Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps "Mr Mamdani, THIS is What Makes a City Thrive" with Eamon Waterford
Mar 20, 2026
Eamon Waterford, chief executive of the Committee for Sydney and urban policy expert, breaks down what separates thriving cities from failing ones. He explores density versus suburbia, walkability and local amenities, planning trade-offs, congestion pricing, and how funding and coordination shape real urban outcomes.
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Walkability Determines Local Amenity Viability
- Walkable catchments define whether local amenities like cafés and shops exist.
- Waterford: businesses need enough people within a five- to ten-minute walk to be viable, explaining high streets vs. big-box retail differences.
Put Apartments Next To Transport Hubs
- Place new apartments within a five- to ten-minute walk of transport hubs and local services.
- Waterford argues transit-adjacent housing clusters shops, libraries, schools and daily amenities for residents.
Singapore Shows The Power Of Centralised Planning
- Western planning coordination is generally poor compared with Singapore's integrated model.
- Waterford highlights Singapore's unified housing system where 80% live in subsidised government apartments, reducing housing cost burden.