Interestingly, the latest research from the USA tells us that the new urban poor are those moving to the new suburbs of the big cities, where access to jobs and services are not as good as closer to the centres of cities.

Yet Ballarat we seem unable to do much more than spread, because it's easy to do.

So central retail struggles as reliance on the motor vehicle persists, to the point where the plan is to reopen Bridge Mall, where the mere presence of motor vehicles will somehow re-enliven the place.

HAVE YOUR SAY AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS LETTER

What successful cities are doing is to create inner areas for mixed uses - principally residential, retail, cultural and entertainment.

Part of the motivation is to get people out of their accommodation and into public areas to rediscover a sense of community, which low density, car-based 'development' absolutely does not achieve.

Where we live most single houses are occupied by an average of two people - a very poor use of buildings and space.

The nature of our suburbs has changed and that needs to be recognised in the type of settlements that we build.

Higher density, public transport accessible cities are the way of the future, not far flung, isolating low density suburbs; certainly not those far from a capital city centre where the jobs are.

Hedley Thomson, Canadian