Report: Melbourne Needs a '30-Minute City'

To counteract the effects of sprawl, a recent report from PricewaterhouseCoopers recommends locating job growth in the city of Melbourne, Australia, in locations outside the city's core.

1 minute read

November 24, 2017, 9:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Melbourne, Australia

Xiquinho Silva / Flickr

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) released a report recently that recommends a collection of dispersed business districts around Australia's fastest growing city.

"A report released [in October] by PwC has made the case for Melbourne to move towards becoming a '30-minute city', where employment hubs outside the centre are strategically developed to cut commuting times and decentralise the city," reports Simone Fox Koob. 

PwC partner and economics and policy specialist James van Smeerdijk is quoted in the article, who mentions about 20 "key precincts" outside the city's core where he believes Melbourne should focus on locating new jobs. "He said Fishermen’s Bend, Docklands and the Parkville area could be further developed in high-density employment hubs to service the city, as well as less centralised locations such as east Werribee, Maribyrnong, Monash University’s Clayton campus and La Trobe University’s Bundoora campus," writes Koob.

Thursday, October 12, 2017 in The Australian

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

7 hours ago - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.