AHURI launches Cities Research Agenda

AHURI is pleased to announce the launch of its Cities Research Agenda featuring five inaugural research projects.

The Agenda was formulated with input from a range of commonwealth and state infrastructure agencies and departments, and relevant industry peaks.

The funding and delivery of these projects affirm AHURI’s commitment to cities research and provides an evidence-base for policy makers to respond to the challenges associated with our growing cities.

‘We’re excited to see AHURI extend our research into the cities and urban policy arenas, and believe our skilled research network will deliver highly policy relevant findings to help government and industry address some of the major issues facing Australian cities’ says Dr Michael Fotheringham, Executive Director of AHURI.

The funding and delivery of these projects affirms AHURI’s commitment to cities research and provides an evidence-base for policy makers to respond to the challenges associated with our growing cities.

The projects are:

Local Government Co-ordination: Metropolitan Governance in Twenty-first Century Australia

Led by Associate Professor Andrew Butt at RMIT University, the project will investigate the experiences of local government in cooperative models of Australian metropolitan governance, and provide recommendations for policy and the development of more extensive research on metropolitan governance.

Innovative responses to urban transportation: current practice in Australian Cities

Led by Professor Jago Dodson at RMIT University, the project will investigate drivers and processes of change within metropolitan transport systems in Australia and internationally to identify future options and directions for policy development.

New housing supply, population growth, and access to social infrastructure

Led by Dr Somwrita Sarkar at the University of Sydney, this project will develop a monitoring framework that correlates the supply of new residential dwellings and potential population growth against the delivery of social infrastructure in greenfield areas. The project addresses a key gap in the current housing policy landscape, whereby government and industry lack a shared understanding and vision of current and future capacities of social infrastructure facilities, networks, and services.

In addition, AHURI Professional Services is undertaking two foundational research projects:

What is Australian cities policy?

This project will identify Australian Government and state and territory government cities-related policies, and the structure of government departments with responsibility for cities related issues.

Mapping the terrain: Cities related issues and research themes

This project which will identify issues and themes relevant to cities policy; outline the parameters of research on these issues, including relevant academic disciplines and expertise; and define the boundaries of the AHURI Cities Research Agenda.