Patrick Fensham

Urban Planner, Principal & Partner, SGS Economics and Planning.

[Patrick Fensham @PFensham]

@PhilipThalis Lovely fellow. Humble and thoughtful. A true public servant.

[Patrick Fensham @PFensham]

@CarltonFC About time !

[Patrick Fensham @PFensham]

@PhilipThalis Agree Philip - this is not orderly development - we will not remake the city with sufficient density, public domain, local infrastructure and affordable housing if we rely on this type of ad hoc deal making - with no value capture for public benefits.

[Patrick Fensham @PFensham]

@PhilipThalis Lovely. No bike lanes- but streets calm enough to be shared with bikes?

[Philip Thalis @PhilipThalis]

2 wrongs don’t make a right;
1st Councils like Woollahra allowed only 3 storey apartments on key sites, squandering their potential.
Now State Govt rightly allows 4-6 storeys (maybe 8) but gifts windfall profits to existing landowners, instead of mandating 20% affordable housing

[Patrick Fensham @PFensham]

This is the more relevant number showing we’re constructing at reasonable rates. Brendan needs to break his figures down geographically. I reckon a lot of the countries with more houses per capita have idle dwellings in places no one wants to live or where the economy is weak.

[Tarric Brooker aka Avid Commentator 🇦🇺 @AvidCommentator]

On the other side of the coin Australia completes more homes per capita than almost anywhere in the developed world.

When the population is constantly grown at such a large rate, even a world beating level of construction still can't keep up.

[Patrick Fensham @PFensham]

@SGSEcoandPlan Sensible stuff. I’m amazed at how disconnected the current thinking is re housing supply & long term strategic planning. We can’t achieve the former without the latter. It’s as simple as that. The five pillars outlined here are essential to a sustainable city AND quality housing.

[Patrick Fensham @PFensham]

@PhilipThalis Same street 1964 - Sheraton Hotel, now apartments…

[Patrick Fensham @PFensham]

A strategic plan without robust governance for implementation will go nowhere. The @SGSEcoandPlan report for MAV contains a blueprint for reform in Victoria.
@pia_planning @theage

https://t.co/ebgPqqqK5Y

[Patrick Fensham @PFensham]

@JaneCaro This education divide just makes me livid. It’s a blight on the country- a horrible blind spot. Keep up the good work Jane.

[Patrick Fensham @PFensham]

Correction included now.
Thanks @theage and @joshgordo https://t.co/ZMKya5WbLw

[Patrick Fensham @PFensham]

I’m quoted here but a key qualifying point was excluded. I also said that with increased ministerial decisions “transparency and a commitment to planning based merit tests becomes particularly important”. Risk can then be managed. @theage @joshgordo
https://t.co/ZMKya5WbLw

[Patrick Fensham @PFensham]

And summary here

https://t.co/RWOt7zrR2E

[Patrick Fensham @PFensham]

PIA VIC BETTER PLACES, BETTER HOUSING: A PLANNING REFORM AGENDA
I'm pleased to be part of the Vic committee of @pia_planning which produced this policy paper. It outlines a comprehensive reform agenda to meet the future planning/ housing challenge.
https://t.co/pu8a5tyTKQ

[Patrick Fensham @PFensham]

@bytimbaker And try not to cry listening to this…https://t.co/EAIfnSP1OJ

[Patrick Fensham @PFensham]

@MattHorton79 @tanya_plibersek I’ve learnt recently to my surprise that if there’s plenty of water - as in recent years in the Murray system - cotton and rice are ok. It’s permanent water hungry plants like almonds - mostly exported - that are the problem as they demand water always even in the dry

[Patrick Fensham @PFensham]

How is this the fourth news item on the ⁦@smh iPhone web feed? Wrong priorities.
@https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/family-buys-earlwood-house-for-2-275-000-with-last-minute-bid-20230705-p5dlut.html?btis

[Patrick Fensham @PFensham]

@MeredithC2013 @kierans_awake @KosSamaras Agree. Supply side arguments are ridiculous. Approvals are at record highs. Completions aren’t flowing. Planning is not the problem.

[Patrick Fensham @PFensham]

@sterow Thanks Stephen. Hopefully this will correct the record in some way.

[Patrick Fensham @PFensham]

I didn’t say if parking was reduced a levy should apply. That wouldn’t make planning or economic sense. I said the opposite - that a levy could apply where more car spaces are sought above a nominated maximum. @pia_planning @SGSEcoandPlan @theage @infravic