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Kaya,
We open our first issue of 2026 with a burst of colour from Scarborough, where a small laneway has been transformed through the Tiny Street Art Project — a simple intervention that changes how the space feels, how people move through it, and perhaps even encourages them to linger a little longer, coffee in hand at Livid Café just across the way.
That idea of how places feel at different times of day, and at different stages of life, runs through this edition of Urban Scrawl, which features more Australian content than usual — because sometimes inspiration happens on your doorstep. We explore Sydney’s proposed plan for long-term growth, what genuinely cools down temperatures in parks, and how denser living can better support ageing with independence and connection according to Hassell and Colliers' findings. In this edition, we also look at the rise of noctourism and the impressive growth in Perth’s student population.
In tuning into new ideas, we read forward with Jester Strategy’s 2026 outlook and look back at a quirky show on Aussie fashion design — timely ahead of Perth Design Week in March. In'On the Ground Intel', we speak with Kane Blackman, CEO of Good Sammy, about life in Perth — from weekend rituals to how leading a purpose-driven organisation shapes his experience of the city.
As always, Urban Scrawl is a pool of ideas and inspiration from Australia and around the world, inviting reflection on how Perth might adapt, evolve and shape its path into the future. With the newly announced WA Government 2050 Commission, we are even more energised about taking part in shaping Perth's next chapter. Happy reading,
Committee for Perth Team |
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Sydney's Proposed City Plan |
Sydney is planning for its projected growth with a new long-term metropolitan blueprint which sets a clear direction for how Australia’s largest city will grow from its population of 5.3 million people to 6.5 million by 2045.
The proposed new ‘Sydney Plan’ suggests land-use direction for housing, employment and infrastructure across 33 local government areas, aiming to deliver: - clear guidance on where homes and jobs should be located to support affordability and economic growth
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a connected network of urban centres, anchored by established hubs as well as emerging centres
- strategies to protect the natural environment while integrating greening and climate resilience into planning
- support for productive industrial lands that underpin jobs and economic activity
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strengthened connections between growth, services and accessibility
The plan aligns Sydney’s regional framework with a new statewide planning approach, guided by seven overarching priorities: Aboriginal outcomes, housing equity, prosperity, connectivity, resilience, liveability and coordinated action.
Currently open for public feedback, the draft of the Sydney Plan is expected to be finalised in 2026. It is the first in a new generation of regional plans under NSW planning reforms. With this approach, Sydney highlights the value of clear, long-term metropolitan planning to manage growth and protect liveability.
For us Perth-ites it will be interesting to keep an eye on this draft — especially as the WA Government establishes the 2050 Commission, signaling long-term, coordinated thinking. We will be excited to watch the 2050 Commission take shape. |
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Perth is now home to more than 144,000 university students (national + international combined), up from roughly 110,000 in the mid-2010s — a growth of around 30% over the past ten years.
That jump reflects steady expansion across the city’s five major universities, increased participation in higher education, and Perth’s growing role as a study destination — and of course, new infrastructure like ECU’s city campus promises further growth ahead. |
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READ: Every year, our member Jester Strategy publishes their annual Outlook, compiling bold predictions and emerging trends from experts and leading publications across the globe. From ‘de-dollarisation’ to a PLUTO World, it offers big-picture insights and practical solutions for navigating what lies ahead. The 2026 Outlook is now available on the Jester Strategy website to help businesses navigate change and uncertainty.
VISIT: Perth Design Week returns from 19 March, with the opening conversation 'Designing the Future' on 18 March bringing together some of our members’ finest speakers and more for a thought-provoking panel conversation. Book tickets WATCH: We take a look back at Australia's history of Fashion Design, entertainingly presented by comedian Celeste Barber. Watch 'The Way We Wore' for free on ABC View |
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Kane Blackman is the CEO of Good Sammy, an organisation creating employment pathways for Western Australians with disability while championing sustainability.
In this month's 'On The Ground Intel' we asked Kane to share his Perth with us: the places, rituals and perspectives that shape how he sees our city. |
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What do you love most about living in Perth?
I arrived to Perth in 2006 from Melbourne, rented a house and married the landlord's daughter. I love that Perth created that connection with my wife, Sarah, and gave us two sons, James and Finn. I also love Perth's sense of freedom and possibility, best enjoyed late afternoon by the water or at Rottnest. You are active in creating a better future for people living with disabilities, what’s one thing Perth could do better?
Give more people with disability a job. There are 100,000 Western Australians with disability of working age that don't have a job, yet so many employers are seeking more help. We know how important work is for connection, belonging and independence. I just want everyone to have that chance and to be able to contribute their skills and abilities. |
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What is your go-to coffee or tea spot?
As a West Leedy local, I am spoiled for choice: Butters, Besk, Mary Street, Piccolo's or the Bowlo. However, its Good Sammy's baristas at our Canning Vale head office cafeteria that make sure I get my coffee fix each day (Kane pictured with Good Sammy barista Shawn). |
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Has leading a purpose-driven organisation changed how you experience Perth as a city?
Before Good Sammy, I worked in purely corporate roles within private equity, mining and financial services. Leading a for-purpose charity and social enterprise has helped me see Perth in new ways. There is a very rich eco-system of goodwill and connection in Perth - from households, corporates, resource companies, government, social enterprises, NFPs and philanthropists all striving to make Perth better. I love looking for links and opportunities to drive these connections to deliver a wider, positive social, economic and environmental impact for Perth.
I also can't go past a Perth suburb anymore without thinking about opening a new Good Sammy store or social enterprise within it! I'm constantly reminded how incredibly fortunate most of us are to live here, in terms of safety and quality of life, and how important connection to place and each other is. What is your favourite way to wind down before or after work? I love to run, so you'll find me exploring one of the many Perth tracks and trails. It helps keep me calm and present. Winding down before work is not possible given we have a seven and an eleven year old in the house!
What does your favourite weekend in Perth look like? Exploring a new venue, event or beer garden. Playing outside with my kids. Tending to the veggie garden. Going for a long run. Planning the next adventure.
What does Perth have, that no other city has? Exceptional weather, which allows you to spend more time outside doing the things you love. |
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INTERNATIONAL INSPIRATION |
THE MISSING MIDDLE OF AGEING WELL |
Hall & Prior CEO Graeme Prior AM told attendees at Committee for Perth's 2050 Summit that by 2050, nearly 20% of Greater Perth's population is expected to be 65+, a shift that will significantly reshape how we think about housing and care. Most older people want to remain independent, but not isolated. This is driving demand for a “missing middle”: housing that sits between living alone and traditional aged care, offering choice, connection and access to support.
The newly released Hassell and Colliers ‘Senior Living in Dense Cities: Building Dignity and Choice’ report highlights Hong Kong as a leading example of how denser living can meet this need. Its model focuses on integrated urban living, placing seniors close to transport, services and community, while using vertical, modular housing with shared spaces to reduce isolation and support ageing in place. The research also points to the importance of flexible, mixed-use buildings and planning settings that allow care and housing to adapt as needs change. Similar models are emerging in Tokyo and New York, showing how compact, well-located housing can create more inclusive cities for all ages. Read More
A recent Committee for Perth working group submission on densification sits alongside these ideas, looking at how thoughtful design and adaptable planning can support people at different stages of life. While not focused specifically on seniors, it reflects a similar idea: cities that approach density with care tend to offer greater dignity, choice and connection as populations age.
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Cities are increasingly rethinking tourism not just around where people go, but when. Known as noctourism, the trend focuses on experiences designed for after dark, from light installations and cultural events to night markets, walking tours and stargazing.
In WA, Albany is about to offer a standout example. Lighting the Sound will transform the coastline and hills of the Great Southern into a large-scale night-time cultural experience this March. Delivered by FORM in collaboration with Finnish light artist Kari Kola and co-designed with Menang Elders, the event invites visitors to experience place in a different rhythm and light.
Globally, many cities lean into noctourism through flagship events that extend visitation beyond traditional peak seasons — from Vivid Sydney and Fête des Lumières to Dark Mofo, Fringe Festival and of course Perth Festival. Alongside these headline moments, everyday night-time culture plays an equally important role for tourism and local communities. Cities like Tokyo, Taiwan and Singapore are often celebrated for night markets, illuminated streets and late-opening cultural venues, while Barcelona and smaller towns across Italy benefit from warm climates that support evening dining, street life and music. By extending the hours in which places are experienced, noctourism opens up new cultural, economic and seasonal opportunities. Read More
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WHAT MAKES PARKS ACTUALLY COOLER? |
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New research from the Australian Urban Design Research Centre examines how different urban park designs influence thermal comfort — how heat is experienced by people — under both current and future climate conditions in their paper 'Comparing The Current And Future Thermal Comfort Offered By Urban Park Configurations', published in September 2025.
Modelling across a range of Perth park typologies found that while parks are generally cooler than surrounding streets, comfort varies significantly within parks themselves. The most consistent factor was tree canopy and vertical vegetation, rather than park size or layout. Open, grass-dominated areas often performed less well due to higher solar exposure, while treed and bushland areas delivered stronger comfort outcomes.
The findings highlight that HOW parks are designed and vegetated matters. And they land at a timely moment for Perth, as the State’s Perth and Peel Urban Greening Strategy points to a growing focus on tree canopy, vegetation and long-term green infrastructure to help the city adapt to its warm climate. Read Research Paper
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WHAT INSPIRES YOU RIGHT NOW?
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Urban Scrawl is shaped by ideas and actions from around the world. If you’ve seen something while travelling, read an article that stuck with you, heard a great conversation, or are working on a project that’s reshaping how cities work and grow, we’d love to hear about it. Share it with us and help shape future editions: enquiries@committeeforperth.com.au
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Committee for Perth conducts its work on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. We recognise their peoples' ongoing connection to land, culture and community and in doing so, pay our respects to Elders past and present. |
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