Jane Easthope, CEO of Canberra CBD Limited, says the top 10 wishes were inspired by various business and community discussions and findings from research earlier this year.

“The series began with an unsurprising research finding – Canberrans are very proud of our city,” Ms Easthope said.

“When we asked Canberrans earlier this year about change in the CBD, they told us they support change if it is authentic and practical.

“There’s much to be proud of in our city centre, between the creative revival of Braddon and the festivities of Civic, our city centre is an important meeting place for people, ideas and events.”.

Here’s the list:

1. Enlivening our walkways and laneways

Enlivening our walkways and laneways is a great way to activate unused and underutilised spaces and revive creativity and business in Civic. Activating spaces and collaborating with artists and businesses will encourage better use of our laneways for trade and for entertainment. Festivals, art installations, markets, food, drink and music – the list goes on.

2. Place-making and city connectivity

How Canberrans engage with each other – in business, trade, creatively and socially will influence Canberra’s success. Public areas including Garema Place and prominent walkways and links such as City Walk could and should be regenerated for Canberrans to use more often and to use in ways that suit the people who live here and the great many visitors our city hosts.

3. Pride in our heritage

Our historic Sydney and Melbourne Buildings are local treasures – part of the history of Canberra’s establishment as the national capital, and icons of Canberra’s historic architecture.

By including the Sydney and Melbourne Buildings in the “Canberra movement”, we’re currently seeing, we can ensure that Canberra’s renewal retains an authentically “Canberra” personality, while new generations of business take their turn in reshaping Canberra’s business environment and injecting new ideas into these important old spaces.

4. Bringing local business back to the heart

The surge of popularity and variety of pop-up shops, markets and events in Civic in recent years is also exciting. The collection of creative ideas and people creates colour and movement and an air of enthusiasm for our city – and, most of all it’s a coming together of a community.

We want to capture that energy and interest, and provide real reasons for people to come to the city outside of events by supporting local businesses to “set up shop” in Civic and become a regular drawcard for Canberrans and visitors.

5. Bringing the green back to the streets

For years Canberra has been renowned as “The Bush Capital”, and we know Canberrans like it that way.

Urban renewal projects that bring greenery back into Braddon and Civic will ensure we’re maintaining our international reputation as the leafy “Bush Capital”, while providing enhanced streetscapes and a user-friendly city.

6. Bringing Floriade to the city

The ACT Government thinks Glebe Park might be the best new home for Floriade. We agree.

Public parks are celebrated around the world, from Hyde Park London, Central Park in New York and Luxembourg Gardens in Paris.

Our own city park and surrounding areas are the perfect backdrop for this special event that brings so much colour and inspiration, thousands of people and wonderful festivities to Canberra.

Moving Floriade to Civic would refresh Australia’s biggest celebration of spring, bringing people to the heart of our city and providing a financial boost to businesses in the area.

7. Artistic license

Everyone loves art. Though our tastes may vary, it’s hard to dispute that a creative touch here and a splash of creativity there improves most things.

More temporary exhibitions and installations, artistic festivals, or other ideas such as oversized public colouring-in “pages” on temporary walls would creatively energise and inspire the whole community.

8. Innovation hubs and hot-desks

Hot-desking has become a growing trend this year. From global tech giants to the public service to small business start ups, it seems everyone wants in on the action of these activation hubs.

Office space is one of the biggest overheads for business and unsurprisingly co-working ventures such as The Studio in Braddon and the government and private-sector brainchild, CBR Innovation Network, are proving popular with successful business people and creative entrepreneurs..

This collaboration, innovation and new start-up small ventures from our local entrepreneurs brings them and their followers into the heart of our city – this can only be a good thing.

9. A connected city

Allowing people to get in, out and around our city easily will make it more attractive for residents, business and visitors.

Clear, user-friendly signage, sight lines and landmarks to help navigate routes through the city would encourage more of us car reliant city goers to opt for the walking or cycling option more often, and there are some serious benefits to having a city that makes walking and cycling easier.

Visitors will become return visitors and Civic and Braddon would enjoy even greater depth, vibrancy and success in urban placemaking.

10. Maintaining Canberra’s unique identity

How we interact as a community and how we use our city will determine its liveability, economic progress and long-term success of the CBD. Cities will always change, as has Canberra, but as long as it remains a place that people want to live, work, shop and socialise, it will continue to grow and be the best it can be.

And, of course, the best way to ensure an authentic and appropriate response to the challenges of any city is by engaging with its people. No-one knows Canberra as well as the people who live here.