Streets, pavements - 'sidewalks' even

When I was in Australia recently I found myself running through a new housing development and was amazed at the width of the carriageway - in some cases I reckoned about 30 metres - and yet no footway. It's true, I'm used to a crowded country; but why design-out neighbourhood encounters? Needless to say there was no sign of any other pedestrians.

Who designs like that nowadays? What planning authority allows them to get away with it? I was reminded of this when (looking for something else of course) I rediscovered this contrasting image from a small town in the Netherlands: OK, no pedestrians in this image, but trust me, I stayed there a few days - people walk and drivers behave considerately.