Super post. I’m really looking forward to the follow up pieces. Great that you’ve touched on the historical antecedents of modern master planned communities in British garden suburbs and new towns. This was explicit in the case of Canberra’s new towns but I think is also obvious with contemporary new communities like Forest Lake, North Lakes, Springfield and Yarrabilba. Also fair to point out that establishing significant centres of tertiary service employment in MPCs remains a challenge.. Varsity Lakes has a high proportion of home based employment of this type as well as a mixed use business park that accommodates jobs that have moved from Southport and Bundall. That could be a model for future MPCs. As populations have suburbanised, so has industry, so many resident workers find jobs in eg transport and logistics in outer suburban industrial areas. Most outer suburban communities have relatively higher proportions of technical trade skill employment (‘tradies’) whose work location varies widely, so a smaller proportion of workers are involved in a CBD bound commute than many imagine.
As I’ve suggested previously, please keep up the good work!
Thanks Guy! Always appreciate your support and the extra insights you add in the comments. Varsity Lakes is a very good example of a quality MPC, helped hugely by proximity to the rail line. There's no doubt a majority of people still preference suburban living. Getting MPCs right can meet some of that demand without creating endless mono-sprawl serviced only by petrol stations and drive-through fast food places.
Super post. I’m really looking forward to the follow up pieces. Great that you’ve touched on the historical antecedents of modern master planned communities in British garden suburbs and new towns. This was explicit in the case of Canberra’s new towns but I think is also obvious with contemporary new communities like Forest Lake, North Lakes, Springfield and Yarrabilba. Also fair to point out that establishing significant centres of tertiary service employment in MPCs remains a challenge.. Varsity Lakes has a high proportion of home based employment of this type as well as a mixed use business park that accommodates jobs that have moved from Southport and Bundall. That could be a model for future MPCs. As populations have suburbanised, so has industry, so many resident workers find jobs in eg transport and logistics in outer suburban industrial areas. Most outer suburban communities have relatively higher proportions of technical trade skill employment (‘tradies’) whose work location varies widely, so a smaller proportion of workers are involved in a CBD bound commute than many imagine.
As I’ve suggested previously, please keep up the good work!
Thanks Guy! Always appreciate your support and the extra insights you add in the comments. Varsity Lakes is a very good example of a quality MPC, helped hugely by proximity to the rail line. There's no doubt a majority of people still preference suburban living. Getting MPCs right can meet some of that demand without creating endless mono-sprawl serviced only by petrol stations and drive-through fast food places.