All hell is breaking loose in Vancouver. I wish I were there to watch it. For decades, the so-called Lotus Land has prided itself on its premier status as the most liveable city in the world. Etc. And so on. Visiting Overseas Experts Its retired or retrenched planners… Continue reading All Hell Breaks Loose with Proposed Housing Density Increases in Vancouver!
Category: Professional Posts
Professional Posts by Wendy Sarkissian
NIMBY Psychology: What Can a Planner Do?
Last night we had a lively discussion in Brisbane hosted by the Planning Institute, Queensland Branch. Stephanie Wyeth, a highly experienced engagement practitioner and Director of Urbis, Queensland, and I spoke about the practical aspects of community engagement in a well-attended “How-To” seminar. I spoke about NIMBY Psychology: What Can a Planner… Continue reading NIMBY Psychology: What Can a Planner Do?
Social Planner’s Distress Call: The NBN Information Session in Nimbin
The inappropriate dress and exposed breasts of the woman from Ericsson were the best (or the worst, depending on your perspective) features of the NBN Information Session in Nimbin Town Hall today. Oh dear. Social Planner’s Distress Call. Again. It’s been a hard week and it’s only Monday. … Continue reading Social Planner’s Distress Call: The NBN Information Session in Nimbin
Reflecting on EcoEnco, Environmental Ethics and Deep Ecology
EcoEnco Recently I spent a wonderful week at the EcoEnco retreat in south-western Western Australia with an intergenerational group of passionate, green, committed, like-minded people. See: https://ecoenco.com The focus of our work for that week was Deep Ecology. As our work deepened and our friendships strengthened, I realised that not all… Continue reading Reflecting on EcoEnco, Environmental Ethics and Deep Ecology
The Better Planning Network Community Forum on NSW Planning Reforms
Community Planning Forum, NSW Parliament Theatrette, Monday 20 May 2013, 10am-3pm On 20 May 2013, the Better Planning Network hosted a forum on the NSW planning reforms attended by 150 people at NSW Parliament House. It was co-hosted by the Hon. Brad Hazzard, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, the Hon. Luke… Continue reading The Better Planning Network Community Forum on NSW Planning Reforms
Banging on about Bang the Table
A couple of times recently, I’ve heard Australians complain about the Australian online engagement firm, Bang the Table (BTT) (see https://bangthetable.com/). I’ve done their training and greatly admire their work, which I see as directly complementary to my more “hands-on” approaches. I decided it was time to sort things out in my own… Continue reading Banging on about Bang the Table
An Expert Blind Spot: Fear of Falling
Back in the 1980s… Back in the mid-1980s, my social planning firm did a roaring trade in ageing. Every Sydney developer fantasized about making a fortune in retirement housing. We were a small firm of social planners – trying variously to dissuade them or help them. Most were beyond help: so gripped by greed… Continue reading An Expert Blind Spot: Fear of Falling
Blogs for the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, Adelaide, June 2013
Why Not Vancouver’s CityPlan as a Model for Community Engagement? Source: https://thehawkecentre.wordpress.com/2013/06/03/why-not-vancouvers-cityplan-as-a-model-for-community-engagement/ Nimbin, Monday morning June 3 The CityPlan as a Model for Community Engagement in South Australia? I don’t think so! During my week in Adelaide, I was dismayed to hear people talking in adulatory tones about the Vancouver CityPlan community… Continue reading Blogs for the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, Adelaide, June 2013
Please Spare Manitoba!
Manitoba in the early days What now? I never thought I’d see the day! One of the best examples of medium-density housing in Australia is up for redevelopment! How can this be? Where is our memory? Is new always better? Don’t we know what’s good when we see it?… Continue reading Please Spare Manitoba!
Root Shock: Grieving for a Lost Home
Several years ago, I was managing the community engagement processes for the first stages of a large community renewal project in an Australian capital city. The State Minister wanted something to announce before Christmas and he wanted to tell this community of about 3000 public tenants (half of whom did not speak English… Continue reading Root Shock: Grieving for a Lost Home