrated-urban planning Approach to City Design Part Two Why this is happening Part Three What can be done about it

3. Part One: What is happening to Regional and country towns in terms of Urban Planning & Development of the Creative Class Lack of a master-Plan & Integrated-Town Planning Approach that attracts & caters for Mixed Activities & a Mixed population Strategic-Alliances are between government, developers & major self-interest groups. Challenges to the Social & Creative Life of Regional Towns and cities

4. Part One: What is happening to Regional and country towns in terms of Urban Planning & its affects on the Creative-Class Lack of integrated-Town Planning: Town creative assets drawn-away from town centres…residential, commercial, retail developments often constructed outside of Town centres & are based upon a single separated zone-by-zone approach creating a Regional version of large-city urban-sprawl Strategic-Alliances are between government, developers & major self-interest groups often overriding local planning laws, & local community involvement is limited to community-consultation and not participation in design & implementation Of Town Centre Precincts. The Social & Creative Life of Regional Towns and Cities is being replaced by a weaker-form of social connections between people because there is No permanent Town centre population, no mixed zones to attract A mix of people & no neutral meeting areas

5. Part Two Why this is happening Single ownership & control of city sites & control of the local communities decision making involvement In Town-centre design fragmented Further Privatisation of the Public Domain that Controls Community Social, Cultural & artistic behaviour To Stifle local debate & expansion of a consumption-profit based society

6. Part Two Why this is happening Single ownership & control of city sites & out of the control of the local community in terms of different mix & types of buildings In the built environment Owners of town centre & outer precincts such as Shopping Malls & Commercial Areas can Impose their own standards and codes because of their Global presence & influence on local issues To effectively stifle local debate expanding a consumption-based society and focus on individual needs & development rather than community and business alliances in integrated Urban-renewal programmes…

7. Social, artistic & cultural events retained in the city centre as part of Mixed Activities Approach to Town-Centre Creative life instead of one Based on retail, commercial and a night time economy Education & government services located with residences in city/town centres; with integrated light-rail connections Set town-centre boundaries. Integrate-mixed city Development Part of a community, Business & Government decision-making alliance Part Three: What can be done

8. Social, artistic & cultural events retained in the city centre Art-in-the-public realm, cultural activities & street-theatre run on a regular basis… Town Centre identity arranged around Walkable vehicle-free centrally located Public Squares With eaterys, cultural & historical contexts that Encourage spontaneous face-to-face social interaction & the promotion of Artistic - Creative experiences with Street - Life Culture… Education & government services located in city/town centres; Promote re-location of government facilities to regional centres with integrated light-rail connections & linked to (airport, heavy rail and bus systems) Set town-centre boundaries. Mixed-Town Development include residential apartments with ground-floor services/restaurants/boutique Hotels & cultural consumption venues attracting permanent, medium & short stay inhabitants with Integrated Town-Centre greenscape meeting areas & with emphasis away from town-centre single-site ownership to mixed Build & Refurbishment in established town centres precincts Part Three: What can be done

9. CONCLUSION Some Considerations Town Centre to Act as a mixed focal point For Indigenous Art, Local Business & Craft-based Centres Venues motivated To include local Street-Theatre, fine Arts, theatre & Live music scenarios Integrated Master-Plan Walkable-City Design Art-in-the Public Projects Realm supported by Alliances With Business, Education, Police & Artistic Community Based Organisations Residential, Art & Creative venues To include one of a Kind type shops & Eaterys Town centre Creative-Community Green-living, design & Regional-Innovation centres With Visitor accommodation Town Centre Residences In Garden-settings & Integrated with Art Galleries, museums & sports venues Buildings that Reflect the Areas Unique natural character as part of a architectural City Centre Design Exhibition Focus on the Area as a promoter Of Solar, Biodiversity Projects & Renewable Energy Schemes

10. Perhaps the Creative Class (Florida, 2002) can save our cities from Social and Cultural decline and perhaps they can achieve this because of their recognition of the importance of human creativity, the role of community and sense of place in city life. The cultural and artistic economy that makes up part of the creative class thrives on innovation and Creativity and has a developing influence on other forms of economic and social activity. This comes at a time when Australian regional and city centres have generally become places where people only shop and are places shaped by business for business. Places where there is a monoculture of offices, retail outlets and commercial services. That is at best represented by pre-packaged entertainment that is thrust upon people, places where people do not get to create their unique experiences, places with look-alike and soul-less Container-Architecture and the solitary arrogance of shopping and commercial centres Without any sustainable relationship with environment, historical, cultural or organic contexts. The future of out town and city centres is not only about government, management or technology or even Branding it is about the quality of strong relationship between people. In this respect there is a clear connection between a health of a city centre and places of Cohabitation – there has to be a mix of permanent residents who reside in town centres – city centres need people who live there. Various urban design strategies as to how regional and city centres can be re-vitalised was featured in a recent presentation October (2010) to the Queensland Country Womens Association annual meeting in Brisbane and the role that the Creative Class can play in Regional Re-vitalisation will feature in future presentations on Urban Sustainability.