Emboldened by the Bentley Blockade

  It’s been ten days since the text arrived announcing the suspension of Metgasco’s license to drill for oil at Bentley.   Only ten days — and life has changed dramatically for many of us.   I search for a word for this new feeling and find an old one:   Embolden: “To give someone… Continue reading Emboldened by the Bentley Blockade

Metgasco’s “Community Consultative”: a Moment of Hilarity for the Bentley Blockade

I am old enough to have studied Latin in high school. It helps make me a good speller.  A moment of hilarity And today, Latin provided a moment of hilarity in battle to bring Metgasco to see reason about gas mining in the Northern Rivers. The goss now is that Metgasco is encouraging its shareholders… Continue reading Metgasco’s “Community Consultative”: a Moment of Hilarity for the Bentley Blockade

The Bentley Blockade: Weeping for the Earth

The text!   It would have looked better if I were digging out the composting toilet or planting organic veggies. But the truth is I was half-way into an egg and sausage McMuffin in Casino when the text came from Bentley.   I had to ring Yollana to make sure I had it right.  … Continue reading The Bentley Blockade: Weeping for the Earth

Toderian’s 10 Lessons in More Engaging Citizen Engagement”: A confused response

“Engagement Done Well” In a few days, Vancouver planner Brent Toderian will be speaking in Sydney, where last year he was training planning bureaucrats in the NSW State Government in community engagement. His conference topic is “Density Done Well”.  My topic in the preceding session was “Engagement Done Well”, making the point that density done… Continue reading Toderian’s 10 Lessons in More Engaging Citizen Engagement”: A confused response

Vancouver’s EcoDensity Policy: Reflections on Australian Planning’s Cultural Cringe and Cultural Imperialism

Australia‘s “cultural cringe”   One of the challenges of being a “migrant” in Australia is understanding the “cultural cringe” that infects so much of Australian life. I’ve lived and worked here for 45 years and it still puzzles me. For those not familiar with it, it is an internalised inferiority complex that causes us to… Continue reading Vancouver’s EcoDensity Policy: Reflections on Australian Planning’s Cultural Cringe and Cultural Imperialism

All Hell Breaks Loose with Proposed Housing Density Increases in Vancouver!

  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!

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?

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

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!

Emotions Count in Community Engagement

                      There’s lots of discussion about emotion in community engagement these days.   Maybe that’s because we’ve ignored this important component for decades.   Adelaide’s independent newspaper, InDaily, recommends, following an interview with me last week, that we “consider emotion in community engagement.”   The… Continue reading Emotions Count in Community Engagement