The Power Of City Planning

During The Last Two Decades, Fiji Has Undergone Several Transformations, The Most Prominent One Being Urbanisation, Or Expansion Of Cities.

Out Of An Approximate Population Of 924,610 In 2021, Over 35 Per Cent Lives Within The Suva – Nausori Corridor, A 20km Stretch Of Close To 4000 Hectares.

There Is Ever Increasing Traffic Congestion While Pressure On Utili­ties Continues.

Will The City Planning Or Realign­ing New Development, Be The An­swer? It Is The Time To Think.

What?

City Planning, Also Known As Ur­ban Planning Or Town Planning, Is The Process Of Envisioning, Design­ing, And Organising The Physical, Social, And Economic Development Of Urban Areas.

It Involves Creating Plans And Poli­cies To Guide The Growth, Develop­ment, And Revitalisation Of Cities, Towns, Or Regions In A Sustainable And Efficient Manner.

The Primary Goals Of City Plan­ning Are To Enhance The Quality Of Life For Residents, Promote Eco­nomic Development, Improve In­frastructure And Transportation Systems, Protect The Environment, And Ensure Equitable Access To Re­sources And Services.

City Planning Typically Encom­passes Various Aspects, Including Land-Use Planning, Transportation And Environmental Planning, Com­munity Development And Infra­structure Planning.

If The Focus Is Suva – Nausori Cor­ridor, We Must Look At Creating A Model City Probably After Lami In Order To Cater To Future Demand.

A City That Could Be A Place To Live At Least 20 To 25 Thousand Residents.

This Means Housing, Transport, Utilities And Other Infrastructure.

It Is Also Possible To Relocate Some Of Essential Services To Be Relocated Out Of City In Order To Reduce Con­gestion.

Even Suva Bus-Stand Together With The Central Market Need To Re­located In Order To Ensure Seamless Flow Of Traffic And Goods.

The Plans Are Already Underway To Relocate Suva Port As In The Case Of Port Moresby Port In PNG.

The Benefit To The Country Is Expo­nential.

Challenges

City Planners Must Navigate The Complexities Of Managing Growth While Ensuring The Provision Of Ad­equate Resources And Maintaining A High Quality Of Life For Residents.

The Process Requires Financial Resources To Implement Infrastruc­ture Projects, Public Services, And Community Development Initia­tives.

However, Limited Funding Can Pose Challenges In Realising Comprehen­sive Plans And Achieving Desired Outcomes.

The Planning Process Must Tackle Issues Of Social Equity And Inclu­sion.

Planners Need To Address Dispari­ties In Access To Affordable Housing, Quality Education, Healthcare Ser­vices, And Other Resources.

Engaging Diverse Stakeholders And Ensuring Their Participation In The Planning Process Can Be Chal­lenging.

Balancing Competing Interests And Building Consensus Among Dif­ferent Groups Is Vital For Successful Implementation Of Plans.

Addressing These Challenges Re­quires Innovative Approaches, Col­laboration, And Ongoing Adaptation In The Field Of City Planning.

Planners Need To Be Flexible, Re­sponsive, And Open To Incorporating Emerging Trends And Best Practices To Shape Sustainable, Inclusive, And Resilient Cities.

Addressing Challenges

Planning Plays A Significant Role In Addressing Urban Congestion And Traffic, Although It Is Not A Stan­dalone Solution.

City Planners Can Design And Op­timise Transportation Networks To Improve Traffic Flow And Reduce Congestion.

This Includes Planning And De­veloping Well-Connected Road Networks, Efficient Public Transit Systems, Pedestrian-Friendly Infra­structure, And Dedicated Cycling Lanes.

Planning Considers Land Use And Zoning Patterns To Minimise Trans­portation Demand And Congestion.

By Encouraging Mixed-Use Devel­opments That Integrate Residential, Commercial, And Recreational Spac­es, Planners Can Reduce The Need For Long Commutes And Facilitate Shorter Trips.

Proper Parking Management Is An Essential Aspect Of City Planning To Address Congestion.

Planners Can Implement Strate­gies Such As Pricing Mechanisms, Time Restrictions, And Smart Park­ing Technologies To Optimise Park­ing Utilisation, Discourage Exces­sive Vehicle Ownership, And Reduce Circling For Parking Spaces That Contributes To Congestion.

While City Planning Can Con­tribute Significantly To Reducing Congestion And Improving Traffic Conditions, It Is Important To Note That Comprehensive Solutions Also Require Ongoing Monitoring, Evalu­ation, And Adjustments Based On Evolving Needs And Technological Advancements.

Additionally, Addressing Conges­tion And Traffic May Require A Com­bination Of Approaches, Including Behavioural Changes, Transporta­tion Demand Management, And Investments In Infrastructure And Public Transit Systems.

Way Forward

City Planning For An Existing Capi­tal City Typically Involves A Compre­hensive And Iterative Process That Considers Various Factors And In­volves Multiple Stakeholders.

It Starts With Understanding The Current Planning Framework, In­cluding Zoning Regulations, Land Use Plans, Transportation Plans, And Environmental Policies And Gathering Information On The City’s Demographics, Infrastructure, Transportation Systems, Economic Activities, Environmental Condi­tions, And Social Factors.

Analyse The Existing Urban Fabric, Identify Issues Such As Congestion, Inadequate Infrastructure, Envi­ronmental Degradation, And Social Inequality.

Also, Identify Opportunities For Improvement And Future Growth.

Above All, What Matters Most Is Visioning And Goal Setting Involv­ing Various Stakeholders, Includ­ing Government Officials, Residents, Businesses, Community Groups, And Experts, To Gather Input And Perspectives On The City’s Future.

Developing A Vision Statement That Articulates The Desired Future For The Capital City, Considering As­pects Such As Sustainability, Livabil­ity, Economic Growth, Social Equity, And Cultural Heritage.

City Planning Typically Encompasses Various Aspects, Including Land-Use Planning, Transportation And Environmental Planning, Community Development And Infrastructure Planning.

The Primary Goals Of City Planning Are To Enhance The Quality Of Life For Residents, Promote Economic Development, Improve Infrastructure And Transportation Systems, Protect The Environment, And Ensure Equitable Access To Resources And Services.

Story By: frederica.elbourne@fijisun.com.fj