Sydney Design 2007 Gala Talk: A Tale of Two Cities

8 August 2007

What will Sydney's two largest cities look like in 2030?

That is the question to be considered and debated by the Lord Mayors of the City of Sydney and Parramatta at a free Gala Talk, A Tale of Two Cities, tomorrow Thursday 9 August at Sydney Town Hall.

Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore MP and Lord Mayor of Parramatta, David BorgerMP share their aspirations for the future by painting a picture of what life might be like in their cities in the year 2030.

A Tale of Two Cities will be an entertaining and imaginary tale based on the expectations of the strategic plans and policies now being developed and implemented by Sydney's two major councils. As two of the cities predicting significant population growth, they are planning now for a sustainable future.

"By the end of 2030, the children born this year will be 23; people born in 1984 will be 46 and expecting to work for another 20 years. If we do nothing, they will inherit a city with roads near gridlock, heavily polluted air, and failing social and physical infrastructure," Ms Moore said.

"Sydney will continue to grow and develop, but we can take steps now to build a thriving metropolis which is workable and liveable - and most importantly sustainable. Sustainability is the new imperative and will drive our next phase of urban development."

The Gala Talk, hosted by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA), will allow Sydney's creative minds to imagine a better future for the city.

Lord Mayor David Borger MP, himself a former urban planner, is a regular speaker on ways to invigorate urban design, improve local governance and build a creative city.

"Parramatta is experiencing significant commercial and government investment, and is earmarked for a big expansion in jobs and housing, but our challenge is also to build a dynamic and creative city in which young people want to live, work and thrive," Mr Borger said. 

"We must end the brain drain from this whole region of Western Sydney and continue to develop Parramatta into a sophisticated and diverse city attractive to both visitors and new residents."

A Tale of Two Cities is being supported by the City of Sydney as part of Sustainable Sydney 2030.  Sustainable Sydney 2030 is a plan to guide the development of the City of Sydney for the next 20 years and beyond.  The City is currently undertaking research and consultation with the best minds in the country as well as residents, workers and visitors of the City of Sydney to develop the plan.  Consultations will continue throughout 2007 and projects, programs and strategies from the plan will be exhibited to the public in early 2008.

A Tale of Two Cities is being held in association with the NSW Talk Series as part of Sydney Design 07.  Panellists Prof. James Weirick (Faculty of the Built Environment, UNSW), Philip Thalis (Hill Thalis Architecture + Urban Projects) and Dr Anne Summers (Sydney Morning Herald and author) will respond to the future visions of each Lord Mayor. Ms Moore and Mr Borger will be introduced by MC Geraldine Doogue.

Sydney Design 2007 Gala Talk: A Tale of Two Cities

Date:               Thursday 9 August 2007
Time:              6.00pm-8.30pm
Venue:            Centennial Hall, Sydney Town Hall
Speakers:       Clover Moore MP- Lord Mayor of Sydney
                       David Borger, Lord Mayor of Parramatta

Panellists:   
Prof. James Weirick - Faculty of the Built Environment, UNSW
Philip Thalis - Hill Thalis Architecture + Urban Projects
Dr Anne Summers - Sydney Morning Herald and author

MC:               
Geraldine Doogue, National Broadcaster.

Tickets:         Tickets are free and available at the door from 5.00pm

Media Contact:
City of SydneyJosh MacKenzie (02) 9265 9082 or 0402 351 459
Parramatta City Council Heidi Gray (02) 9806 5070 or 0414 190 221