12 PATRICIA ASSAD 14 MY TIEN BANH 16 NAOMI BRISSETT 18 RACHEL BRISTOW 20 NICHOLAS CARLTON 22 MATTHEW CHOI 24 JONATHAN CLEARY 26 RACHEL COGGER 28 KEIRAN FAIRBAIRN 30 JOEL GINGES 32 LARA GOLDSTEIN 34 BENJAMIN GRESHAM 36 ELLIOT HALE 38 PIERS HEMPHILL 40 LISA HENIENDI 42 THOMAS IRONS 44 PRITY KC 46 ELIZABETH KIMBELL 48 CHRISTINA LIVERS 50 SHENG XI MA 52 BEN MAGISTRALE 54 NATALIE MOORE 56 JOSHUA OWEN 58 ALICE PETTINI 60 ALEXANDRA PLUMB 62 LEA POULTON 64 MATHEW QUATTROVILLE 66 THOMAS ROSSER 68 KYE SANDERSON 70 FADI SHAKIR 72 NICOLE TOPPLE 74 JARRAD TULLOCH 76 TANYA UPPAL 78 ADRIAN VILLELLA 80 LIAM WALSH 82 LILY WANG 84 ANDREW WHEELER 86 ROBERT WHITE 88 AMANDA YEUNG

PLAN, PLACE AND PEOPLE

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05 MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

06 INTRODUCTION

07 COURSE STATEMENT

08 2011 GRADUANDS

12 2011 PLANNING THESES

92 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

93 PROGRAM TEAM

96 ALUMNI PROFILE

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UNSW Built Environment (BE) is focused on research and education relevant to the design, delivery and management of the 21st century city and the elements within it. This catalogue presents selected projects from our final year students in Planning.

The unprecedented level of urban growth and associated urban issues of critical significance provides the global context and distinctive knowledge framework of the UNSW BE curriculum. A distinguishing feature of our student experiences comes from our capability to focus on design, research, teaching and learning from perspectives that place emphasis on the stewardship of the built environment and the interdisciplinary dimensions from which it is formed.

The strategic direction of BE is based on a faculty commitment to deliver high impact research and graduates equipped with the knowledge and practical skills required to realise sustainable urban environments of enduring cultural value.

New research initiatives undertaken in the last twelve months build on the faculty’s strengths concentrating on themes that include sustainable design and development, urban typologies, people and places and emergent digital technologies. Each degree program integrates relevant research methods and outcomes to ensure our students understand and value lifelong learning and possess intellectual skills to enable successful future careers in a global context.

Your student experiences, hard work and skills are in many ways reflected in summary form by the quality of work contained within this catalogue. On behalf of the faculty I congratulate all the students who have completed their degree program and now become our alumni.

We wish you every success in your chosen field of endeavour. In many respects, our relationship is just beginning as we look forward to your ongoing participation in the life of our university through the many events and activities that we undertake to support research and the education of future generations of built environment graduates.

Professor Alec TzannesDean UNSW Built Environment

MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN FACULTY OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT

THE UNPRECEDENTED LEVEL OF URBAN GROWTH AND ASSOCIATED URBAN ISSUES OF CRITICAL SIGNIFICANCE PROVIDES THE GLOBAL CONTEXT AND DISTINCTIVE KNOWLEDGE FRAMEWORK OF THE UNSW BE CURRICULUM

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Welcome to Plan, Place and People, a celebration of the work our new graduating class of planners. Plan, Place and People was chosen as the title for this year’s graduand catalogue and exhibition, as “planning is about people” – it focuses on the design, development, utilization, management and conservation of places for communities and in the public interest. It will be as part of the next generation of planners that the graduands will contribute to the shaping of our cities, towns and countryside. This catalogue and accompanying exhibition represents the culmination of the achievements of these young planners over the past five years of study and professional work.

The Bachelor of Planning degree at UNSW aims to produce well-rounded professionals with a sound general training in planning, but with the scope to specialize in their particular fields of interest. One particular area of the degree where this individual interest can be expressed is, of course, the planning thesis. The diversity of topics chosen by this year’s students is indicative of the diversity of planning itself.

I am delighted to present to you the ideas of the graduating class of 2012. All planning students complete a thesis in their final semester. This represents the culmination of their undergraduate education and a goal they have worked towards over the past year. Students select a topic to investigate, formulate their research proposal during the first half of the year and then undertake their study, writing up the thesis in the second semester. Theses are original and substantive research reports in the order of 20,000 words. Not only do they contribute to individual student learning, they often incorporate recommendations for professional practice and policy development. Findings are sometimes presented at conferences and seminars, as well as written up in professional publications.

In Plan, Place and People the abstracts of the students’ theses are presented, together with an iconic image which symbolizes the focus of each piece of research. Students select their own graphic – either an illustration they themselves have created or a photograph which represents the central idea of their thesis. The range of research projects is outstanding and showcases the variety of current issues of interest and concern not just to planners but to the broader community as well.

I am sure you will agree that the students’ work makes a positive contribution to a range of contemporary planning challenges and puts these young planners at the forefront of their profession. Please join with me in congratulating the final year students of 2011 as we enjoy and contemplate the ideas and challenges presented by them in Plan, Place and People.

Peter Williams Program Head

INTRODUCTION PLAN, PLACE AND PEOPLE

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Research-based analysis and reporting is central to the Bachelor of Planning degree. The ‘capstone’ experience for students is a major independent research project in their final year.

Officially, this project entails enrolment in just one 12 week session. But preparation actually commences several months earlier through a preparatory course which revisits the formalities and practicalities of research design and methodology.

A remarkable diversity of thesis topics was pursued in 2011 ranging across important issues of contemporary policy relevance in areas such as planning legislation, land use, regional development, transport, urban design, housing, greening cities, health and community planning. While metropolitan Sydney is always the major ‘laboratory’, both international and regional NSW content are again featured this year.

Each student is assigned an adviser from either the full-time Planning staff or from our part-time lecturers, other BE staff, and in some cases colleagues from other faculties and universities. This wider pool of expertise is also tapped for the examination process. The input of our many colleagues in generously assisting the students to realize their goals to the best of their ability is indispensible.

Another acknowledgment is necessary – to the many stakeholders who assist the students during their data gathering. While the thesis remains very much an individual challenge, it is not done in a vacuum. Without exception, every student has benefited from a wide range of contacts with many different professionals and members of the community. The time and resources which individuals make available year in year out is absolutely critical for their work and is never taken for granted by either the students or the Planning Program.

At the end of the day the thesis exhibition and catalogue remains a showcase of the students’ own work. Collectively, these theses convey well the intrinsic breadth of urban and environmental planning in practice along with some of the major urban challenges which the latest cohort of graduates are ready, able and keen to take up.

Robert Freestone Thesis Course Coordinator

COURSE STATEMENT

COLLECTIVELY, THESE THESES CONVEY WELL THE INTRINSIC BREADTH OF URBAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING IN PRACTICE ALONG WITH SOME OF THE MAJOR URBAN CHALLENGES WHICH THE LATEST COHORT OF GRADUATES ARE READY, ABLE AND KEEN TO TAKE UP

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2930

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1910

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161718

3457 6

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1. JARRAD TULLOCH2. RACHEL BRISTOW3. NAOMI BRISSETT4. PATRICIA ASSAD5. MY TIEN BANH6. ALICE PETTINI7. AMANDA YEUNG8. CHRISTINA LIVERS9. PRITY KC10. JOSHUA OWEN11. MATHEW QUATTROVILLE12. NICHOLAS CARLTON13. ELIZABETH KIMBELL14. ROBERT WHITE15. LIAM WALSH16. NICOLE TOPPLE17. LILY WANG18. ALEXANDRA PLUMB19. KIEREN FAIRBURN20. TANYA UPPAL21. LEAH POULTON22. JONATHAN CLEARY23. KYE SANDERSON24. MATTHEW CHOI25. JOEL GINGES26. BEN MAGISTRALE27. BENJAMIN GRESHAM28. THOMAS IRONS29. PIERS HEMPHILL30. ELLIOT HALE31. LARA GOLDSTEIN32. ADRIAN VILLELLA

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PATRICIA ASSAD

Public Participation and the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979

Public participation is a statutory obligation that must be undertaken for specific developments, but unfortunately there is often a negative connotation attached to this particular process. To restore confidence in the system, planning’s main objective should be to achieve the best possible community and environmental outcomes in every instance. Many communities feel that opportunities for community involvement are not fully addressed. Effective consultation is a valuable part of the plan making process to foster community understanding of and support for change and development. Without adequate exhibition of development proposals, ad hoc decision making, community opposition and confrontation can occur. Studying a selection of contentious development applications in Sydney, this thesis asks whether the exhibition process is a successful mechanism in the NSW planning system and if the process has positively influenced the outcomes of notable planning decisions. It draws upon a mix of Part 3A decisions, local council approvals, interviews, surveys, discussion with residents, and review of legislative and policy frameworks. The thesis examines the effectiveness of the public exhibition process, considers its appropriate niche within the current planning system, and offers an understanding of the planning implications for improved policy and legislation.

“WITHOUT ADEQUATE EXHIBITION OF DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS, AD HOC DECISION MAKING, COMMUNITY OPPOSITION AND CONFRONTATION CAN OCCUR.”

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MY TIEN BANH

Things get a little more exciting in the dark: Exploring the night time economy in Fairfield town centre development

Increasing consumer demand for night-based activities and services has seen activities in town centres extended well into the night. This ‘night time economy’ is a recent phenomenon, a result of noticeable changes in the way many town centres now function. However, planning policies for town centres have developed of their own accord with little focus on the way in which they might assist, manage and encourage the active night time function of town centres. This is a lost opportunity and a matter of concern. This thesis provides a critical examination of current town centre frameworks with a particular focus on the night time context. It examines the benefits and problems associated with the night time economy in town centres. These issues are approached through a review of existing literature and contextual settings, stakeholder insights provided by qualitative in-depth interviews, and business surveys and case study analysis of the Cabramatta and Fairfield Town centres in suburban western Sydney. Recommendations are made for future directions to improve town centre policies with provisions for an active night time economy. To be optimally realised, coordinated efforts driven by local government to incorporate stakeholder input should reflect community ideals.

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“PLANNING POLICIES FOR TOWN CENTRES HAVE DEVELOPED ... WITH LITTLE FOCUS ON THE WAY IN WHICH THEY MIGHT ASSIST, MANAGE AND ENCOURAGE THE ACTIVE NIGHT TIME FUNCTION OF TOWN CENTRES.”

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NAOMI BRISSETT

Saving Space: How to support open space in our urban environments

Cities are busy, crowded, space-constrained places. Without the provision of open space, the people who inhabit cities can find it hard to find opportunities for relaxation, recreation and positive but unplanned social interaction. As a result, mental and physical health can be seriously affected and the functioning of the broader community fractured, reducing the quality of urban life. Cities around the world are experiencing a growing trend of urbanisation as populations swell, placing increased pressure on existing services and facilities. In the case of Sydney, provision of open space is often hindered by the costly challenges of acquiring, building or funding the on-going maintenance needed. In an environment of population growth and high land prices new methods for supporting the sustainable provision of open space into the future are needed. This thesis provides an overview of the benefits gained from open space provision to establish its vital role within the urban context. It reviews the current NSW planning framework and seeks to discover how provision of open space can be supported into the future as increased pressure is placed on current facilities and the availability of land for new opportunities is diminishing.

“IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF POPULATION GROWTH AND HIGH LAND PRICES NEW METHODS FOR SUPPORTING THE SUSTAINABLE PROVISION OF OPEN SPACE INTO THE FUTURE ARE NEEDED.”

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‘Empty Spaces are Lost Opportunities’: Activating underutilised urban spaces through creative temporary use initiatives

Pop-up shops in vacant buildings and temporary art installations in laneways are representative of an emerging trend in urban development that takes advantage of niche spaces through temporary uses. Unlike strategic planning which aims to shape the long term future of urban environments, temporary uses represent a tactical approach which is able to respond quickly and flexibly to current opportunities. This thesis explores this phenomenon through case studies including ‘Renew Newcastle’, an initiative which provides opportunities for the interim use of vacant buildings in the Newcastle city centre, and the global event ‘Park(ing) Day’, in which metered car parking spaces are transformed into temporary parks. These examples demonstrate the positive impacts temporary uses can have on urban environments and people’s understanding and appreciation of place. Currently, such activities often utilise exempt and complying development provisions or bypass assessment processes altogether in order to avoid potentially lengthy timeframes, costs, and bureaucracy associated with conventional development assessment processes. Nevertheless, there is a need for planners to recognise the potential of temporary use to complement traditional forms of development to achieve continuous activation of urban areas and the creation of vibrant and stimulating places.

RACHEL BRISTOW

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“UNLIKE STRATEGIC PLANNING WHICH AIMS TO SHAPE THE LONG TERM FUTURE OF URBAN ENVIRONMENTS, TEMPORARY USES REPRESENT A TACTICAL APPROACH WHICH IS ABLE TO RESPOND QUICKLY AND FLEXIBLY TO CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES.”

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NICHOLAS CARLTON

Playful Cities: Facilitating children’s play within urban environments

Play is essential to the development of children. However, a growing body of research has identified that within developed countries, children’s play is increasingly being isolated and contained within formally designated play spaces which provide limited and prescriptive opportunities for play. In recognition of the fact that children play everywhere and anywhere, this thesis proposes that adequate and appropriate opportunities for children’s play exist only when play is facilitated within the entirety of an urban environment. This includes both formally designated play spaces and multipurpose public spaces such as public open spaces and residential streets. The thesis draws upon a wide range of literature and international case studies to establish ‘best practice’ in the facilitation of play within the entirety of an urban environment. It demonstrates how opportunities for children’s play can be successfully incorporated into spaces not typically associated with this function, without restricting the alternative uses of the spaces by other members of the community. This thesis develops an evaluation tool which can be utilised by built environment professionals to determine the adequacy and appropriateness of children’s play opportunities within an urban environment and offers recommendations on how the provision of children’s play opportunities within urban environments can be improved.

“ADEQUATE AND APPROPRIATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN’S PLAY EXIST ONLY WHEN PLAY IS FACILITATED WITHIN THE ENTIRETY OF AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT.”

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MATTHEW CHOI

Car-tastrophe: An investigation of car parking policies and strategies

Parking is a grossly under-appreciated and unacknowledged planning issue given that the issues raised extend beyond the central business district and well into urban fringe areas. Middle-ring suburban areas are exposed to a distinctive subset of parking issues. Parking issues here arise because of the greater commuting distances and lack of public transport infrastructure in comparison to the inner suburbs. In response to the growing public pressure on parking spaces, planners and government officials have frequently reacted by increasing the supply of spaces to meet projected demand. However, whether this provides a good strategic planning outcome to local communities is questionable. Successful integration between broader land use and transport policies are the key ingredients required to alleviate parking demand, particularly within middle ring areas. This thesis explores the nature and prevalence of parking issues within middle-ring suburban town centres in Sydney as well as the role of parking policies as a planning tool to regulate the supply and demand of parking. The research investigates the practicality of existing parking policies and the need to consider the implications of these policies in order to develop a more sustainable planning approach.

“SUCCESSFUL INTEGRATION BETWEEN BROADER LAND USE AND TRANSPORT POLICIES ARE THE KEY INGREDIENTS REQUIRED TO ALLEVIATE PARKING DEMAND, PARTICULARLY WITHIN MIDDLE RING AREAS.”

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JONATHAN CLEARY

Investigating tourism opportunities in country towns in a post-bypass economy: A case study of Yass

Highway bypasses are one of the most cost-effective ways of increasing vehicle movement speeds around settlements located on high-traffic transport corridors. The sudden change in traffic conditions affecting bypassed country towns can prove challenging for businesses previously reliant on passing trade. The effect of highway bypasses on smaller communities has been extensively documented both domestically and internationally. There is usually a short-term decline in revenue but revenue often returns to pre-bypass levels in the long-term. With the rise of the ‘grey nomad’ in particular, rural and regional settlements are coming to realise the importance of these tourists for the economic health of towns and their hinterlands. Tourism destination planning is vital to the survival of the tourism industry. Yass is chosen as a case study to investigate the long-term effects of highway bypasses, the broader implications of tourism destination planning, and perceptions of tourism as a means for continued economic growth. By combining the results of a critical review of tourism planning literature, analysis of stopper and stayer data collected from tourists in 1993, 1994, and 2011 in Yass, and in-depth interviews with community stakeholders, this thesis reveals the importance of tourism for ‘by-passed’ country towns.

“RURAL AND REGIONAL SETTLEMENTS ARE COMING TO REALISE THE IMPORTANCE OF ... TOURISTS FOR THE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF TOWNS AND THEIR HINTERLANDS. TOURISM DESTINATION PLANNING IS VITAL TO THE SURVIVAL OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY.”

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RACHEL COGGER

The Urban Symphony: Are You Listening?

Cities are noisy places. People are often bombarded with a continuous stream of loud noises which can have adverse impacts on health, quality of life, and an individual’s experience of place. The current paradigm for managing the acoustic environment is noise mitigation and control based on acoustical measures such as decibels. This approach is too narrow and assumes incorrectly that if environments are quieter, the perceived soundscape quality will be improved. In any event, city dwellers are dealing with problematic acoustic environments on an individual level. They are disengaging from their surrounds, and hence their community, through the use of iPods and other portable media devices. To fully appreciate the nature and value of the acoustic environment, a perception-based approach is necessary to determine the human experience of place and the perceived quality of the soundscape. This thesis employs several qualitative methods to explore the concept of soundscapes and people’s experience of the acoustic environment. The soundwalking technique and the development of a simple soundscape evaluation tool provide urban planners with accessible methods to assess soundscape quality. Planners must adopt more positive approaches to the sonic environment to ensure that cities possess quality soundscapes which enhance an individual’s sonic experience of place and ultimately make cities more liveable.

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“PLANNERS MUST ADOPT MORE POSITIVE APPROACHES TO THE SONIC ENVIRONMENT TO ENSURE THAT CITIES POSSESS QUALITY SOUNDSCAPES WHICH ENHANCE AN INDIVIDUAL’S SONIC EXPERIENCE OF PLACE AND ULTIMATELY MAKE CITIES MORE LIVEABLE.”

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KIEREN FAIRBAIRN

Homegrown Housing: A critical analysis of the role and effectiveness of local housing strategies in metropolitan Sydney

Local government has been increasingly recognised as well positioned to assume a pivotal role in developing and implementing housing policy. Local governments have strong connections to their local communities which enable them to effectively identify local housing needs and provide localised responses to housing issues through coordinating their various roles and functions to achieve desired outcomes. Yet local governments in Australia have traditionally been hesitant or unwilling in taking on more proactive roles in shaping housing outcomes. To increase local government involvement in housing issues, various policies have encouraged or mandated local governments to develop local housing strategies but the impact of these strategies has scarcely been assessed. The principal aims of this thesis are to assess how effective local housing strategies have been in coordinating the various roles and functions of local governments to achieve explicit housing outcomes and to identify potential barriers and constraints hindering implementation. In analysing the role and impact of local housing strategies in NSW, broader questions regarding the role of local authorities in housing policy are raised, including how government, political and power structures impact local government’s ability and willingness to take a more formative role in shaping their residential environments.

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“TO INCREASE LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT IN HOUSING ISSUES, VARIOUS POLICIES HAVE ENCOURAGED OR MANDATED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO DEVELOP LOCAL HOUSING STRATEGIES BUT THE IMPACT OF THESE STRATEGIES HAS SCARCELY BEEN ASSESSED.”

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Creating the Balance: Legislative and policy development, review and reform towards affordable housing in New South Wales

More and more Sydneysiders experience problems in securing adequate and affordable housing. With Sydney one of the most expensive cities in the world in terms of property prices and liveability, there is a pressing need to help develop key strategies and implement new legislative reforms in order to develop affordable housing provisions. Highlighting current issues relating to the application of existing affordable housing approaches can help one develop a fundamental understanding of the shortfall in affordable housing opportunities. Development of an innovative, proactive and responsive affordable rental-housing framework, which is reflective of community and stakeholder sentiment, would provide much-needed impetus for positive social and economic outcomes within the wider community. This thesis explores these issues within the existing legislative and policy framework, namely State Environmental Planning Policy (Affordable Rental Housing) 2009. In order to develop a strong policy framework, understanding the basic relationships and interactions between local and state government, the property development industry and community housing providers is vital. A better appreciation of their roles, motivations and requirements will assist in developing a best practice approach to affordable housing legislation and policy provision within New South Wales.

JOEL GINGES

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“DEVELOPMENT OF AN INNOVATIVE, PROACTIVE AND RESPONSIVE AFFORDABLE RENTAL-HOUSING FRAMEWORK, WHICH IS REFLECTIVE OF COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER SENTIMENT, WOULD PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED IMPETUS FOR POSITIVE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC OUTCOMES WITHIN THE WIDER COMMUNITY.”

32

Regulation of Community Open Space Areas: Is it going to the dogs?

Dog ownership has been proven to be beneficial to human physical, mental and social health by increasing social capital. Australia has one of the highest incidences of dog ownership in the world. But with a shift into higher density living in urban areas, an increasing number of dog owners are losing access to private open space and so are turning to community open space areas such as beaches, parks and reserves to meet their own, and their dogs, health, recreation and socialisation needs. Yet, the regulation of these areas makes it increasingly difficult to take dogs into the public realm. A critical question to be asked is whether a lack of planning involvement in the writing of policy on the regulation of dogs in community open space is preventing a balanced approach to the wants and needs of the community. Using a scale measuring dog population density and considering a representative selection of six Local Government Areas in Sydney, this thesis argues that local government regulation of community open space areas is heavily skewed away from dog owners. Planning has the opportunity to achieve healthier communities by encouraging dog ownership through a balanced approach to policy and regulation of community open space areas.

LARA GOLDSTEIN

“PLANNING HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES BY ENCOURAGING DOG OWNERSHIP THROUGH A BALANCED APPROACH TO POLICY AND REGULATION OF COMMUNITY OPEN SPACE AREAS.”

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Planning, Places of Worship and Religious Communities: Towards a greater understanding and better approach in NSW

The religious landscape within our cities, towns and suburbs has changed significantly in the last few decades. A number of factors such as migration and secularisation have seen the emergence of diverse religious communities and new places of worship. Places of worship are fundamental to the daily lives of many people and provide spaces where worshippers can meet, share common bonds and values, and form communities. Places of worship range from small, local Catholic churches to Islamic Mosques, Jewish Synagogues, Buddhist house temples and regional mega churches. This thesis investigates planning issues surrounding religious development in NSW through the investigation of three case studies: a proposed Jewish Eruv in St Ives, a recently approved Pentecostal church in the Castle Hill Industrial area, and a recently refused regional mosque in Elermore Vale. The principal finding is that the planning process is failing to deal effectively with religious communities and proposals for places of worship. The thesis provides recommendations on how planners can more effectively manage the issues surrounding places of worship and religious communities. Ultimately, as planners, it is essential that we aspire to help bring about a society in which different belief systems, whether religious or otherwise, are understood, respected and valued.

BENJAMIN GRESHAM

“AS PLANNERS, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE ASPIRE TO HELP BRING ABOUT A SOCIETY IN WHICH DIFFERENT BELIEF SYSTEMS, WHETHER RELIGIOUS OR OTHERWISE, ARE UNDERSTOOD, RESPECTED AND VALUED”.

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ELLIOT HALE

Where to go with Major Projects: A theoretical and practical exploration into the assessment and determination of major projects in NSW

Part 3A of the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 was introduced on 1 August 2005. United with the SEPP (Major Development) 2005, the objective was to create one integrated assessment and determination mechanism for all state and regionally significant projects. Part 3A attracted hostile criticism from local councils, community groups and environmentalists. They claimed insufficient community consultation, judicial review, environmental assessment rigor and transparency. Conversely, the NSW Labor Government and development industry groups highlighted that Part 3A brought a wealth of development and investment to NSW. The recently elected Liberal Government has repealed Part 3A and has instituted a new regime to assess state and regionally significant projects whilst a full review of the NSW planning system is undertaken. This thesis explores whether a project of state or regional significance requires a separate assessment mechanism, and if so, how this should be administered. An analysis of academic and professional literature, major project processes and NSW planning legislation has been undertaken in conjunction with interviews with prominent NSW planning and development industry stakeholders. Conclusions are drawn from this analysis to inform the current review of the NSW planning system.

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“THIS THESIS EXPLORES WHETHER A PROJECT OF STATE OR REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE IN NSW REQUIRES A SEPARATE ASSESSMENT MECHANISM, AND IF SO, HOW THIS SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED.”

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Street Trees: A focus on the urban planner’s role in managing roadside trees in Sydney

As our neighbourhoods continue to become more urbanised and lives become less ecologically orientated, the arguments for greater green cover in our cities are putting pressure on civic authorities to plant more trees. The use of trees for their contributions to the urban fabric is well represented in current development practice. Street trees are an almost automatic inclusion in new greenfield and rejuvenation projects. However, there is a tremendous opportunity cost when the application of street trees is not properly considered. Street trees can offer a great range of distinct benefits to communities which must be understood by planners in order to produce the best outcomes. This thesis investigates the ways planners can use trees to meet the needs of communities and strengthen societies. A study of the condition of street trees across Sydney was undertaken to explore the social, spatial and circumstantial forces which have driven outcomes and which will continue to influence street tree decisions. The role of planners in state and local government is investigated through a review of legislation and policy using metropolitan Sydney as a case study. This is supplemented by a critical evaluation of North Sydney’s policy approach as a model of best practice.

PIERS HEMPHILL

“STREET TREES ARE AN ALMOST AUTOMATIC INCLUSION IN NEW GREENFIELD AND REJUVENATION PROJECTS. HOWEVER, THERE IS A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY COST WHEN THE APPLICATION OF STREET TREES IS NOT PROPERLY CONSIDERED.”

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“STATE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS DECLARED RADBURN DESIGNED PUBLIC HOUSING EXPERIMENTS AN “URBAN DESIGN FAILURE”, BUT WITH RELATIVELY LITTLE BROAD UNDERSTANDING OR RESEARCHED EVIDENCE.”

LISA HENIEDI

Radburn and Deradburnisation: The NSW Public Housing Experience

Developed during the second half of the 20th century, a substantial number of large Australian public housing estates were designed according to Radburn planning principles. At the time, the general public and planning authorities enthusiastically adopted the ‘Radburn idea’, characterised by the separation of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, the subdivision of land into superblocks, houses facing internal open spaces, and back doors facing the street. By the late 1990s, State Government officials declared Radburn designed public housing experiments an ‘urban design failure’, but with relatively little broad understanding or researched evidence. This thesis draws on archival research and interviews with key housing professionals to provide an overview of the physical and social characteristics of Radburn designed estates throughout NSW. The research sheds light on a critical period in public housing history given the impacts of Radburn planned estates are still being felt and dealt with today. Levels of vandalism, crime and maintenance are used to make comparisons with other suburban developments in order to identify distinct patterns associated with the ‘radburnness’ of these issues. Reflections on the process of deradburnisation involving comprehensive replanning of the estates of the 1960s and 1970s are made with a view to informing decision-making for future urban renewal projects.

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THOMAS IRONS

The Great Divide: Addressing regional inequality in New South Wales

New South Wales has traditionally been characterised by a rural population and an agricultural economy, yet today NSW is one of the most urbanised states in one of the most urbanised countries in the world. A result of this has been the centralisation of state economic activity and bureaucratic power in metropolitan NSW. The State Government has attempted to address regional disparity through the promotion of regional growth and decentralisation policies, yet these have typically met with lacklustre results. The Evocities campaign is the latest in the long line of state government supported initiatives but actually has its roots in lobbying from coalitions of regional local governments. The campaign is unique in that it is essentially a marketing and public relations endeavour rather than legislated policy. This thesis provides a comprehensive contextual background of issues affecting inland rural NSW as well as an analysis of past and present approaches to promoting regional growth and decentralisation. The research draws from information sourced from scholarly literature, statistical data, as well as governmental publications and policies. The Evocities campaign is succeeding in promoting inland regional centres, yet as the campaign is still in its infancy, its effectiveness in stimulating regional growth and decentralisation remains to be proven.

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“THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAS ATTEMPTED TO ADDRESS REGIONAL DISPARITY THROUGH THE PROMOTION OF REGIONAL GROWTH AND DECENTRALISATION POLICIES, YET THESE HAVE TYPICALLY MET WITH LACKLUSTRE RESULTS.”

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PRITY KC

On the Other Side of the Fence: Understanding objectors’ perceptions to social and affordable housing developments

Growing demand and declining supply have made the provision of social and affordable housing critical. Insufficient supply of social and affordable housing results in increased costs in other areas of society, including an increase in spending on hospitals and medical costs, social services and homelessness. Controversy and public opposition to social and affordable housing developments frequently place planners in conflicted positions - managing the need to provide for new housing needs while trying to address existing residents’ concerns. This public pressure can result in local governments being more inclined to reject social and affordable housing developments. It is important therefore to understand the motivations behind residents’ objections and their perceptions of social and affordable housing developments. Through a critical review of literature, analysis of submissions for social and affordable housing proposals in selected areas of Sydney, and interviews with key personnel, this thesis establishes an understanding of objectors’ perceptions of social and affordable housing developments. Accounting for and responding to perceptions are essential to effectively addressing ‘Not In My Backyard’ responses and making good planning decisions. The thesis discusses the potential to develop better participatory processes, deal with misconceptions about social and affordable housing, and ensure social and affordable housing is appropriately located.

“CONTROVERSY AND PUBLIC OPPOSITION TO SOCIAL AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS FREQUENTLY PLACE PLANNERS IN CONFLICTED POSITIONS - MANAGING THE NEED TO PROVIDE FOR NEW HOUSING NEEDS WHILE TRYING TO ADDRESS EXISTING RESIDENTS’ CONCERNS.”

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Solving Sydney’s Local Infrastructure Crisis

The development industry, planners, and local government have reached a consensus that the current funding system for local infrastructure, including developer contributions in NSW through Section 94 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, is in need of a comprehensive review. The ad hoc way in which legal requirements for developer contributions have evolved is a consequence of numerous reviews and changes which have been of only partial benefit for major stakeholders. This is only one aspect of an interlinked, inflexible and somewhat chaotic planning system within which local infrastructure funding mechanisms have been developed along narrow lines of thinking. Section 94 rates have steadily increased since 1979 because of a range of factors. This trend will continue through the lack of a coordinated system for councils to fund local infrastructure. The planning community believes that there is a need for alternative funding mechanisms to be investigated otherwise development activity will continue to plateau and fall short of Metropolitan Strategy housing targets. NSW needs to resolve an infrastructure funding dilemma that is impacting on Sydney’s new growth centres and to step up to the superior regimes instituted in other states. This thesis discusses developer contributions and investigates alternative funding mechanisms.

ELIZABETH KIMBELL

“NSW NEEDS TO RESOLVE AN INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING DILEMMA THAT IS IMPACTING ON SYDNEY’S NEW GROWTH CENTRES AND TO STEP UP TO THE SUPERIOR REGIMES INSTITUTED IN OTHER STATES.”

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CHRISTINA LIVERS

Out of Centre Retail Development: Challenges for planners and planning systems

Retailing is a dynamic industry which is constantly reinventing retail formats to meet the ever-changing demands of consumers. The spatial transformation of retail change favouring highly adaptable out of centre locations is the result of a combination of social, economic, technological and policy trends. However, the rate at which development occurs is significantly countered by planning policy guided by compact and sustainable city ideologies. This in turn has economic impacts on retail markets and in addition affects the spatial dispersion of development. Against an international review of retail policies, the thesis demonstrates that out of centre retail trends are not readily accommodated by either NSW Government metropolitan strategies, centres policies or standardised local environmental plans. Through a series of in-depth interviews with retail industry representatives and planners plus a case study of a major big-box development in Sydney, it becomes apparent that the NSW planning system has failed to keep pace with out of centre retail trends. This has resulted in a fragmented approach to the assessment of such developments across NSW. The thesis argues the desirability of a better understanding of retail trends and addressing them through a more appropriate mix of policies and decision-making controls.

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“THE SPATIAL TRANSFORMATION OF RETAIL CHANGE FAVOURING HIGHLY ADAPTABLE OUT OF CENTRE LOCATIONS IS THE RESULT OF A COMBINATION OF SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, TECHNOLOGICAL AND POLICY TRENDS.”

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Socio-Economic Impact Assessment of the proposed High Speed Rail service for the Newcastle-Sydney Wollongong Corridor

As a global city, Sydney is attracting people from all over the world. Population predictions indicate Sydney’s population is likely to grow from the current 4.5 million to approximately 7 million by 2051. Although, population agglomeration may bring many benefits to cities, experts also point out that problems associated with urbanisation dramatically increase with city size, a problem which thus confronts Sydney as it continues to expand. To ensure Sydney’s competitiveness and to remain Australia’s global city, it is critical for planners and policy makers to address these emerging urban problems and to explore options of where and how to host future population growth. As one future growth option, having a high-speed rail network serving Sydney and other nearby regional cities to facilitate an urban decentralisation approach has again attracted attention in recent years. Notwithstanding the financial viability of the infrastructure investment, many believe that such a strategy could bring significant positive social-economic benefits to NSW and thus its implementation should be seriously considered by the state government. This thesis critically evaluates the social-economic impact of a potential high-speed rail link serving the Newcastle-Sydney-Wollongong Corridor and examines the future implications for this major urban region.

SHENG XI MA

“HAVING A HIGH-SPEED RAIL NETWORK SERVING SYDNEY AND OTHER NEARBY REGIONAL CITIES TO FACILITATE AN URBAN DECENTRALISATION APPROACH HAS AGAIN ATTRACTED ATTENTION IN RECENT YEARS.”

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Reviving Strip Development along Urban Arterial Roads: The case of Parramatta Road

Arterial roads perform a vital function in reconciling traffic movement within cities and access to roadside development sites, but the value and condition of strip development along arterial roads is sometimes neglected when mobility overrides environmental quality. Revitalising underutilised strip development through planning mechanisms has been attempted, and successful examples have been shown to rely on an integrated approach to transport and land use planning considerations. Sydney’s premier east-west road artery, Parramatta Road, has been the subject of several major revitalisation strategies. However, many of these have struggled to effect full-scale change, primarily because of weaknesses in implementation and funding mechanisms. Perspectives of professionals and those involved in revitalisation efforts, coupled with observational analysis, were used to more intensively explore constraints placed on revitalisation ambitions and opportunities for improvements to a nominated inner-city section of Parramatta Road. This thesis suggests a scenario-based approach to reviving strip development. Options range from doing nothing and retaining a low rental status possibly attractive for creative business opportunities to making significant changes involving major infrastructure investment aimed at encouraging further roadside residential and employment activities. The thesis findings are relevant to other arterial roads suffering comparable problems.

BEN MAGISTRALE

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“THE VALUE AND CONDITION OF STRIP DEVELOPMENT ALONG ARTERIAL ROADS IS SOMETIMES NEGLECTED WHEN MOBILITY OVERRIDES ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.”

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NATALIE MOORE

Planning and the NSW Labor Government: Neo-liberalism at work

On 26 March 2011 the NSW Labor Government received a defeat of historic proportions ending 16 years in office. Throughout its period in government, most planning strategies and regulations were challenged by the Government’s neo-liberal economic agenda. Encouraging capital investment, cutting red tape, enabling competition, and maintaining business confidence were priorities. Balancing this goal with environmental and social sustainability proved a challenging and highly political task. This thesis examines the approach to economic, environmental and social planning over the four terms of the NSW Labor Government between 1995 and 2011. It investigates planning reforms intended to provide a more streamlined, efficient and market friendly system and the drift toward a highly centralised model with the Minister for Planning assuming unprecedented discretionary powers. The role of local government was diminished while the state bureaucracy became more implicated in development assessment, often at the expense of strategic planning. Together with broken promises plus instances of corruption and perceptions of favoured dealings with developers, the government’s rhetoric of a truly integrated, balanced, fair and transparent planning system was increasingly criticised. Trade-offs between economic and other sustainability objectives were widely seen to have failed as planning became a significant issue at the disastrous March 2011 election.

“TRADE-OFFS BETWEEN ECONOMIC AND OTHER SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVES WERE WIDELY SEEN TO HAVE FAILED AS PLANNING BECAME A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE AT THE DISASTROUS MARCH 2011 ELECTION”.

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A Design for Disaster: Problematic micro-design and perceptions of safety in the licensed environment

Aggression in the licensed environment has historically been attributed to intoxication, alcohol availability and Australia’s ingrained drinking culture. In applying concepts of environmental psychology to bar-room settings, scholars have developed a new philosophy on how interior venue design can modify behaviour. Across Sydney there exist a range of venue types utilising various design approaches employed by owners to attract young adults and encourage increased alcohol consumption. Unfortunately, many of Sydney’s popular venues exhibit atmospheric, layout and décor features which deliver risky, unsafe drinking settings. Whilst regulators acknowledge the importance of safer venue design, there are currently no effective mechanisms for controlling the design of licensed settings. Before governments begin to consider approaches to regulating interior venue design, an understanding of what motivates individuals to frequent particular venues and how safety is perceived must first be ascertained. Survey findings in this thesis suggest that patrons’ perceptions of safety do not relate to venue popularity, indicating that most are unaware of the immediate dangers associated with unsafe design. In order to raise awareness of the importance of safer venue design and rectify current problematic features of premises, recommendations and guidelines for governments are developed.

JOSH OWEN

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“IN APPLYING CONCEPTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY TO BAR-ROOM SETTINGS, SCHOLARS HAVE DEVELOPED A NEW PHILOSOPHY ON HOW INTERIOR VENUE DESIGN CAN MODIFY BEHAVIOUR.”

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Community Gardens in Inner Sydney: How planners can help address food security

It is ironic that as we enter the 21st century, after a century of ‘modernization’ and the industrialization of food production, the world again faces a food crisis many thought had been left behind. Rising food costs, depleted food production, and growing health problems relating both to the lack of food and the excessive consumption of bad quality food remain critical issues. As a result, interest in alternative methods of producing fresh, local food is increasing. Community gardens have multiple benefits, including their capacity to underpin a sense of community. This thesis focuses on the potential of community gardens to contribute to food security at both a household and community scale. Historically, planners have shown little interest in community gardens. Community gardens have largely been ignored in the planning literature and in planning practice. This has contributed to the current difficulties faced by those wanting to establish community gardens in urban areas. The aim of this thesis is to inform the policy and regulatory framework for community gardens in the Sydney Metropolitan Area, with a view to facilitating the development of community gardening in Sydney. It is argued that planners have a significant role to play in this vital task.

ALICE PETTINI

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“COMMUNITY GARDENS HAVE LARGELY BEEN IGNORED IN THE PLANNING LITERATURE AND IN PLANNING PRACTICE”.

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Healthy Planning: Current knowledge and attitudes

That both the natural and built environments influence our lifestyles, and thus our health, is now well researched and documented. Yet urban planning has ignored health outcomes and built urban environments which are characterised by car dependency, urban sprawl and physical inactivity. These unhealthy settings bring detrimental side effects such as chronic disease and obesity. Obesity is a serious health problem in Australia, with currently over 50% of the adult population overweight or obese. The health problems of many urban Australians mean that there is an immense need for healthy urban planning strategies. Planners play a key role in ensuring that health impacts are considered when planning, designing and regulating the urban environment. By surveying professionals from the Sydney planning and development industry, this thesis has been able to examine the current knowledge of and attitudes towards healthy urban planning, while building on existing data from a similar survey undertaken in 2006. Since 2006 there has been an explosion in the promotion and development of healthy urban planning and this thesis has been able to evaluate the reasons behind the increase in knowledge and the implications for future healthy urban planning.

ALEXANDRA PLUMB

“PLANNERS PLAY A KEY ROLE IN ENSURING THAT HEALTH IMPACTS ARE CONSIDERED WHEN PLANNING, DESIGNING AND REGULATING THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT.”

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Town-Country Planning: Planning with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities in Sydney

In recent years, research has begun to show a gap in Australian planners’ knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, in both policy and practice. This is potentially affecting planning outcomes for Indigenous Australians in negative ways. Internationally and nationally, planning is finally beginning to better incorporate different sets of values and aspirations for multicultural cities. However, in many places including Sydney, planning is effectively still working as an instrument of colonisation as far as many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are concerned. Through conversations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people involved in planning for and with Indigenous communities in Sydney, this thesis seeks to privilege the voices of those often overlooked in consultation processes. The thesis aims to discover why planning is still failing to take different views into account and how planning might be able to better incorporate the views and goals of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their communities. In the future, the rational and technocratic grounding of planning must be replaced by a praxis that acknowledges and celebrates multiple and often conflicting knowledge systems and truly addresses the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

LEAH POULTON

“THE RATIONAL AND TECHNOCRATIC GROUNDING OF PLANNING MUST BE REPLACED BY A PRAXIS THAT ACKNOWLEDGES AND CELEBRATES MULTIPLE AND OFTEN CONFLICTING KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS AND TRULY ADDRESSES THE NEEDS OF ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER COMMUNITIES.”

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MATHEW QUATTROVILLE

Project Planning: The use of project management in town planning practice

Town planning practice is looking to find new ways to better manage and monitor projects, especially under the scrutiny of media attention, involvement of the public and community groups, and the usual political presence. Project management is a key tool to assist good decision-making and is already used by many practitioners, even if unknowingly. Frequently projects have suffered from poor decision-making, which in turn has been exacerbated by the uncertainty of process within the system and the inherent risks which town planners face. Looking ahead, project management is identified as a significant tool which can be utilised to help town planners better manage projects from start to finish and create transparent, effective and efficient decision-making systems. The thesis explores how the use of project management can help enhance the involvement of multiple stakeholders in town planning practice in a political environment. It helps identify key differences between the government and private sector and how project management can be meaningfully integrated into both sectors. A case study analyses a special team assembled for project management and looks at how projects are managed within that team. Project management will be a key tool for the town planning profession for many years to come if implemented appropriately.

“PROJECT MANAGEMENT WILL BE A KEY TOOL FOR THE TOWN PLANNING PROFESSION FOR MANY YEARS TO COME IF IMPLEMENTED APPROPRIATELY.”

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Planning your Religion: Community backlash and the future for Islamic developments in Australia

Community response and feedback are an important part of the approvals process for developments. In a democratic society, the social contract between the governing authority and the public ensures that decisions made on behalf of the people are ultimately answerable to the public at large. But when those decisions are seen to go against the public interest, community backlash and outrage can ensue. This thesis seeks to assess the importance of responsible decision making in the face of overwhelming public opposition and whether an objective approval can be free from political interests. Two examples of controversial Islamic developments are discussed, one in Sydney, the other in New York: the much publicised, rejected Quranic in the outer south-western suburb of Camden and the controversial Islamic cultural centre under proposal near the former site of the World Trade Centre (the so-called ‘Ground Zero Mosque’) in Manhattan. Analysis of media coverage and legal challenges provides insights into the processes behind and ramifications of these decisions. In the decade since September 11, proposed and current Islamic institutions have been under enormous strain and sparked divisions within communities. Islamic cultural institutions need to be secure in their growth for the future and attract the public support which is needed.

THOMAS ROSSER

“ISLAMIC CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS NEED TO BE SECURE IN THEIR GROWTH FOR THE FUTURE AND ATTRACT THE PUBLIC SUPPORT WHICH IS NEEDED.”

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Economic Stimulus and Fast-track Approval Processes: Implications for planning in the public interest

Extraordinary times can call for extraordinary measures. When the Australian Federal Government was confronted with the Global Financial Crisis of 2008-2009, there was a general consensus on the need for government to play a role in stimulating economic activity. At a federal level an integral part of this was the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan, of which a significant component was the delivery of additional social housing dwellings. In NSW this policy was implemented through the Nation Building and Jobs Plan Act 2009. The key objective of this Act was the timely delivery of stimulus projects. In order to achieve this, provisions were incorporated which bypassed the need to go through normal planning processes including public consultation requirements. This thesis evaluates the success of this approach as it relates to a fundamental goal of planning, namely to achieve outcomes in the public interest. The principal finding is that there is great tension between the need to provide economic stimulus through more affordable housing and the downside of local communities feeling disengaged from the process. For planners, this is the key issue that requires careful consideration when administering legislative provisions enabling fast-tracked development.

KYE SANDERSON

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“THERE IS GREAT TENSION BETWEEN THE NEED TO PROVIDE ECONOMIC STIMULUS THROUGH MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE DOWNSIDE OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES FEELING DISENGAGED FROM THE PROCESS.”

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FADI SHAKIR

Reducing Automobile Dependency of Major Trip Generating Institutions through Transportation Demand Management: Learning from the University of British Columbia.

Reliance on automobile usage continues to pose social and environmental problems in urban areas around the world. Mechanisms to deal with this problem have been outlined by various researchers and a consensus has emerged that building more roads will not achieve sustainable transportation. Efforts to change travel behaviour through Transportation Demand Management (TDM) are seen as an attractive alternative to investing heavily in road infrastructure. This has resulted in an increasing interest in understanding and influencing travel behaviour patterns, particularly by large trip generating institutions. Large suburban university campuses are a case in point. The aim of this thesis is to explore what TDM strategies are successfully used in a university context through an international comparison of the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney. The thesis employs in-depth interviews with transport department heads and a random sample of UBC students, querying the roots of alternative sustainable travel programs and the students’ knowledge, opinions and visions of these mechanisms. This thesis explores how successful TDM strategies utilised by UBC such as the mandatory Upass, car and vanpooling programs might be successfully adapted to UNSW.

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“EFFORTS TO CHANGE TRAVEL BEHAVIOUR THROUGH TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT (TDM) ARE SEEN AS AN ATTRACTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO INVESTING HEAVILY IN ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE.”

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Planning for Good Urban Form: An investigation into delivering greenfield development in South West Sydney

Cities model their image and growth policies upon interpretations of good urban form. Urban growth management and expansion policies modelled upon these interpretations have directed the growth of Sydney since the 1940s. Greenfield expansion was considered good urban form until the impact of such developments were more critically analysed during the 1980s and 1990s and found to have negative environmental, economic and social impacts. Subsequently, large-scale suburban expansion on the fringes of Sydney was no longer pursued as the predominant growth option. However, under the current metropolitan planning strategy, greenfield development is still required to deliver 230,000 (30%) of Sydney’s new dwellings by 2031. Accordingly, the NSW Government has identified specific areas, the North West and South West Growth Centres to facilitate future greenfield development on the fringes of Sydney. This thesis compares the South West Growth Centre’s ability to deliver greenfield development with other greenfield developments in South West Sydney. Interviews with key stakeholders involved in land release provided insight into the challenges facing greenfield development. The thesis analyses these challenges, which have impacted upon the ability to realise good urban form, a goal which should not obstruct the delivery of adequate land supply for new housing.

NICOLE TOPPLE

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“UNDER THE CURRENT METROPOLITAN PLANNING STRATEGY, GREENFIELD DEVELOPMENT IS STILL REQUIRED TO DELIVER 230,000 (30%) OF SYDNEY’S NEW DWELLINGS BY 2031.”

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JARRAD TULLOCH

The Identity of Consumption: Sydney’s urban mediascape

Urban spaces are an elaborate canvas of society and culture. They teem with media vying to induce, inform and endorse. This is the urban mediascape and it is a platform from which ideas and brands are created, experienced and maintained. Critically, it is in the urban mediascape where interconnections between consumers and brands manifest to influence place identity. This thesis addresses the notable absence of knowledge in the importance of the relationship between brands, consumption and urban places. Within and external to the planning discourse, the thesis links a range of theoretical influences, including planning law, media communication and environmental psychology in an ethnographic account of the relationship between the urban mediascape and place identity. Sydney’s urban spaces, of most interest here, like those of London, New York and Tokyo, are constantly communicating with us. In the City of Sydney place identity has come to be dominated by the spatial outcomes of consumerism. This commercialisation of the public realm overtly contravenes the relevant planning framework controlling media in the City of Sydney. The thesis critically evaluates media in Sydney’s urban environment and provides, with reference to a number of cities around the world, ideas for improving the planning framework managing the urban mediascape.

“IN THE CITY OF SYDNEY PLACE IDENTITY HAS COME TO BE DOMINATED BY THE SPATIAL OUTCOMES OF CONSUMERISM.”

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TANYA UPPAL

Domino Renewal: An examination of knock down rebuilds in greyfield suburbia

Greyfield suburbs are being transformed via piecemeal knock-down-rebuild developments. The phenomenon is driven predominantly by the actions of owner-occupiers. Characterised by ageing residential tracts that are physically, technologically and environmentally archaic, greyfield suburbs present unique housing and community development challenges. The tension between urban renewal and a desire to protect the existing character of established neighbourhoods in middle ring suburbs is a key issue of controversy. The primary concern of this thesis is to explore the concept of ‘domino renewal’ as a new way of understanding market-led urban renewal in post war suburbs and the constraints which this type of development places on urban design and streetscapes. The thesis employs survey techniques, in-depth interviews and detailed character statements to investigate the roles which state and local government, consumers and local developers play in the development and design of knock down rebuilds. Three case study suburbs in Sydney are analysed: Cabramatta, Carlton and Strathfield. The research advances the concept of desired future character statements for renewal precincts and develops a set of best practice guidelines which can provide guidance for the type, scale and pattern of residential development.

“THE TENSION BETWEEN URBAN RENEWAL AND A DESIRE TO PROTECT THE EXISTING CHARACTER OF ESTABLISHED NEIGHBOURHOODS IN MIDDLE RING SUBURBS IS A KEY ISSUE OF CONTROVERSY.”

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The Great Divide: Planning, health and physical inactivity in Western New South Wales

Health, education, employment and economic status are often placed at the forefront when defining ‘quality of life’. Health is today one of the key fundamentals of interest to many more than just health professionals. With preventative measures placed high on the health agenda for combating chronic disease, this thesis steps outside of the metropolitan realm and explores the opportunity for planning to consider the perceived and actual ways in which the design and layout of rural towns impact on active living. A collaborative response by planning and health professions to creating livable communities across coastal metropolitan areas in NSW is apparent. However, the absence of such work in dealing with communities to the west of the Great Dividing Range is a growing concern. This thesis explores a common denominator between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas, namely that the ultimate reflection of ‘quality of life’ is the state of the ‘local’ scene. Supported by quantitative and qualitative analyses, including three case studies of rural townships in Western NSW, the findings of this thesis provide an appreciation of the current relationship between planning and health, whilst helping to guide the future direction of regional and local planning in a non-metropolitan setting.

ADRIAN VILLELLA

“A COLLABORATIVE RESPONSE BY PLANNING AND HEALTH PROFESSIONS TO CREATING LIVABLE COMMUNITIES IN COASTAL METROPOLITAN AREAS OF NSW IS APPARENT. HOWEVER, THE ABSENCE OF SUCH WORK IN DEALING WITH COMMUNITIES TO THE WEST OF THE GREAT DIVIDING RANGE IS A GROWING CONCERN.”

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LIAM WALSH

Balancing public interest and private investment: Analysing government development corporations and their role in planning and development

Government development corporations (GDCs) are unique, non-formulaic and often contentious quasi-government bodies that have a major influence over the development of selected urban and regional areas. GDCs operate as public sector agencies with a private oriented corporate structure. Their existence as a facilitator of development, with power and influence beyond the regular governance and management structures of planning is often controversial. Additionally, their influence over the development of landmark sites, relationship to political discourse and their strong emphasis on private sector investment can make them the subject of criticism, protest and much less frequently, praise. This thesis analyses government development corporations as entities and their role in implementing government policy in NSW. These bodies are situated within a wider context of GDCs in Australia and internationally. GDCs have major inherent potential to facilitate development on key sites where mediation between the public interest and private investment is needed. However, they attract recurring community concerns about lacking transparency, having too much autonomy, and sponsoring inadequate stakeholder interaction. They have often been successful in driving economic investment and physical transformation, yet have also created inward-looking precincts which have little relationship with their surrounding areas.

“GOVERNMENT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS HAVE MAJOR INHERENT POTENTIAL TO FACILITATE DEVELOPMENT ON KEY SITES WHERE MEDIATION BETWEEN THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT IS NEEDED. HOWEVER, THEY ATTRACT RECURRING COMMUNITY CONCERNS.”

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LILY WANG

Say Cheese or Eat Cheese: The tourist-local compatibility of urban tourism precincts

Culture has moved beyond the notion of simply a preoccupation with the arts and aesthetics to embody whole ways of life of communities. As contemporary cities move towards a service and information based society, greater focus has been placed on creating and harnessing culture as a new economic focus. One particular cultural phenomenon that is highly important to cities is urban tourism. In urban tourism there exists two cultural groups, the guest (visitors and tourists) and the host (the local residents). These groups often have competing interests. This thesis argues that understanding the guest-host relationship to tourist spaces is one key approach to planning for culture. Through a series of interviews and conducting a place-based analysis of Darling Harbour, it is found that a symbiotic relationship exists between the guest and host that allow tourist spaces to exist uncontested. This is often aided by the clustering of a variety of different amenities and entertainment facilities within close proximity. In strategically planning for urban tourism, there needs to be a change of approach from perceiving tourist spaces as purely for the use of tourist activities towards a broader status as more inclusive leisure spaces.

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“GREATER FOCUS HAS BEEN PLACED ON CREATING AND HARNESSING CULTURE AS A NEW ECONOMIC FOCUS… UNDERSTANDING THE GUEST-HOST RELATIONSHIP TO TOURIST SPACES IS ONE KEY APPROACH TO PLANNING FOR CULTURE.”

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Planning for Urban Health: An analysis of strategic metropolitan planning in Australia

The ways in which urban environments are planned, designed and managed have profound impacts on human health. Research indicates that an environment characterised by local destinations, a mixture of densities and land uses, connected street and transport networks, safe and inviting public spaces, and easy access to fresh and affordable food fosters both physical and mental health. Such environments are associated with increased levels of physical activity, lower rates of obesity and enhanced social interaction. However, despite this knowledge, many of the fundamental characteristics of a healthy urban environment are absent from our cities. At the strategic level, metropolitan planning strategies provide effective frameworks through which planners can address human health and wellbeing. This thesis examines the health provisions contained in the metropolitan strategies for Australia’s five largest cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. Drawing on a detailed textual analysis of the strategies, the thesis evaluates how well the strategies incorporate a comprehensive suite of inter-sectoral provisions for human health and wellbeing, and assesses how these will translate into actions and development requirements in lower order plans. The research also identifies the primary constraints associated with the inclusion and implementation of health provisions in metropolitan strategies, offering insights into the future planning of Australia’s major cities and centres.

ANDREW WHEELER

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“AT THE STRATEGIC LEVEL, METROPOLITAN PLANNING STRATEGIES PROVIDE EFFECTIVE FRAMEWORKS THROUGH WHICH PLANNERS CAN ADDRESS HUMAN HEALTH AND WELLBEING”

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A critique of the Metropolitan Plan for Sydney 2036

Sydney’s development and growth into a city of genuine world standing was guided by a series of post-World War II metropolitan strategies implemented by the NSW government. This trend has continued into the twenty-first century. In 2005 the metropolitan strategy City of Cities was released. Five years later the Metropolitan Strategy Review was undertaken to inform the current strategy Metropolitan Plan for Sydney 2036 (2036 Plan), released in late 2010. The findings of in-depth interviews with professional stakeholders are drawn upon in a critique of the 2036 Plan’s capacity to build upon Sydney’s strengths and effectively respond to the city’s major long-term challenges. Three main issues are examined. First, the relationship of the 2036 Plan with its predecessor is considered by critiquing the latter and outlining the similarities and differences between them. Second, each of the 2036 Plan’s strategic directions is reviewed in terms of how adequately they respond to the key issues facing Sydney. Third, the strength of the implementation framework and prospects for the 2036 Plan under the new NSW Coalition Government is discussed. The thesis highlights the issue of governance in Sydney’s metropolitan planning and raises the necessity for genuine governance reform to achieve effective and timely implementation of long-term land use strategies.

ROBERT WHITE

“SYDNEY’S DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH INTO A CITY OF GENUINE WORLD STANDING WAS GUIDED BY A SERIES OF POST-WORLD WAR II METROPOLITAN STRATEGIES IMPLEMENTED BY THE NSW GOVERNMENT. THIS TREND HAS CONTINUED INTO THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY.”

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A development model for Western Sydney? Transit-oriented development and the Liverpool to Parramatta bus transitway

The transit and land use relationship is important and the integrated consideration of this nexus is a key planning objective. This thesis explores the concept of transit-oriented development (TOD) which in simplest terms means development which responds to the locational advantage of being near transit services. Through a study of the Liverpool to Parramatta T-way, the thesis examines the concept of TOD around bus-based transit and attempts to answer the question whether a bus-based rapid transit system is able to generate a different pattern of development in Western Sydney. An examination of strategic plans, a field audit of the T-way corridor, and evaluation of the market response to the T-way shows that strategic planning sets a framework for TOD to occur. Context and market forces may however still limit development potential. This thesis shows that bus-based transit can inspire TOD patterns of development and has the potential to generate higher densities of residential development. Increase in accessibility is the key generator for development. The outcome of strategic planning is a waiting game, and only time will tell whether the vision laid out in strategic plans for the Liverpool to Parramatta T-way corridor will come to fruition.

AMANDA YEUNG

“BUS-BASED TRANSIT CAN INSPIRE TOD PATTERNS OF DEVELOPMENT AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GENERATE HIGHER DENSITIES OF RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.”

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Planning and Urban Development Program Team

› Peter Williams, Head of Program › Professor Robert Freestone › Associate Professor Susan Thompson › Hoon Han › Bruno Parolin › Christine Steinmetz

Exhibition Designer

› Colin Rowan

Thesis Project Coordinator and Abstracts Editor

› Robert Freestone

Sponsored by

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Industry Professionals and Academics

› Kevin Alker › John Blair › Bob Bow › Murray Cleaver › Lisa Coleman › Tracy Davey › Gethin Davison › Barbara Doran › David Edwards › Sameh Girgis › Laura Goh › Mathew Hurst › Rodney Jensen › Ahsanul Kabir › Crystal Legacy › Stephen McMahon › Nancy Marshall › Garry O’Dell › David Rollinson › Mike Ryan › Garth Seneque › Arlene Segal › Ian Sinclair › Rosemary Smart › Christina Totsis › Sharon Veale › Ilan Vitzel › Danny Wiggins › Jinhua Zhao › Alison Ziller

HBEPHEALTHY BUILT ENVIRONMENTS PROGRAM

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PLANNING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TEAM

Peter WilliamsSenior LecturerBSc UNSW, BLegS MEnvPlan Macq., MPubPol UNE, MPIA

Robert FreestoneProfessorBSc UNSW, MA Minn, PhD Macq., FPIA

PROGRAM HEAD PROGRAM STAFF

Susan ThompsonAssociate ProfessorBA DipEd Macq., MTCP PhD Syd., MPIA, CPP

Hoon HanSenior LecturerBArch MU, MPlan UQ, PhD UQ, AAPI

Bruno ParolinSenior LecturerBA Monash, MSc Oklahoma State, PhD Ohio State

Christine SteinmetzLecturerBA Arizona, MScEd Edinburgh, PhD UNSW

In 2011 principal administrative assistance and support for the Planning Program has been provided by Lisette Araujo.

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CREDITS

Faculty of Built Environment The University of New South Wales UNSW Sydney NSW 2052 Australia

Web www.fbe.unsw.edu.auPhone +61 2 9385 4799Email fbe@unsw.edu.au

PLANNING - FINAL YEAR THESIS 2011 - PLAN, PLACE AND PEOPLE