Expert amazed at Ipswich's growth

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale with US liveable cities expert Bob McNulty.

Sarah Harvey

THE world’s leading expert in creating liveable cities says Ipswich is on the path to greatness.

World-renowned city planner Robert McNulty visited Ipswich three years ago and returned this week amazed by the city’s growth.

Mr McNulty said Ipswich had rebounded from its negative stereotype.

“This can be a great city and the CBD restructure plans will ensure Ipswich no longer has a negative stereotype,” Mr McNulty said.

Mr McNulty is originally from California and is the founder of Partners for Livable Communities.

The company is a non-profit organisation that works with cities across the globe providing advice on how to make their towns more welcoming.

He has a distinguished background in design and planning, having been acting director at Columbia University’s School of Architecture and formerly sitting on the Alumni Council of Harvard’s Graduate School of Design.

He has been visiting Ipswich for the past 20 years, during which time Mayor Paul Pisasale has regularly sought his advice.

“Rob has taught me a lot and he said to me today that we need to make Ipswich the loveable city and I think we can be that,” Cr Pisasale said.

Mr McNulty also weighed into the Bell Street debate.

He said Bell Street suffered from having too many services that should not be located in the CBD.

“They don’t need to be in the class corner of the downtown area,” he said.

“Every city has social services and transit services but if you put those facilities in what is supposed to be the welcoming part of the downturn it sends a message that your city is a bit strange.

“The best street in the city should be reserved for civic affairs and commerce, a place of entertainment.”

Mr McNulty has helped design cities in France, Italy and across America.

He compared Ipswich to American city San Diego.

“San Diego used to have a mass of health services and homeless services in their downtown area, but they were moved to a new building in another part of town and the city was transformed,” Mr McNulty said.