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We do things differently here cobber

Chris Crowley

Chris Crowley, a senior member of the strategic planning branch of Brisbane City Council, recently spent a month with Auckland City Council's planning team as part of the sister cities staff exchange programme. The exchange gave Chris the opportunity to take an in-depth look at the similarities and differences in planning issues between the two cities. He was particularly impressed with Auckland's ability to preserve heritage buildings without losing the city's modern, go-ahead character. The waterfront developments and infrastructure plans to support the Rugby World Cup also made an impact on Chris, as did the creativity and cultural diversity of the city.

"I will take back a very positive account of planning in Auckland. It's a city in great hands...and I'll be taking a number of ideas back over the Tasman to Brisbane."

Chris also left thinking that New Zealand was a country that really knew how to unwind - with more boats and golf courses per capita than any other country in the world! A planner from Auckland City Council spent a month at Brisbane City Council in 2007, bringing back a number of beneficial ideas to her team.

Published July 2008