IPWEA World Study Tour Is It Urban Sustainability Or the New
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IPWEA World Study Tour September 2009 Is it Urban Sustainability or the new Biosoma-Environmental Paradigm? Gerhard Joubert Manager Infrastructure Planning North Moreton Bay Regional Council Queensland. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia, Queensland Division (IPWEAQ) and Foundation for providing me the opportunity to undertake this study tour. I further wish to thank Moreton Bay Regional Council for approving my time off work to undertake the study tour as part of my professional development. In addition I wish to recognise the assistance provided in the planning and organising of the tour by Chris Champion, Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia and my fellow engineers from other states making the trip memorable, interesting and enjoyable through their input, debate (heated at times), discussions and questioning at every opportunity. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity to obtain an insight into how communities across the world have committed to addressing the challenges of climate change. I had the privilege to meet and network with other public works leaders already working towards making a difference in their communities. I also wish to acknowledge our foreign hosts for their efforts in providing their time, hospitality and interesting itineraries. The hosts were as follows: 1. American Public Works Association, Congress & Expo – Columbus, USA 2. Polytechnic Institute of New York University, USA 3. Københavns Kommune (Copenhagen), Denmark 4. Odense Kommune, Denmark 5. City of Malmö, Sweden 6. Ekostaden Augustenborg, Sweden 7. Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) – London, UK 8. London Development Agency (LDA) – London, UK 9. Thamesway Energy – Woking Borough Council, UK I dedicate this report to my loving wife Traudel, who selflessly managed the house, children, grand children and pets in my absence. Table of Contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 4 2. Background ................................................................................................................. 5 3. Study Focus Areas ...................................................................................................... 6 4. Columbus Ohio - American Public Works Association Congress & Expo ............ 7 4.1 Infrastructure for the 21st Century - This Could Be Our Finest Hour .......................... 7 4.2 Green Infrastructure Options for Stormwater Management in a Downtown Redevelopment - Columbus ............................................................................................ 9 5. New York .................................................................................................................... 11 5.1 Polytechnic Institute of New York University ................................................................ 11 5.1.1 Development of MetroTech ........................................................................................ 11 5.1.2 Biosoma-Environmental Design of the City of the Future .......................................... 12 5.1.3 Sustainability Leadership Certificate .......................................................................... 13 5.2 New York City - High Line ................................................................................................ 14 6. Københavns Kommune - Eco-metropolis ............................................................... 15 6.1 Accessibility Initiatives for Copenhagen ....................................................................... 15 6.1.1 International Charter for Walking - Walk 21 ............................................................... 15 6.1.2 Urban Accessibility - A City for All .............................................................................. 16 6.1.3 More City Life on Nørrebrogade ................................................................................. 16 6.2 Nordhavnen - Structural Planning Process. .................................................................. 17 6.3 Ørestad - Planning and Development ............................................................................ 18 7. Odense Kommune - To Play is to Live .................................................................... 20 7.1 Environmental Action Plan .............................................................................................. 20 7.2 Traffic & Mobility Plan ...................................................................................................... 20 8. Malmö Stad ................................................................................................................ 22 8.1 Västra Hamnen - Western Harbour - City of Tomorrow. .............................................. 22 8.2 Ekostaden Augustenborg - Eco-city .............................................................................. 23 8.2.1 Eco-buildings .............................................................................................................. 23 8.2.2 Energy efficiency and Energy Generation .................................................................. 24 8.2.3 The Green City ............................................................................................................ 24 8.2.4 Waste Management .................................................................................................... 25 9. London Olympic Park Legacy .................................................................................. 26 9.1 The Legacy Partners ........................................................................................................ 26 9.2 The 2012 Games Legacy .................................................................................................. 27 9.3 Sustainability ..................................................................................................................... 27 10. London Development Agency (LDA) - Climate Change Programmes .................. 28 11. Woking Climate Change Strategy - Think Globally Act Locally ............................ 29 11.1 Planning and Regulation .................................................................................................. 30 11.2 Energy ................................................................................................................................ 30 11.3 Transport ........................................................................................................................... 31 11.4 Waste .................................................................................................................................. 31 12. Conclusions and Recommendations ...................................................................... 32 12.1 Community support for Walk21 & TravelSmart ............................................................ 32 12.2 Regulate Development to Reduce its Environmental Footprint ................................. 33 12.3 Promote Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) ............................................................. 33 12.4 In Closing ........................................................................................................................... 33 Prepared by: Gerhard Joubert Manager Infrastructure Planning North, MBRC Page 3 1. Introduction Annually the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia (IPWEA) undertakes a three week (3) world study tour, which includes attendance of the annual American Public Works Association (APWA) Congress and Exposition. The tour group is made up by one IPWEA member from each State with funding through individual IPWEA State Foundation Scholarships. The study tour is led by the Chief Executive Officer of IPWEA, Chris Champion, and the National President of IPWEA generally participates. The theme of the 2009 Study Tour was Best Practice & Innovation for Climate Change. Due to the varying interests within our study tour group, availability of people within our host organisations overseas, my main study focus was on how some of the most populous cities in the world are taking action by Reducing CO2 equivalent emissions, Adapting to Climate Change and Promoting Sustainable Development. Locally in Australia we are already identifying the need to act. As part of recent research focussing on the costs of urban development, researchers at Griffith University, instead of looking at conventional economic costs, have calculated the infrastructure, transport, environmental and health costs of both urban redevelopment and fringe development. In summary, the consolidated costs show the price of inner city development is $309 million versus a cost of $653 million for fringe development (per 1,000 dwellings). Therefore a focus on inner-city style, urban or Transit- Oriented Development (TOD) could save Australia the following: Costs to government: $86 million (or approximately $80,000 per block) – or the cost to provide power, water, sewerage, schools, hospitals and local government services for fringe developments. Road infrastructure is the most significant cost. Cost to people: $250 million in transport costs over 50 years – people in fringe developments drive more frequently and own more cars and $4.23 million in health costs – people in fringe developments have higher risk of obesity related to lower levels of physical activity for people. Cost to the planet: 4,400 tons of greenhouse gas is saved for 1,000 urban dwellings, which