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11 February 2011
GHD, one of the world’s leading engineering, architecture and
environment consulting companies, assembled Victoria’s brightest
transportation professionals and policy setters at the first of a
three-part seminar series, Moving Melbourne at Federation
Square on Tuesday 8th February.
The first seminar, Time for change? Creating a sustainable
transport city was opened by Enrique Peñalosa, the former
Mayor of Bogotá, Columbia and influential thought-leader on urban
challenges.
In his time as mayor, Enrique enabled radical
improvements to the city and its seven million people –
transforming a car-dependent city to one that prioritises and
encourages public transport, walking and cycling.
Enrique captivated the attention of the audience as
he shared his experiences in Bogotá and shed light on how other
cities have embraced sustainable transport principles and created
places for people,
“An advanced city focuses on how to reduce car use
as opposed to how to facilitate car use. The most successful cities
in the world, such a London, Paris and Manhattan have taken this
approach by finding ways to prioritise for people rather than
cars.”
GHD Manager Victoria Phil Duthie commented, "In
Melbourne, we’ve prioritised and provided for cars for more than
100 years. Personal forms of transportation are now deeply
ingrained in our culture. This first seminar explored how to foster
a culture change that will get people out of their cars, and onto
public transport, walking and cycling – a vital step in creating
a sustainable transport city.”
Anticipation is growing for the second seminar,
Build it and they will come? Managing demand on our transport
infrastructure. In this seminar, attention will turn to how
Melbourne can get the most out of its transport infrastructure
capacity – both now and in the future.
For more infomation, please contact Kane Dowsett