The Elephant in the Room
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Episode 400: NIMBY vs YIMBY: Can We Balance Progress and Preservation?

Australia’s housing crisis is shaped as much by politics and planning as it is by prices. At the centre of it all is the battle between NIMBY (“Not in My Backyard”) and YIMBY (“Yes in My Backyard”).

On one side, NIMBY groups resist change to protect heritage streetscapes and neighbourhood character. On the other, YIMBY advocates argue that without density and reform, housing supply and demand will remain completely out of balance.

In this milestone 400th episode of The Elephant in the Room, we sit down with Jonathan O’Brien, Lead Organizer of YIMBY Melbourne, to explore what happens when these two visions of the city collide. From the controversial Docklands development to the rollout of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Programs, we unpack the policies, politics, and trade-offs reshaping Australian cities.

We dive into the big questions:

  • Is NIMBY always about selfishness — or does it sometimes protect real community value?

  • Can heritage protections and urban density truly coexist?

  • Why the “missing middle” is the housing opportunity Australia can’t ignore

  • How TOD Programs and townhouse codes are changing Melbourne and Sydney planning rules

  • Who benefits—and who loses—when suburbs are rezoned for higher density

Jonathan believes YIMBYism is about more than density: it’s about choice. More homes mean more trade-offs, more freedom, and more ways for people to live the lives they want. But as Veronica and Chris push back, we hear the human side of reform—families left in limbo, homeowners caught in rezoning, and uneven winners and losers.

This isn’t about easy answers. It’s about confronting the real costs of saying no, and the risks of doing nothing. Can progress and preservation ever truly balance — or does one always have to give way?

Episode Highlights:

00:00 – Welcome

01:14 – Jonathan O'Brien's and YIMBY Melbourne

01:48 – Progress and Challenges in Melbourne's Housing Policy

03:21– Success Stories and Comparisons with Sydney

04:44 – Docklands: A Controversial Development

07:39 – The Missing Middle and Medium Density Housing

22:06 – Balancing Heritage and Development

28:39 – Planning Regulation Challenges

30:01 – Developer Strategies and Urban Planning

31:39 – Heritage and Housing Density

32:47 – Quality Concerns in New Developments

35:07 – Zoning and Urban Planning Dynamics

38:27 – Economic and Social Impacts of Rezoning

41:53 – Balancing Development and Community Needs

50:13 – State vs. Local Control in Urban Planning

52:05 – Conclusion and Final Thoughts

About our Guest:

Jonathan O’Brien is the lead organizer of YIMBY Melbourne, an advocate for smarter housing policy, and an award-winning writer and publisher. A passionate voice for effective altruism and urban reform, he works to shift the conversation around density, planning, and affordability toward more equitable outcomes.

With a background in community organizing and a commitment to evidence-based change, Jonathan brings both sharp analysis and lived experience to the often polarizing debate between NIMBYs and YIMBYs. His mission: to help shape cities that are inclusive, adaptable, and built for the next generation.

Connect with Jonathan:

Website: https://jonobri.com/

YIMBY Melbourne website: https://www.yimby.melbourne/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonobridotcom/

X: https://x.com/jonobri

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonobri/

Resources:

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Chris Bates