City of Coral Gables’ Post

REMINDER For action - PLEASE SIGN to SAVE NATIONAL PARKS - Queensland Parliamentary petition This is a reminder to sign the Queensland parliamentary petition (link below) to save Queensland’s national parks from commercialisation (eg leases). An explanation follows: ASH has no objection to the present permitting system, permits being approved on an annual basis. In contrast, leases granted for commercial use of all or part of a national park, whether long-term or VERY long-term (eg70 years) are just plain wrong. Leasing a state asset is equivalent to selling its use rights; and every political party says so - when in Opposition! “Commercialisation” via leasing of national parks must stop. The land acquired for national parks is a public good. It must not be gifted to private developers. https://lnkd.in/gcExHURT. With warm regards to all defenders of Queensland’s national parks. Margaret Moorhouse President Alliance to Save Hinchinbrook Inc (ASH) #savenationalparks #alliancetosavehinchinbrook #commercialisation #nationalparks #queenslandparliament

Of the top 10 greenest cities in America, eight are on the West Coast.

I love the energy of big cities, but there's something special about small towns. Whenever I can, I escape the urban buzz to explore the hidden gems of NSW—immersing myself in the local culture, culinary treasures, art, stories, music, and natural beauty. Did you know there are 1,614 country towns in Australia with populations under 5,000? Out of these, 1,088 have fewer than 1,000 people. Yet, more than 80% of these towns are either stagnating or in decline in terms of population and business life. We can't let that happen. These small communities play crucial roles in agriculture, mining, and tourism. They are home to 1.13 million people—and their reinvention is of national significance. Take Lightning Ridge for example. Despite limited resources, it has transformed from a mining hub to a thriving tourist destination, driven by creativity, humor, and a strong sense of community. In contrast, towns with more resources often struggle without this innovative spirit. As a community enthusiast, I'm passionate about the future of small towns. That’s why I’m thrilled to attend Peter Kenyon 's Inaugural National Small-Town Reinvention Conference at Pickering Brook, near Perth, WA next week! I'll be running a workshop on Humor and Creativity for Reviving Small Towns - key ingredients to unlocking new possibilities for these unique places. There’s still time to join us! Register here or contact Peter for details: https://lnkd.in/gXnKi4JH Photo credit: John Murray Art Gallery, Lightning Ridge #SmallTownRevival #CommunityBuilding #RuralInnovation #HumorAndCreativity #LocalProsperity #SupportSmallTowns #RegionalAustralia #TownReinvention #RuralTourism #CreativeCommunities #Conference2024 #PositiveChange #LocalLeadership #CommunitySpirit

Urban Tourism Needs Support! The Ontario Arts Council believes that provincial urban tourism is greater than a $6 billion annual industry. This marginally discussed sector of the economy has created more than 200,000 tourism businesses, which conservatively employ more than 500,000. Our Headwaters region has nearly 500KM of trails including the world renowned Great & Bruce Trails. Smartly due to the efforts of countless volunteers more interconnected trails are being added annually. Caledon is home to some of the most identifiable and premier trails in Canada. IE: Credit Valley, Waterfront, Caledon and now the 57KM Orangeville/Brampton & Caledon Trail. All of which traverse near or through the village of Inglewood. The fact is that Local Businesses are highly dependent upon bi-pedal traffic. Meanwhile McLaughlin Road, the Credit Valley Conservation and the Great Canadian Trail suffer under poor pedestrian oriented crossing and safety mechanics. Creating a safer space for all to enjoy should be the goal of every tourism hub. Surely there is still room for improvement? Please reference this 10 year old Caledon enterprise article for additional details. https://lnkd.in/gRvXgeEg #RoadSafety #communitysupport #trails #caledon #trailsafety #creditvalley #caledonenterprise

Calgary has risen to the fifth most livable city in the world, and most livable city in North America, in the Economist Intelligence: EIU's annual list of the world’s most livable cities. Read more about Calgary's position in the Global Livability Index ➤ https://lnkd.in/gUdEv6nd. “Calgary’s rank as the most livable city in North America is testament to the high quality of life and opportunity that exists in the city. We can see it in the record number of people moving to Calgary who come here to build a life and a career” - Geraldine Anderson, Vice President, Marketing, Communications, Strategy and Strategic Alliances, Calgary Economic Development. Calgary’s consistent rank aligns with a broader vision of building long-term prosperity for the city by focusing on livability, talent, business environment, brand and innovation in the economic action plan. Learn more ➤ https://lnkd.in/e2YMiyxE. Photo credit: Travel Alberta #BlueSkyCity #LimitlessOpportunities

The new URBACT call is out! Cities can apply until 30 June to become an URBACT Good Practice City, candidating a practice that is impactful, integrated, participatory and transferable to other cities. The practices selected will be part of a pool of innovative solutions recognized at European level for their impact in terms of sustainable urban development, gaining considerable visibility in the framework of national and European events and communication activities The winning cities will have the chance to promote the transfer of their practice to other European local authorities with the URBACT Transfer Networks, whose call will be launched in 2025. European Urban Initiative European Urban Knowledge Network Euractiv FASI.eu Finanza Agevolazioni Strategie Investimenti European Commission

Waterfronts and Cities Here's our new report on waterfronts and cities. While focussed on Toronto, its lessons are widely applicable to cities. Do give it a read and send your thoughts. https://lnkd.in/eQPqg7hZ  

How do you feel about the #greenline in Calgary reducing the reach and increasing the costs? Here is a thought.... but is it worth the price tag? Investing in public transit is crucial for urban development as it reduces commute times, enhances economic growth, and improves quality of life. It also promotes sustainability, reduces congestion, and supports equitable access to opportunities. For example, Calgary's Green Line LRT project aims to unlock economic development and provide better transit connectivity for residents

In my latest column for Business in Calgary Magazine this month, I take a deeper dive into the Green Line project and its potential impact on the future of our city. From its ambitious goals to the growing concerns around cost and execution, there’s a lot to unpack about what this means for Calgary’s development. I’d love to hear your thoughts after reading the full article—let me know in the comments below! Take Care, Shane https://lnkd.in/gaKjeMrZ #GreenLineYYC #CalgaryPoli #YYCpoli #CalgaryGreenLine #GreenLine #BusinessInCalgary #ShaneWenzel

How much will the repairs to fix the water lines cost? How many months/years do we think we’ll get out of the repaired line? Doesn’t it make sense to build in redundancy to prevent a future crisis? What would that cost? Before the water repairs are completed, we are going to get confirmation that the costs to build the Green Line from Shepard to Eau Claire (nowhere to nowhere) will exceed the budget by billions. What is the priority- provide reliable water to Calgarians, or build an ideologically driven train through tunnels under downtown Calgary? We could save billions by abandoning Green Line tunnels, building a surface level train from dowtown to Seton, and ensuring that Calgarians have reliable water service for decades ahead. Will common sense ever prevail?