In today’s conversation, Simon Kuestenmacher and I discuss why the suburbs you know today will look completely different in 20 years.

First, we’ll explore how the urban fringes of today are poised to become the middle suburbs of tomorrow.

Then, we’ll turn our attention to the challenge of NIMBYism—the Not In My Backyard syndrome and discuss the implications of migration and the challenges population growth.

Not surprisingly Simon Kuestenmacher emphasises the significance of demographic insights in planning for a sustainable future.

Takeaways

• Today’s urban fringes will become our middle suburbs as the population grows.
• Migration is essential for Australia's economy and urban growth.
• Medium density housing is crucial for accommodating future residents.
• NIMBYism hinders necessary urban development and densification.
• Infrastructure must keep pace with population growth to avoid crises, but it’s not.
• State governments are beginning to take control of urban planning from local councils.
• Demographic trends can guide effective urban planning strategies.
• The cost of construction is rising, impacting housing affordability.
• Future urban planning must consider sustainable growth and infrastructure needs.

Chapters

06:33 Urban Planning for a Growing Population

10:57 Challenges of Medium Density Housing

15:04 NIMBYism: The Barrier to Development

19:24 Centralizing Urban Planning Authority

25:11 Introduction to Wealth Retreat

26:38 The Value of Community in Wealth Building

Join Simon Kuestenmacher and Michael Yardney at Wealth Retreat 2025 –Australia’s Premier Wealth Retreat for Elite Investors and Business People – learn more here.

About Simon Kuestenmacher

Simon Kuestenmacher is co-founder and Director – The Demographics Group

Simon is a prolific media commentator on demographic and data matters and a columnist for The New Daily and The Australian newspapers. 

He ranks as one of the world’s Top 10 influencers in data visualisation. If you can’t get enough of the kind of data that explains how the world works, make sure to follow Simon on Linked In or X (formerly Twitter) or any of his other social channels.

Click here for a media enquiry or if you would like to book Simon Kuestenmacher for a speaking engagement. His presentations and quirky observations are enjoyed by audiences from the financial services, property, government, education, technology, retail and professional services industries, among others.

About Michael Yardney

Michael Yardney- founder Metropole Property Strategists has been voted one of Australia’s 50 most influential Thought Leaders.

While he is best known as a property expert, Michael is also Australia’s leading expert in the psychology of success and wealth creation.

Michael is a #1 best selling author of 9 books and frequently challenges traditional finance advice with innovative ideas on property investment, personal finance and wealth creation.

Follow Michael on Linked In or Instagram

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