The contrast between city and country has fascinated me since I was a child. The son of parents who grew up in poor rural circumstances but moved to the city I was exposed to both sides of the coin especially as most of the relatives lived out of town.
Places like Sydney are a world unto themselves and make for a happy and enriched environment for many but are also devoid of a community soul for many.
So coming back to the country via a visit to Mudgee brought back the memories of what country at its best can be. A small compact city/town - small enough to be able to walk the length of the main street with its bookshops and pubs, surrounded by parks which flow into the residential areas where quite homes grow lovely gardens.
Town planning needs to take into account the needs of community and help a soul develop. Why is it that places like Mudgee and Armidale are so loved?- it's because of their human scale. You can walk to town, find everything you need and walk home - no need to jump into the car just to meet basic needs.
Our town planning needs to encourage the development of small community centres - using the needs for commercial reality. Shops draw people in - use them further to develop the community square and markets and meeting places.
We will all be better off the the vast cities are more like a series of linked villages.
