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Housing affordability, social well-being and climate change: some of the hot topics to be discussed at the next State of Australian Cities (SOAC) conference in November 2009.

As Western Australia's resources-fuelled economy continues to boom, Perth has been chosen to host the conference after a joint bid by WA's four public tertiary institutions - The University of Western Australia, Curtin University of Technology, Edith Cowan and Murdoch Universities - was prepared by UWA's Dr Paul Maginn and Curtin's Professor Roy Jones.

Dr Maginn said the conference would showcase the research and applied policy work of academics and researchers involved in understanding and resolving complex urban social, economic, environmental, physical and political problems.

Issues such as labour market constraints and opportunities, healthy living, environmental urban sustainability, social inclusion/exclusion, demographic change, urban sprawl/containment and transport would be on the agenda.

"The decision by the Australian Sustainable Cities Research Network to hold the next SOAC conference in Perth in 2009 is timely given the planning and sustainability challenges that both Perth and WA have faced over the last five to 10 years," he said.

"It's also opportune given the predicted population, household and economic growth over the next 10 to 20 years as a result of the ongoing resources-fuelled boom in the State."

Professor Jones said the SOAC conference would bring leading-edge research to the attention of policy makers and the wider public.

"Holding the SOAC Conference in Perth in 2009 enables Perth, Fremantle and indeed the whole metropolitan region, to demonstrate to a wider audience their strategies for making the city more liveable and sustainable," Professor Jones said.  "The conference will also provide Perth's planners and policy makers with the opportunity to discuss their urban initiatives with leading national and international experts."

Media references

Dr Paul Maginn (UWA Urban and Regional Planning)  61 8  6488 2711  /  0421 545 190
Professor Roy Jones (Curtin, Geography)  61 8  9266 3334  /  0411 637 628
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  61 8  6488 5563  /  0432 637 716