Unfortunately town planning happens at the most corrupt level of government in Australia.

Well town planning is a "Business as Usual" area of government function.
Considering that government is convinced that we have no fuel risk
and that "we have good commercial arrangements" it is not surprising
that town planning has worked on a "Happy Motoring" future.

We have in the past worked on the basis that if there is no public
transport families will buy two cars and drive to work.
Having realised that this might not be possible in the future the
planners have gone to the opposite extreme and want to build a city
like Shanghai. Hundreds of up to fifty floor blocks inhabited by
several thousand cage hens.

They do not look for the more moderate solution.
Radial heavy rail and or light rail spokes with circular light rail
with interchanges at varying distances from the centre.
Large businesses at the interchanges and industry along the circular
lines together with small farms for vegetable production.

The Russian underground follows a similar layout.

I believe you've hit the nail on the proverbial head, Cobber, and our only viable solution is decentralisation that fortunately deals most of the currently corrupt prevaricating (he who must be obied) players out?

And that is reliant on fast trains, forward planning and urban rezoning that includes new CBD's and new industrial estates included in the overall master plan.

Which simply put, need to be actioned by an overruling federal government, using established precedent and its external powers, if that proves necessary?
Rhrosty.