middle-out ideas, resources and energies are available as catalysts for local proj-
ects, most obviously in the style of craft outlets or museums, connecting with the
Mainstreet concept reviewed later on in the ‘Shopping as entertainment’ passage.
Small towns do notsuffer a nation or a region with the excessive ‘costs’ of ur-
banization identified earlier in this chapter; indeed they are vibrantly self-
sufficient and well poised to respond to any initiative which arises or opportunity
which presents.Maintaining the vitality of small country towns enjoins three notions which refute
the usual concerns about population numbers and proportions, and commercial
activities: namely small town ‘attributes’, ‘activities’ and ‘attitudes’.Attributes. Country town futures are founded on in-place skills and within-
community support systems. These, along with the attraction of a lower cost of
living, proximate schooling, relative freedom from crime and an access to recre-
ational facilities, add up to a neat, wholesome and mature urban package. To
maintain these attributes small towns do notneed to clutch at anykind of project,
or be necklaced with amenity reducing quasi-urban smallholdings. At best they
are ‘in balance’; neither taking from, nor adding to.Activities. Small towns can ‘own the idea’ that their land-use approach is inclu-
sionary, that compatible mixed land uses are acceptable and can be managed, and
that tourism can be nurtured. There is always an edge-of-town potential for horse
riding, golfing, and activities such as parachuting and gliding; and backshed light
industry, retirement housing, bed-and-breakfasting can all be initiated provided
there is a bottom-up tolerance.Attitudes. The country town capability of being able to fabricate and supply goods
and services locally connotes the purpose-built context for following through on
the vertical ‘community’ and ‘household’ columns outlined within the box 3.7
(chapter 3) Matrixfor living a life which is sustainable in spirit. There is also the
potential to profile the indigenous first people’s history and the ‘first settler’
contributions to the changeover from a wilderness past to a small country town
present.Of interest to small towns is their tourism earnings potential, which can range
from the attraction of an unhurried village setting, through to contrived features
such as historical sites and museums, along with ‘pay as you use them’ recreation
facilities. Two clear planning preferences associated with small-town tourism are,
first, the separation-out of the bedlam elements (gas stations, fast food outlets)
away from the core tourist attraction (museum, craft centre) and its support
facilities; and, second, a bypass separation of through traffic from local and inten-
tionally stopping visitor traffic.220 Practice