Recent decades have seen ‘the death of the town centre’ in many western countries. Many factors are at play. These include the post-Covid shift to working from home, increases in online shopping, migration from small towns into cities, and the apparent ease of shopping in large malls rather than on the main street.
But this downward trajectory is starting to slow. Governments have become more aware of how precious our public spaces are for fostering community, public health and commerce. And as a result, we are seeing more public space being returned to public use.
Steven Burgess is director at Complete Streets. He works to create more human-centric villages, towns and cities through contemporary street design. There are two common themes in Complete Streets’ projects. First, the removal of some street parking from town centres to create space for better things, such as benches, trees and activities. Things that attract people to stick, stop, stay, smile – and then spend money. Second, strong leadership from the local council, combined with effective community consultation, is essential.
Steven has given us a rundown of the town centres in Australia that are doing a really good job to bring back people, activity and economic vitality. Thanks Steven!
Best capital city – Adelaide, South Australia
For capital cities, Adelaide comes in at number one. “The city has made a great turnaround with their downtown in recent years,” says Steven. “It is using its laneways for amazing food and drink businesses. And, as a result, having a great Renaissance.”
Rundle Street in Adelaide’s East End prioritises access for people not cars – and reaps the rewards. (Image: SouthAustralia.com)
He believes Adelaide has the potential to be a people-based economic power zone similar to Barcelona. That is, if more car parking was removed from the town centre!
The city and surrounding area boast a huge range of cycling and walking trails. The Adelaide Park Lands are a major asset with 7,600,000 square metres of greenbelt full of cycle paths, making for easy, comfortable riding from the suburbs to the city.
A group rides through King Rodney Park, or Ityamai-itpina, east of the city centre. (Image: Adelaide Parklands Association)
The River Torrens Linear Trail provides thirty kilometres of picturesque riverside pathway between the city, hills and beach.
Cycling along the Torrens River in Adelaide. (Credit: CityOfAdelaide.com.au )
The local government is pitching Adelaide as a city built for cyclists with wide, flat streets that are easy to navigate. In 2021, the City and Government of South Australia committed $12 million to a series of cycling infrastructure projects through the city and the Park Lands to improve connectivity and increase safety. In February this year, they announced a plan to triple the number of city workers riding to work.
Bicycle SA, the peak body for cycling in South Australia, approves of these investments. But they would like to see more road space allocated to cycling and walking. Marketing Manager for Bicycle SA, Bailey Underwood, points out that Adelaide has the highest number of car parking spaces out of all Australian capital cities on both a per capita and an outright basis. “This overabundance represents an opportunity to rebalance our street space to prioritise more sustainable, people-oriented uses like walking and cycling,” says Bailey.
Best aspects:
- Fringe Festival is amazing
- Hospital workers keen to mode shift
- University students everywhere
- Access to green space, such as Adelaide Oval and the Adelaide Park Lands
- Local feel to the CBD – it is very walkable
Room for improvement:
- Too much cheap parking, which generates unnecessary traffic. The wide streets have enormous potential to transform road space to safely accommodate cyclists, pedestrians and public transport.
- Need to link up more green from iconic parks into streets.
- Need more street trees and greenery to help with the summer heat.
Best mid-sized city - Coffs Harbour, New South Wales
For a mid-sized city or region, Coffs Harbour is Steven’s favourite. “I love the way they are researching, changing and adapting,” he says. “They are pursuing more public transport, better walking environments, better bike riding infrastructure and more density in their towns and villages.” He is impressed by the top-down approach, where a traditionally conservative community is being nursed along by very hard-working Council officers.
Coffs Harbour City Centre. (Image: City of Coffs Harbour)
For cyclists, there are many popular cycling routes close to town, including the Coffs Creek Cycleway (8km), the harbourside cycleway to Corambirra Point (7.5km), and the Eastside Circuit (9km). There are regular organised rides with the local active BUGs at Coffs Harbour and Dorrigo, as well as the Coffs Harbour Cycling Club and weekly shop rides with Bob Wallis Cycles. For mountain and gravel riders, there are a range of exciting and scenic off-road routes for every age and ability. And some gorgeous family friendly routes just south of the city is the Bongil Bongil National Park. To top it off, there is an annual Coffs Harbour Cycle Classic, attracting cyclists from around the country with a choice of 100km, 60km or 20km rides.
Family ride in the Bongil Bongil National Park, just south of Coffs Harbour. (Image: National Parks NSW)
Bicycle NSW Active Transport Planner, Sarah Bickford, notes that the City of Coffs Harbour published an excellent Movement and Place Strategy in October 2023. It provides an action plan for the next 20 years to improve walking and cycling networks, bus services, and the City's roads and streets to contribute to a better place to live, work and play.
Best aspects:
- Artist lanes with mural
- Varied community spaces
- Public dining spaces
- Walking and cycling infrastructure
Room for improvement:
- Still a lot of traffic-generating sprawl
- More density would bring vibrancy and facilitate active transport (2 - 3 story or shoptop housing in the villages)
- Night-time economy needs some on-going love
- Execute the Coffs Harbour Movement and Place Strategy
Best country town – Deloraine, Tasmania
Deloraine is a serene riverside country town with a sustainable economy. The town centre features classic Georgian and Victorian buildings, great food and plenty of craft shops and antique stores. They even have a pump track in town and train lovers will find an old steam locomotive at the train park.
Deloraine town centre. (Image: David from Travelsewhere blog)
“The people who live there love it, which attracts other interested people,” says Steven. “The river is full of platypi, and the local food is great.” Rural economies often struggle. So it is really impressive that Deloraine has nurtured a sustainable multi-generational economy.
The town of Deloraine sits on the edge of the Meander River. (Image: David from Travelsewhere blog)
For cyclists, there are plenty of mapped cycling routes that start in Deloraine, including lovely day trips to Launceston and Westbury along quiet country roads, against the backdrop of the Western Tiers. There are also some great overnight rides departing from Deloraine to Liffey Falls, Marakoopa Caves and through some of the region’s gourmet farmlands.
Deloraine Riverside trail (Image: Robert Gavin, originally posted on RideWithGPS.com)
Best aspects:
- Grassy banks and calm water of the idyllic Meander River
- Lots of places for brunch or lunch, from cafes to bakeries and more
- Small statues - spend any time walking around town and you’ll spot loads of these little statues.
Room for improvement:
- Shoptop housing would bring more people into the town centre
- Although the main street is already excellent, it would benefit from more trees and more pedestrian crossings
- Promote the bicycle tourism opportunities
One to watch – Brisbane, Queensland
Brisbane is going to have lots of construction for the upcoming 2032 Olympics. They will need solutions to move more people around and showcase the city to visitors. Planners will have a critical eye on parking as the best use of public space.
The beautiful New Farm Riverwalk is a water highway for pedestrians and cyclists jutting out along the most scenic tract of Brisbane River between New Farm and the Howard St Wharves. The Queensland Government has delivered some excellent long distance ‘Veloways’. But a decade of indifference from the Liberal-run city council has seen most city centre cycleway and public space projects stalled. Check out more images from Bicycle NSW’s recent trip to Brisbane here (Image: Bicycle NSW)
Best aspects:
- Good downtown residential investment
- Potentially good public transport network, but there have been no major improvements since the Busway was completed in 2011
- Imminent uplift from X-River Rail and associated urban works
Room for improvement:
- Massive tunnel investments have increased traffic, which needs to be addressed
- The recent Metro bus development has complicated rather than improved public transport
- Some village life needs to be injected into the sprawling suburbs
If you want better cities, towns and streets…..
Please join Bicycle NSW today. We need your support to advocate for attractive, safe places for people to walk, ride and hang out in every corner of New South Wales!
