Next Episode of Utopia is
unknown.
Set inside the offices of the "Nation Building Authority", a newly created government organization responsible for overseeing major infrastructure projects, Utopia explores that moment when bureaucracy and grand dreams collide. It's a tribute to those political leaders who have somehow managed to take a long-term vision and use it for short-term gain. The series follows the working lives of a tight-knit team in charge of guiding big building schemes from announcement to unveiling. Constant shifts in priorities are the order of the day as the staff are asked to come up with plans for everything from new roads and rail lines to airports and high rise urban developments. In short, Utopia examines the forces that go into creating a very well-designed white elephant.
Tony's attempts to sign a massive international development deal are compromised by Rhonda's decision to re-design the NBA's logo. Meanwhile, a mix-up from Jim forces Nat to find room for a community garden within a multi-million dollar waterfront development. Matters are further complicated with the impending arrival of a delegation from China.
Tony is forced to step in when an endangered grass threatens to de-rail plans for a new container terminal. Meanwhile, Rhonda is convinced that the NBA needs a major overhaul of its website, complete with self-generated audio-visual content. Cue the arrival of Karsten and a film crew, along with the formation of a Working Party so large that the office actually runs out of chairs.
A trip to Canberra leads to Tony being forced to investigate the feasibility of building a very fast train. What looks like being a 30-year project is made increasingly difficult by the NBA's inability to retain staff for more than a few months. Matters are not made any easier with Amy's decision to conduct an office safety audit.
Tony is reluctantly dragged in when the developer of a low-rise inner city building project decides he wants to double the height of his apartment block.... and then triple it again. Meanwhile, Nat's attempt to conduct a performance review on a staff member leads to unexpected trouble. None of this is made any easier by Katie's decision to run a Healthy Choices Month in the office, meaning there's nothing to relieve the stress other than herbal tea and rice crackers.
The decision to include roadside art on a major highway upgrade leads to controversy and a threatened delay to Rhonda's launch. Things go from bad to worse when Tony's visit to a primary school results in the actual launch of Australia's first space program. Throw in major office I.T. issues along with the impending arrival of a delegation from India and it's not a good week for the NBA.
Concerned that Tasmania's infrastructure needs have been overlooked, Jim sends Tony and the team south for a series of public forums. Back at the office Rhonda's eagerness to spend the personal development budget before the end of the financial year leads to the arrival of Marvin Hudfield, a motivational expert from America with unusual ideas about team-building – and a clarinet. It's going to be a long week.
Slightly disillusioned by his first 11 months in the job, Tony thinks back to when it all began. The launch of the NBA was a great success but within weeks Jim was at his door, desperate for some sort of new public announcement. Stalled in the pre-planning stages, Tony and his team were forced to cope with Rhonda, angry cyclists, plumbing problems and gluten-free muffins. Not an auspicious start.
Despite his grave reservations, Tony is forced to evaluate plans for expanding northern Australia's Ord River Scheme. Nat has issues of her own with a stalled highway up-grade. Unfortunately for them the rest of the office is distracted by plans for a Mexican-themed anniversary party. Just when things couldn't get more complicated, Jim makes a shock announcement.
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