Dr Caroline Butler-Bowdon on fighting for green urban spaces

The importance of access to public spaces has been thrown into sharp relief by Melbourne’s lengthy lockdown. Who knew that we’d come to value so highly the ability to simply sit in a park, let alone sit in a park with other people? Dr Caroline Butler-Bowdon is the executive director for public spaces in the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. In this episode, she talks about the state government’s ambition to dramatically increase the proportion of homes in urban areas that are within ten minutes’ walk of quality, green, open and public space – essential for mental and bodily health now more than ever.