Urban Planning Stories

Australian Stories

Urban Planning stories

Nearmap builds AI moat from 20 years of aerial data

Property insurers and planners are tapping recurring aerial captures as Nearmap turns 20 years of imagery into AI-driven property data.

By Sean Mitchell • 7 min read • Today

Disaster Recovery

Nearmap converting decades of imagery into AI-powered insights

Nearmap's archive now helps insurers, planners and scientists assess property risk and environmental change across Australia.

By David Shilovsky • 4 min read • Yesterday

Global Stories

Urban Planning stories

Smart Cities

Australia could become Asia-Pacific AI infrastructure hub

Grid constraints could determine whether Australia wins a share of the region's fast-growing AI data centre investment, the paper says.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 5 min read • Yesterday

Stories from Other Regions

Urban Planning stories

Digital Transformation

Architecture doesn't need AI to transform it; it needs AI to make it calmer

Routine design admin is where AI is already easing pressure on architects, leaving more time for judgement, care and client work.

By Brad Sara • 5 min read • Yesterday

Smart Cities

India urged to make district cooling a national priority

Rising heat and urban growth are set to strain India's grid, prompting calls to treat district cooling as vital infrastructure.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Yesterday

Supply Chain

Heavy traffic dilemma: Gisborne council investigates rerouting trucks

Funding sought for traffic modelling could decide whether heavy goods vehicles are diverted off Gisborne streets, easing pressure on deteriorating roads.

By Local Democracy Reporter • 5 min read • Yesterday

Climate change

Car parks could go for upgrade of 'disaster' Nelson cycleway

Public pressure is building for changes to Nelson's St Vincent Street cycleway, as the council weighs parking removals after 12 crashes since 2014.

By Local Democracy Reporter • 5 min read • Yesterday

Local Government

Rotorua Airport's 20-year business park plan might finally take off

Approvals for earthworks on 5.65 hectares could unlock a 20-year airport business park plan, with new jobs and flood safeguards in Rotorua.

By Local Democracy Reporter • 5 min read • Yesterday

Disaster Recovery

Revised Westport flood protection project to cost $40 million

Ratepayers in Westport may face higher bills as the flood protection scheme's cost blowout prompts a fresh consultation on a revised design.

By Local Democracy Reporter • 4 min read • Yesterday

Māori

Horizons calls halt to 11 iwi partnership processes ahead of RMA repeal

Council officers say the scrapped agreements will save little time, but leave 14 iwi entities facing uncertainty over future participation rights.

By Local Democracy Reporter • 4 min read • Yesterday

Ministry for the Environment

Closing Porirua landfill could cost $30m

Most of Porirua City's waste budget may be swallowed by closing Spicer Landfill and running a transfer station over the next decade.

By Local Democracy Reporter • 3 min read • 2 days ago

Risk & Compliance

Ohakune water outage raises questions internal review can't answer, councillor says

Residents of the Ruapehu town were left without taps for nearly three days after a pipeline break went undetected, prompting calls for outside scrutiny.

By Local Democracy Reporter • 3 min read • Last week

Smart Cities

Latos plans AI-ready data centre for east Manchester

The canal-side brownfield scheme could reuse disused land while adding capacity for AI workloads closer to Manchester users.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 3 min read • Last week

Sustainability

Carterton's ground too wet, stream too low for wastewater discharge

Flood-hit pumping gear and a dry stream are forcing Carterton District Council to rely on costly winter sampling and land irrigation.

By Local Democracy Reporter • 3 min read • Last week

Hutt City Council

Upper Hutt looks at funding study for 'transformational' rail stop

A proposed Timberlea station could spur housing and retail growth in Upper Hutt if councillors agree to fund a feasibility study.

By Local Democracy Reporter • 3 min read • Last week

Department of Internal Affairs

Ōpōtiki waterfront jetty takes shape but faces $100,000 cost blowout

Extra rock removal is likely to push Ōpōtiki's new jetty extension over budget by about NZD $100,000 before decking starts.

By Local Democracy Reporter • 2 min read • Last week

Risk & Compliance

Kaikōura flood impact matched forecasts for proposed subdivision

Flood damage in Kaikōura has bolstered council scrutiny of a proposed Ocean Ridge expansion after modelling was shown to match the July deluge.

By Local Democracy Reporter • 3 min read • Last week

JLL

JLL launches new office grade for Shanghai premium towers

Occupiers in Shanghai are increasingly paying up for offices that offer stronger tenant experience and flexibility, as JLL redraws the top-tier market.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Last week