UrbanTalk Podcast

REDWatch is one of the most well established community organisations in Sydney and has spent the last 20 years maintaining a website, sending email notifications and holding monthly meetings that keep their community up to date with what is going on in the area. We had the pleasure of speaking with the Spokesperson of REDWatch, Geoff Turnbull—a treasure trove of local knowledge.   Visit the UrbanT...

Much of the discourse around the housing crisis is examined through the lens of planning, which we were fortunate enough to explore last year with the NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully. However, the other side of housing involves construction and the regulation that surrounds new builds, renters and strata schemes. In this episode we had to opportunity to focus on this side...

Sydney YIMBY is a group advocating for more development in response to Australia’s housing crisis. In this episode of the UrbanTalk Podcast, we’re joined by Sydney YIMBY Deputy Chair, Melissa Neighbour. She talks about the YIMBY or “yes in my back yard” movement, what the group is trying to achieve and why it’s important. Visit Sydney YIMBY - https://www.sydney.yimby.au/ Visit the UrbanTalk websit...

We delve into how the Heart Foundation’s Healthy Active by Design program is creating healthier, more walkable communities. Our guest, Anna Gurnhill, discusses the crucial impact of neighbourhood design on public health, highlighting evidence-based strategies, key design features, and practical case studies that show how thoughtful urban planning can improve liveability, physical activity, and wel...

Along with the need to increase housing density, our cities need to also keep up with adequate green infrastructure. It will be more important than even to ensure there is enough green space and access to active transportation for the happiness and health of the broader community. In this episode we’re joined by Jua Cilliers – Professor of Planning and Associate Dean Research, Faculty of Design an...

New South Wales Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully joins the UrbanTalk Podcast to talk about the low-rise Pattern Book, who it’s for and what the brief was. We also touch on the Housing Development Authority, manufactured homes and the relationship between state and local government. Visit the UrbanTalk website: https://www.urbantalk.com.au/

What are design competitions, how do they work and how do they ensure a good design outcome? Paulo Macchia, the Director Design Governance at the Government Architect NSW joins the UrbanTalk Podcast to discuss design competitions and continues our discussion on design excellence from episode 13.

UrbanTalk completes a trilogy of podcasts focusing on suburbia. In this episode we’re joined by Guy Gibson, a Director at Suburban Futures and co-editor of the book “The Next Australian City: The Suburban Evolution”. We take a quick overview of the past, present and future of Australian suburbia.   Buy The Next Australian City: The Suburban Evolution: https://www.connorcourtpublishing.com.au/THE-N...

The Planning Institute of Australia has once again partnered with UrbanTalk to create a series of podcast in the lead up to the Planning Congress 2025 in Darwin. We speak with Ika Trijsburg, who leads the Disinformation in the City project across five Australian universities, and in 2024 was the lead author of the world first Disinformation in the City Response Playbook.  Planning is not an area c...

The Planning Institute of Australia has once again partnered with UrbanTalk to create a series of podcast in the lead up to the Planning Congress 2025 in Darwin. We’re joined by Anthony Burke, a Professor of Architecture at the University of Technology Sydney and host the of Grand Designs Australia and Culture by Design. Anthony talks about quality design and how they can help create better cities...

The Planning Institute of Australia has once again partnered with UrbanTalk to create a series of podcast in the lead up to the Planning Congress 2025 in Darwin. CSIRO Principal Research Scientist, Dr Tim Muster discusses some of the work the Organisation has been undertaking in collaboration with private business and government to help make our cities more resilient and sustainable. He also talks...

The Planning Institute of Australia has once again partnered with UrbanTalk to create a series of podcast in the lead up to the Planning Congress 2025 in Darwin. Ross Elliott is a founding director of the policy group Suburban Futures and has over 35 years of experience in property and urban development. As a sequel to our previous episode about suburban retrofits, Ross discusses ways Australia ca...

The Planning Institute of Australia has once again partnered with UrbanTalk to create a series of podcast in the lead up to the Planning Congress 2025 in Darwin. Recognised in 2017 and 2023 by Planetizen as one of the 100 most influential urbanists, Ellen Dunham-Jones joins us to discuss retrofitting suburbia and give an introduction into her keynote at the Planning Congress. Along with co-author...

The Planning Institute of Australia has once again partnered with UrbanTalk to create a series of podcast in the lead up to the Planning Congress 2025 in Darwin. In this first episode, we welcome back the CEO of PIA, Matt Collins.  Planning Congress Website: https://eventfrog.eventsair.com/planning-congress-2025/ PIA Website: https://www.planning.org.au/ UrbanTalk Website: https://www.urbantalk.co...

Former Minister for Planning, Dr Rob Stokes is a passionate urbanist with a unique perspective. He shares some of his philosophy on planning, initiatives that could improve Australia’s planning system and the challenges facing State Governments. Get in touch: https://www.urbantalk.com.au/contact  

UrbanTalk were delighted to be joined by Dallas Rogers – the Associate Professor of Urbanism at the University of Sydney in the latest episode of the UrbanTalk Podcast. We discuss unsolicited urbanism using Barangaroo as a case study and examine the broader implications and risks that come from such an opaque process.

Architect and urban designer, Jon Johannsen joined us on the UrbanTalk Podcast to discuss the design excellence process and design review panels. In addition to his five decades of professional experience, Jon has also sat on numerous design excellence panels all across Sydney, including Burwood, Cumberland, Parramatta, Hornsby, Waverley and Inner West local government areas. This podcast was orig...

UrbanTalk has teamed up with the Planning Institute of Australia to bring you a special series of podcasts centred around the 2024 PIA Congress that was held in Melbourne on the 22nd - 24th of May. This is the final installment of the episode, where we interview delegates live at Congress. We explore what they see as the biggest challenges facing planners, as well as what they enjoyed at Congress....

UrbanTalk has teamed up with the Planning Institute of Australia to bring you a special series of podcasts centred around the 2024 PIA Congress being held in Melbourne on the 22nd - 24th of May. We’re joined by Elle Davidson, Director of Zion Engagement and Planning and Rechelle Brookes, Policy & Project Officer at the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action. We will dis...

UrbanTalk has teamed up with the Planning Institute of Australia to bring you a special series of podcasts centred around the 2024 PIA Congress being held in Melbourne on the 22nd - 24th of May. This episode is a follow up from our previous talk about the Foresight Program at the American Planning Association. Today we will be talking about PIA’s own Foresight Report that will debut at the Plannin...

UrbanTalk has teamed up with the Planning Institute of Australia to bring you a special series of podcasts centred around the 2024 PIA Congress being held in Melbourne on the 22nd - 24th of May. As Chief Foresight and Knowledge Officer, our guest Petra Hurtardo and her Foresight team keeps abreast of the changing trends and forces that can assist planners in remaining ahead of the curve and plan f...

UrbanTalk has teamed up with the Planning Institute of Australia to bring you a special series of podcasts centred around the 2024 PIA Congress being held in Melbourne on the 22nd - 24th of May. We're joined by Ross Harding, who's looking to the future and finding new ways to transform our cities with his team at Finding Infinity. Finding Infinity were responsible for “A New Normal”: a $100 billio...

UrbanTalk has teamed up with the Planning Institute of Australia to bring you a special series of podcasts centred around the 2024 PIA Congress being held in Melbourne on the 22nd - 24th of May. This second episode is split into two parts and focuses on the National Planning Awards. In this second part we speak with the 2023 National Young Planner of the Year, Bunfu Yu. Bunfu speaks about her pass...

UrbanTalk has teamed up with the Planning Institute of Australia to bring you a special series of podcasts centred around the 2024 PIA Congress being held in Melbourne on the 22nd - 24th of May. This second episode is split into two parts and focuses on the National Planning Awards. In this first part we speak with Megan Adair, a National Awards judge and the state awards convenor for Western Aust...

UrbanTalk has teamed up with the Planning Institute of Australia to bring you a special series of podcasts centred around the 2024 PIA Congress being held in Melbourne on the 22nd - 24th of May. In this first episode we speak with the CEO of PIA, Matt Collins to hear about his vision for the Institute and what people can expect from the 2024 Planning Congress.