(6/4) The Department of Regional and Urban Planning (DPWK) Undip, Semarang City Government, Brisbane City Council, and The University of Queensland Urban Planning (UQ/UP), held a joint seminar with the theme “Urban Growth, Housing and Settlement in Brisbane and Semarang”. This seminar is part of a seminar series held as a form of sister city cooperation between Semarang City Government and Brisbane City Council that had been going on for 30 years. DPWK Undip was chosen as the academic institution with the UQ/UP to participate in dialogue and solution sharing between those two cities that are located in two different countries. 

In this hybrid event held in the Theater Room, DPWK Undip, the issues about urban development and housing area planning became the main topics discussed. Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, hoped that through this seminar series, Brisbane City could learn various things, especially related to urban spatial planning in dealing with the flooding crisis that recently hit Brisbane. “We hope, through this seminar, we can learn about disaster mitigation and urban planning from Semarang,” said him in his remarks.

The City Mayor of Semarang, Ir. Hj. Hevearita Gunaryanti Rahayu, M.Sos., welcomed this seminar. As part of the sister city program with Brisbane, she hoped that Semarang City would be able to continue the relationship with Brisbane City and can provide mutual benefits for both parties. “This sister city program has provided many positive things that benefit both parties. Hopefully, this can be continued in the future,” she said.

The Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Undip, Prof. Ir. M. Agung Wibowo, M.M, M.Sc, Ph.D, expressed his gratitude towards the Semarang City Government for the opportunity given to DPWK Undip to participate in providing dialogue and solutions with the UQ/UP to solve the urban problems for both cities. He hoped that the students and the academics in the Faculty of Engineering could benefit from this program. “I fully support this collaboration. Hopefully, we can get benefits from this event later,” Prof. Agung said.

In this seminar, Dr. Rukuh Setiadi, S.T, M.E.M from DPWK Undip was appointed as the moderator. While the main speakers for this event is Ms. Suvela Tiekken from the Brisbane City Council and Ir. Iswar Aminuddin, S.T from the Semarang City Secretary Office. Dr. Sara Alldoust from the UQ/UP was lined up as the discussant with Prof. Dr. Ir. Nany Yuliastuti, M.S.P from DPWK Undip.