Are we measuring Canberra all wrong?
About
Are we measuring Canberra all wrong?If we could publish just five numbers about Canberra every year, what would they be?
Should we judge our city by dwellings per hectare, or by how many children can safely walk to school?
By traffic flow, or by whether an older person can buy milk without getting in the car?
By commute times, or by time spent with family and friends?
By park hectares, or by how often they are actually used?
By the footpaths we build, or the desire lines people create across the grass?
Every metric reflects a judgement about what matters.
People don’t wake up wanting a higher floor space ratio. They want convenience, belonging, safety, opportunity, beauty, and the freedom to move easily through everyday life.
As part of the Craft + Design Canberra Festival theme of Dissent, this conversation asks whether we are measuring the things that matter most. As Canberra grows and changes, are we optimising for the metrics that are easier to count, or for the things that make our city a better place to live?
This discussion will explore how the measures we choose influence the places we create, and whether it is time to broaden the way we define success.
Curated and chaired by Catherine Carter of Salon Canberra, in partnership with the Suburban Land Agency. Presented by the Suburban Land Agency as part of the 2026 Craft + Design Canberra Festival.
Date
Friday 6 November 2026 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM (UTC+10)Location
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
1 McCoy Circuit, Acton ACT 2601
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Are we measuring Canberra all wrong?
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