Totally true, was more a comment that “plenty of space further out” is starting to come with a disclaimer that “further out” means “really, really far away to the point where its not practical to daily commute to the city”.
I’m still more a fan of hubs than relying so heavily on a single CBD, but regardless density needs to change. We can’t keep sprawling.
I’m still more a fan of hubs than relying so heavily on a single CBD
More hubs is definitely not a bad idea… The number of people who currently commute into the CBDs of our biggest cities, and the extent to which our transportation networks are geared solely to that end, is concerning. A greater degree of multipolarity within our cities would be nice.
But on the other hand, to a certain extent, more centralised cities are a good thing and are necessary given Australia’s population distribution. Yeah, Brisbane could do a better job of making Chermside a more serious secondary hub, and Eight Mile Plains, but it’s probably not realistic to try and make Toowoomba or the Sunshine Coast bigger business hubs, let alone further out.
A big downside of more hubs is that it can kinda limit people’s options for employment. Today, someone in Redcliffe might have a long commute into the CBD, which is not great. If we added those Chermside and EMP hubs, they might have the option to work at Chermside. But what is likely to happen is some businesses stay in the CBD, some move to Chermside, and some move to EMP. And if they get a job at Chermside, they’re better off! But all those jobs that moved to EMP are now basically inaccessible to them. So from 20 jobs at a medium distance that they could work, there are now 10 jobs at a medium distance and 5 jobs at a close distance, for a total of 15 jobs—fewer available options. Less than ideal.
Totally true, was more a comment that “plenty of space further out” is starting to come with a disclaimer that “further out” means “really, really far away to the point where its not practical to daily commute to the city”.
I’m still more a fan of hubs than relying so heavily on a single CBD, but regardless density needs to change. We can’t keep sprawling.
More hubs is definitely not a bad idea… The number of people who currently commute into the CBDs of our biggest cities, and the extent to which our transportation networks are geared solely to that end, is concerning. A greater degree of multipolarity within our cities would be nice.
But on the other hand, to a certain extent, more centralised cities are a good thing and are necessary given Australia’s population distribution. Yeah, Brisbane could do a better job of making Chermside a more serious secondary hub, and Eight Mile Plains, but it’s probably not realistic to try and make Toowoomba or the Sunshine Coast bigger business hubs, let alone further out.
A big downside of more hubs is that it can kinda limit people’s options for employment. Today, someone in Redcliffe might have a long commute into the CBD, which is not great. If we added those Chermside and EMP hubs, they might have the option to work at Chermside. But what is likely to happen is some businesses stay in the CBD, some move to Chermside, and some move to EMP. And if they get a job at Chermside, they’re better off! But all those jobs that moved to EMP are now basically inaccessible to them. So from 20 jobs at a medium distance that they could work, there are now 10 jobs at a medium distance and 5 jobs at a close distance, for a total of 15 jobs—fewer available options. Less than ideal.