Contested futures: Lessons from New Orleans in disaster recovery and planning for future climate resilience

This session shines a light on the difficult questions confronting communities as they seek to rebuild more resilient settlements in the wake of devastating natural disasters. Drawing on the experiences of flood urbanist Professor Elizabeth Mossop, and community leader Dan Etheridge, both of whom were at the front line of the New Orleans Hurricane Katrina response and rebuilding process, this special event asks what lessons can be learned from that experience and what planning, design, governance, and financial frameworks are needed to help other communities affected by catastrophic disaster and ongoing climate risk.

Panel:

Professor Elizabeth Mossop, Dean of School of Design, Architecture and Building, University Technology Sydney  

Dan Etheridge, Director, Living Lab, Northern Rivers

Jamie Simmonds, Principal Consultant Water Technology

Chair: Nicole Gurran, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, Director, Henry Halloran Research Trust, the University of Sydney

The Living Lab Northern Rivers is supported by Southern Cross University, the University of Technology Sydney and the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation.

This panel discussion is part of the annual Festival of Urbanism, hosted by the University of Sydney's Henry Halloran Research Trust.

How will new housing, environmental, or infrastructure reform agendas advanced by governments and others confront these challenges, and whose voices will, or should, be heard? Can contests of ideas and values lead to more innovative or inclusive models of urban governance or design? The 10th Festival of Urbanism will confront these questions through a series of robust panel discussions, podcasts and film events involving researchers, policy makers, industry experts and community leaders across Australia. Join this free program of events by attending a Festival session in Sydney, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth or Lismore; or by catching an on-demand recording or podcast online.