In PlanningxChange Episode 79 Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell interview Sebastian Gurciullo. Sebastian is a professional archivist, editor, curator and writer. He has worked at the National Archives of Australia, Public Record Office Victoria (PROV) and University of Melbourne Archives. He has been the editor of the Australian Society of Archivists journal Archives and Manuscripts and PROV's journal Provenance, and remains on the editorial board of both journals. Although currently working in collection management at PROV, he continues to contribute to exhibitions and other forms of outreach including tours, talks and seminars. Proximity to the state archives has allowed him to explore his research interests, particularly the administration of Aboriginal Affairs, and Melbourne’s urban history and built form. He is particularly fond of the collections many visual collections: photographs, maps, plans and architectural drawings spanning the history and breath of the State of Victoria. His current research interests are focused on unbuilt projects from Melbourne's urban and planning history.
In this episode, Sebastian discusses his research paper ‘Deleting Freeways’ which appeared in the 2020 edition of Provenance a publication released by PROV. Details at https://prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/provenance. 
Provenance which means ‘place of origin’ is the free annual journal published online by Public Record Office Victoria. The journal features peer-reviewed articles, as well as general research papers, drawing on original records in the Victorian state archives' collection. Sebastians article “.. explores community resistance to the F2 freeway proposal that emerged in the wake of the 1969 Melbourne Transportation plan. Drawing on published work in urban social history and urban policy analysis, as well as a wide range of archival sources, it provides an account of the defeat of this freeway proposal through community protest and the exertion of political pressure on government. It argues that the defeated proposal had been generated as part of a broader road-building consensus in Melbourne that gave little consideration to community impacts and the possibility of alternative transport solutions—a consensus that largely survives to the present day despite occasional backdowns such as the one explored in this article.”
The views expressed in this episode are the individuals' own and do not represent the views of PROV or any other body.
 Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 4 June 2021.

131. The persistence of memory - freeways & community opposition_PX

In PlanningxChange Episode 83, Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell interview Adam Cohen. 

Adam is a transportation mobility futures researcher at the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. Since joining the group in 2004, his research has focused on innovative mobility strategies, including urban/advanced air mobility, automated vehicles, shared mobility, smart cities, smartphone apps, and other emerging technologies. He has co-authored numerous articles and reports in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. Adam also served three combat tours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as a rated aviator for the Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component (CJSOAC). Adam’s unique multidisciplinary background gives him unique insight into automation, electrification, and the potential impacts of innovative and disruptive technologies. Previously, Adam worked for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Information Technology and Telecommunications Laboratory (ITTL) at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI). His academic background is in city and regional planning and international affairs. 

In this interview we discuss Adam’s recent project ‘Shared Micromoblity Policy Toolkit: Docked and Dockless Bike and Scooter Sharing’ which he co-authored with Susan Shaheen . 

This can be found at https://tsrc.berkeley.edu/publications/shared-micromoblity-policy-toolkit-docked-and-dockless-bike-and-scooter-sharing

Audio production by Jack Bavage. This episode was released on 24 September 2021.

PlanningxChange is proud to be part of the UBC.

135. Micromobility toolkit - getting it right_PX

In PlanningxChange Episode 84, Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell interview Gerard McHugh; this interview is all about mountain bike trail development and what it can achieve for participants, towns and regions.
Gerard is the General Manager of World Trails. The company provides trail designs for all types of recreational trails, from the earliest conceptual stage to the final design stage including detailed trail designs, trail master plans, concept plans, CAD designs, engineering plans, detailed construction budgets and schedules, trail mapping and competitive overlays for mountain bike racing. Details of the company are at https://world-trail.com.
Gerard joined World Trail in 2007, starting on the trail construction crew before moving in to a full-time role delivering the company’s consulting reports and designs. In his time with World Trail, Gerard has been responsible for, or had some involvement with every project World Trail has undertaken, including the design and construction of the trail networks at Falls Creek, Atherton, Hidden Vale, Smithfield, Derby, St Helens and Wangetti, all of which are amongst the most successful mountain bike trail projects in Australia. The interview covers a wide range of topics including what makes a good mountain bike trail, design and environmental considerations, whether you need mountains, misconceptions, how towns and land managers can develop mountain bike trails, the fun and inclusive nature of urban ‘pump parks’ and how the sport is enticing more people to experience nature. Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 18 October 2021. PlanningxChnage is proud to be part of the Urban Broadcast Collective.

136. Mountain bikes forever - bush or concrete, spokes 4 fun_PX

In PlanningxChange Episode 84, Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell interview Gerard McHugh; this interview is all about mountain bike trail development and what it can achieve for participants, towns and regions.
Gerard is the General Manager of World Trails. The company provides trail designs for all types of recreational trails, from the earliest conceptual stage to the final design stage including detailed trail designs, trail master plans, concept plans, CAD designs, engineering plans, detailed construction budgets and schedules, trail mapping and competitive overlays for mountain bike racing. Details of the company are at https://world-trail.com.
Gerard joined World Trail in 2007, starting on the trail construction crew before moving in to a full-time role delivering the company’s consulting reports and designs. In his time with World Trail, Gerard has been responsible for, or had some involvement with every project World Trail has undertaken, including the design and construction of the trail networks at Falls Creek, Atherton, Hidden Vale, Smithfield, Derby, St Helens and Wangetti, all of which are amongst the most successful mountain bike trail projects in Australia. The interview covers a wide range of topics including what makes a good mountain bike trail, design and environmental considerations, whether you need mountains, misconceptions, how towns and land managers can develop mountain bike trails, the fun and inclusive nature of urban ‘pump parks’ and how the sport is enticing more people to experience nature. Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 18 October 2021.

PlanningxChange 84: Gerard McHugh - Mountain bikes forever

In PX103, our interview subject is Tim Jackson, a +40 year veteran of local government in Victoria and South Australia. Tim recently retired for a second time from the paid workforce after completing his four year role as the State Government appointed Administrator at the District of Council of Coober Pedy in South Australia in February. This was the first time an Administrator had been appointed to a South Australian Council in almost forty years.   Prior to his first retirement, Tim was CEO of the City of Playford in South Australia for eighteen years. Playford was and is South Australia’s fastest growing local government area. At the time of his departure, it was the eleventh fastest growing local government area in Australia. Prior to his time in South Australia, he was employed in Victoria by the City of Prahran which became the City of Stonnington after the reorganisation of local government in Victoria in the early 1990s.  Tim principal interest throughout his career has been about empowering citizens and employees. Tim has simultaneously performed many voluntary non executive roles in the for purpose sector.

In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner, Tim recommends Utopia the TV series (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopia_(Australian_TV_series) and the biography of Sir Edmund Hillary, ‘Edmund Hillary – A Biography: The extraordinary life of the beekeeper who climbed Everest’ by Michael Gill. Details on Hillary are found at  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Hillary

Jess recommends ‘Madoff - The Monster of Wall Street’ on Netflix.

Pete recommends the short stories of W. Somerset Maugham including ‘Far Eastern Tales’ on Audible. Details of Maugham can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Somerset_Maugham.

Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 24 March 2023. 

PlanningxChange is proud to be a member of the Urban Broadcast Collective.

155. Front and centre_PX

In PX103, our interview subject is Tim Jackson, a +40 year veteran of local government in Victoria and South Australia. Tim recently retired for a second time from the paid workforce after completing his four year role as the State Government appointed Administrator at the District of Council of Coober Pedy in South Australia in February. This was the first time an Administrator had been appointed to a South Australian Council in almost forty years.   Prior to his first retirement, Tim was CEO of the City of Playford in South Australia for eighteen years. Playford was and is South Australia’s fastest growing local government area. At the time of his departure, it was the eleventh fastest growing local government area in Australia. Prior to his time in South Australia, he was employed in Victoria by the City of Prahran which became the City of Stonnington after the reorganisation of local government in Victoria in the early 1990s.  Tim principal interest throughout his career has been about empowering citizens and employees. Tim has simultaneously performed many voluntary non executive roles in the for purpose sector.

In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner, Tim recommends Utopia the TV series (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopia_(Australian_TV_series) and the biography of Sir Edmund Hillary, ‘Edmund Hillary – A Biography: The extraordinary life of the beekeeper who climbed Everest’ by Michael Gill. Details on Hillary are found at  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Hillary

Jess recommends ‘Madoff - The Monster of Wall Street’ on Netflix.

Pete recommends the short stories of W. Somerset Maugham including ‘Far Eastern Tales’ on Audible. Details of Maugham can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Somerset_Maugham.

Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 24 March 2023.

PlanningxChange 103: Tim Jackson former CEO, gun footballer and volunteer

In PX104, our interview guest is Vanessa Schernickau, the Chief Executive Officer of the Geelong Regional Library Corporation (GRLC). The GRLC provides library and information services to residents and visitors across the Geelong region on behalf of five local government councils.

The network consists of a central library, 18 community libraries, three mobile libraries and a website. It provides free, universal access to lifelong learning, reading and discovery. 

The Geelong Library began in 1858 as part of the Mechanics Institute.

Vanessa talks about her first library book and her lifetime love affair with libraries. She talks of the dynamic changes that have led to the modern library model. This model has changed with the times and now a substantial component of user requirements are not associated with physical books. 

As the industrialist and great patron of public libraries Andrew Carnegie famously put it more than a century ago, “A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never-failing spring in the desert.” His words ring true today.

We chose libraries as an interview topic as they represent one of the few public places in our towns and cities. They also provide a good deal of assistance to people navigating government and commercial services and simply as pleasant places to rest and relax.

In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner, Vanessa recommends two books, ‘The Colony’ by Audrey Magee and ’Small things like these’ by Claire Keegan.

Jess recommends ‘The House of Eve’ by Sadeqa Johnson.

Pete recommends ‘100 Poems, 100 Poets (Hyaku-nin isshu).

Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 1 May 2023.

PlanningxChange 104: Vanessa Schernickau, CEO of the Geelong Regional Library Corporation

In PX104, our interview guest is Vanessa Schernickau, the Chief Executive Officer of the Geelong Regional Library Corporation (GRLC). The GRLC provides library and information services to residents and visitors across the Geelong region on behalf of five local government councils.

The network consists of a central library, 18 community libraries, three mobile libraries and a website. It provides free, universal access to lifelong learning, reading and discovery. 

The Geelong Library began in 1858 as part of the Mechanics Institute.

Vanessa talks about her first library book and her lifetime love affair with libraries. She talks of the dynamic changes that have led to the modern library model. This model has changed with the times and now a substantial component of user requirements are not associated with physical books. 

As the industrialist and great patron of public libraries Andrew Carnegie famously put it more than a century ago, “A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never-failing spring in the desert.” His words ring true today.

We chose libraries as an interview topic as they represent one of the few public places in our towns and cities. They also provide a good deal of assistance to people navigating government and commercial services and simply as pleasant places to rest and relax.

In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner, Vanessa recommends two books, ‘The Colony’ by Audrey Magee and ’Small things like these’ by Claire Keegan.

Jess recommends ‘The House of Eve’ by Sadeqa Johnson.

Pete recommends ‘100 Poems, 100 Poets (Hyaku-nin isshu).

Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 1 May 2023.

PlanningxChange is proud to be a member of the Urban Broadcast Collective.

156. Libraries forever_PX

In PX116 our guest is Stephen Rowley. Stephen is the author of two books, ‘Movie Towns and Sitcom Suburbs: Building Hollywood’s Ideal Communities’ and ‘The Victorian Planning System: Practice, Problems and Prospects’. 

In February 2022 he was made a Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia, the citation included: ‘Over the first 20 years of his career Dr Stephen Rowley has made a very significant contribution to planning as an inspiring and passionate lecturer, through his publications, his engagement in planning debates, and his continued advocacy for planning reform. Stephen is one of the profession’s leading voices on the operation of the Victorian planning system. His critical insights into the structure of the VPPs and their intersection with planning practice are highly valued across the sector.’

An engaging interview with a planning profession who has given much to the profession and Australian cities. His observations can be applied broadly to planning systems around the globe.

In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner Stephen recommends the British comedy (satirical) program ‘The Thick of It’ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thick_of_It). Jess recommends Canva a graphic design software program. Pete has two recommendations. the movie ‘Godzilla Minus One’ (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23289160/) and the second, a British comedy program from the 1980’s ‘The Young Ones’ (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083505/) that could never be made these days.
Audio produced by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 2 May 2024.

PlanningxChange 116: Stephen Rowley - author, planner, academic and astute commentator.

This episode of This Must Be The Place is a four-way conversation between David and Elizabeth; and the hosts of another Melbourne planning-related podcast – Planning Xchange (or ‘PX’). PX hosts Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell are both practicing planners, and their podcast features interviews with people employed across different roles in planning related fields. PX aims to “promote a better understanding of urban affairs and city design”. 

The episode is an effort at cross-fertilisation between TMBTP and their “podcast cousins” (to use Peter’s phrase). Of course, that troubling mixed metaphor might bring to mind questions of the merits of cross-fertilising between cousins. The idea seems to be called crossover in the music industry, like when you get Tim McGraw and Nelly together. Incidentally this episode will exist on PX in a slightly different format: without our “spooky” music, and possibly with a different approach to ums and ahhs (which Elizabeth enjoys editing).   

A central theme in the discussion is the crossover between academic and practicing planning worlds – or rather the lack of it, whether there is a need for it, and how to go about closing gaps that exist. (Podcasts are one modest part of the answer). We debate to what extent the onus in on universities to better transmit research findings; or on practicing planners to stay more open to new ideas. The lack of historical perspectives in planning practice is an example. We also touch on fundamental differences in forms of knowledge, and the dangers of trying to measure impact. 

We also ask: how is university education preparing planners for practice, and should it? While mostly we agree the purpose of a university education isn’t to learn how to fill out a permit form, there are different thoughts about how broad a view planning education should give. What sort of generalist skills do you need, and realistically how does a university transmit them? Will this be on the exam? In the process we get an idea of what our jobs are; how we access and use information; and some misconceptions different sectors have of each other.  

Plus: 
David and Elizabeth muddling through explaining what their podcast and their research programs are actually about; 
The promises and perils of technology in planning: digitized records; plagiarism; driverless cars; parking; machine learning, robot planners…
Comparing metrics by which work is judged – peer reviewed output and research grants in universities; financial returns, project delivery and client relations in consultancies;  
David at the tail end of teaching: “we’re in week 12 now and if someone said to me right now we’ve added a week 13, I’d just go, OK I’m going to Peru”;
How 20,000 signatures were collected to stop the pioneer cemetery becoming the Victoria Market.  

And more. PX are now part of the Urban Broadcast Collective, so while you can subscribe to PX you can also hear more of them via UBC in future. 

Peter Jewell runs his own consultancy, Jewell Partnership. And we hear how Peter:
Mainly remembers university for discovering Australian Literature; 
Enjoys BBC podcasts Thinking Allowed and In Our Time (including the Highland Clearances one); 
Is optimistic about machine learning, but worried about surveillance and human rights. 
The last academic research Peter read was a UK study on using machine learning to understand whether a view is “scenic or not”. 

Jess Noonan is an urban planner working with Tract Consultants. And we hear how Jess: 
Has a degree in public health; 
Works as a tutor at RMIT;
Is an optimist about technology: she recently experienced a trial of a driverless bus in Perth. 
The last academic paper Jess read was, ironically (or at least, proving the title a bit more wrong), “Not a lot of People Read the Stuff”.

Planning Exchange: http://www.planningxchange.org/ 
“Not a Lot of People Read the stuff”: https://rsa.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08111146.2014.994741?journalCode=cupr20

What do planning podcast people do all day? This Must be the Place meets Planning Xchange

In PX38, we interview Dr Elizabeth Taylor (RMIT) and David Nichols (Melb. Uni) producers of This Must be the Place an urban planning / history podcast also produced in Melbourne. Podcast released in June 2018.

PX38: Interview 'This Must be the Place' podcasters

A podcast devoted to urban planning and the people who make it happen.

PlanningxChange 116: Stephen Rowley - author, planner, academic and astute commentator.

PlanningXChange

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