On 5 March 2019 Canberra College of Leadership and Management Committee held a Board Room lunch for Malcolm Snow – CEO of The City Renewal Authority (CRA) of the ACT Government.
Entitled “What have Engineers ever done for Us” with apologies from Monty Python “Live of Brian – What have the Roman’s ever done for us”
We heard an excellent presentation on the direction of travel for the CRA, and the ACT Government’s ambitions for Canberra, at least for the area covered by CRA’s remit..
The purpose of the conversation was for Malcolm to challenge engineers in terms of their role in shaping Canberra the City and for the engineers present to not only challenge Malcolm but also offer suggestion of what they would commit to.
In terms of the challenges that we might set as a result of what Malcolm presented and our interpretation of possible actions from that, the following were discussed:
- To develop and hold a wider view of the outcomes we might seek in continuing the development of Canberra, beyond the hard physical to include the social and environmental;
- To consider and hold the concepts of people / planet / profit / and place in the work we do;
- For engineers and Engineers Australia to be vocal in its support of CRA projects such as West Basin, Parkes Way, City Hill and others that Malcolm Snow presented;
- To continue in engagement and dialogue with the CRA about the outcomes they are seeking for Canberra and the projects that might support those outcomes;
- To assist CRA in understanding from our perspective the objectives that the community values;
- To ensure we select the right people to participate in Standards Australia activities and to ensure that those people hold a wider view of the objectives we might be seeking for Canberra;
- To start and continue conversations with other kindred professional bodies to ensure that we have a joined up and integrated conversation about what Canberra could and should become; and
- To consider the establishment of a group focused on city building in the Canberra context, to interact with CRA and other groups, including the to be appointed Chief Engineer.
The ball is in our court now as to how we respond.
Article submited by: Robert Care AM – Chair CLM CBR
Image credit: Engineers Australia