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“The World is not flat, it is Urban.”
04/10/2017
Janice Lee Moodley
In the spirit of Urban October, Planners from all around the world have come together to create awareness, promote participation, generate knowledge and engage the international community on implementing sustainable urban development. In line with international thinking, eThekwini Municipality hosted a Built Environment Seminar with a focus on Urban Planning on 4th of October at the Durban Botanic Gardens Conference Centre. The seminar sets the tone for the 2017 World Town Planning Day Celebration planned for the 6-8 November 2017. 

The learning event was conceptualised by EThekwini Municipality’s ​Development Planning Unit (EMDPU) in partnership with MILE. The keynote speaker was Ms Christine Platt, former president of the Commonwealth Association of Planners and leading activist and theorist on the global urban scene. 

During her presentation Platt emphasised the need for planners to work together and align planning to pertinent global agendas such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Urban Agenda.  With 13 years left to achieve SDGs, Platt challenged planners to do more to work towards achieving sustainable urban development. 

“We need to work together to create awareness and create new partnerships to advocate for urban planning. As planners we must not lose our fundamental thinking of planning. We need to change the way we work and be more creative in planning for the City. The world is not flat, it is urban,” said Platt.  

After the provocative presentation done by Platt, City Planners were given an opportunity to respond through a facilitated panel discussion. Panellists included the Head of EMDPU, Mr Musa Mbhele and Human Settlements Project Manager, Mr Ismail Vawda. 
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It was stressed during the seminar that Planners play an integral role in urban development and in achieving the City’s vision to Africa's most caring and liveable city by 2030.

With about 150 professional planners, the seminar also provided a shared platform for officials to debate, discuss and reflect on co-creating a liveable city.  


 

 18th Built Environment Seminar

 
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Keynote Presentation-Ms Christine Platt (2).pdf
  
04/10/2017 10:34
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