A 'floor plan' for Australia's limited spaces is more vital for debate than renovations on Channel Nine's 'The Block', which concludes next Sunday.

That is according to sustainable development leader Professor Bob Miles, who is keen to redirect our focus towards the big picture.

Professor Miles said major cities were at the limit of their natural resource base yet options existed to redirect growth to regional areas.

"As the concrete jungle encroaches on natural habitats, there are issues with water, pollution, traffic jams, competing land-uses, housing affordability, crime, community spirit, homelessness and the like," he said.

"However, electronic communications offers a means to disperse our workforces to offer regional and country lifestyles, shorter commutes, clean air and beaches, better environments for children and a better sense of community." Professor Miles, who is Executive Director with the Institute of Sustainable Regional Development at Central Queensland University, questioned why governments would want to support and drive high-density living with its accompanying problems.

"Much of regional Queensland is dying from loss of population to the cities due to lack of incentives to live in the bush. Governments are not thinking broadly enough about rural and regional survival and revival," he said.

"Meanwhile, the bush needs professionals and an influx of business acumen to survive in our globalised world. People are finding they need to be in touch with nature to survive and revive rather than living entirely in an artificial world." ENDS For details call Professor Bob Miles via 4930 9053 or 0408 766 569 or via b.miles@cqu.edu.au