December 2015 Issue No. 105 new planner
the journal of the New South Wales planning profession
The Year in Review Political change | Greater Sydney Commission Barangaroo | Foreign investment | NSW Awards PIA NSW Directory 2016
President Division Committee Members Marjorie Ferguson MPIA CPP, Brian Elton MPIA, Canada Bay Council Elton Consulting Vice President Christina Livers MPIA, Jenny Rudolph MPIA, AEC Group Elton Consulting Jocelyn Ullman MPIA, Mitchel Hanlon Consulting Pty Ltd Gary Shiels FPIA CPP, GSA Planning Darren Holloway MPIA CPP, Monteath & Powys Pty Ltd Vice President (Regional) (Hunter Branch Convenor) David Broyd FPIA, Geraldine Haigh MPIA CPP, David Broyd Consulting Services Pty Ltd Hopkins Consultants Immediate Past President Tony McNamara LPIA CPP, City of Canada Bay David Ryan MPIA CPP, City Plan Juliet Grant MPIA, Department of Planning and Contacting the Committee PIA Board Representative (NSW) Environment The NSW Divisional Committee Members Steve O’Connor FPIA CPP, Rachel McConkey MPIA, are elected by the NSW Membership. Their KDC Consulting and ERM Australia Newcastle City Council role is to represent the interests Jane Fielding, MPIA of the Members. Architectus To contact any members of the Committee please email [email protected] or David Winterbottom LFPIA, contact the NSW Division Office on 02 8904 1011 Localplan Pty Ltd
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2 | DECEMBER 2015 | newplanner CONTENTS
This issue
Editorial 4
New Planner is the journal of the New South Wales President’s Message 5 (NSW) planning profession. The Planning Institute of Australia NSW Division publishes the Journal in March, Executive Officer’s Report 6 June, September and December. New Planner provides a forum for news, opinion, and the exchange of ideas on From the Minister 7 urban and regional planning in NSW and abroad. Planning Perspectives 9 CONTACT PIA NSW Sydney, the making of a resilient city 10 Suite 404, Level 4, 32 York St, Sydney NSW 2000 T: 02 8904 1011 E: [email protected] So many ‘enlightened politicians’: what are we to do?! 12 New Planner When is a town planner a lobbyist? Town planners and 14 E: [email protected] political lobbying rules in NSW W: www.planning.org.au/news/new-planner-nsw Whatever happened to the Planning Review? 16 CONTRIBUTIONS The Editors welcome contributions to New Planner in the Foreign investment in the Australian property market: 18 form of articles, opinion pieces, letters, reviews and news the need for a strategic and evidence-based approach items. Please download the contributor guidelines from: www.planning.org.au/news/new-planner-nsw Why regional planning is important for Australia 19 NEW PLANNER EDITORIAL COMMITTEE PIA NSW Awards for Planning Excellence 2015 20 Managing Editor Andrew Wheeler, UNSW Australia Aboriginal Land Claims in New South Wales - 22 Associate Editors some town planning issues Alice Strömstedt, Hames Sharley (Lead Editor, December 2015 Issue) In the Courts 24 Elle Clouston, HillPDA Camille Lattouf, Architectus Healthy Built Environments 25 Rose Saltman, RM Planning Ken Shepherd, NSW EPA PIA NSW State Conference 2015 26 Laura Wynne, UTS PIA Staff NSW Consulting Planners 28 Maurene Horder, NSW Executive Officer NSW Young Planners 30 SUBSCRIPTIONS PlannerTech 32 New Planner is free for members of the Planning Institute of Australia. The Journal is also available on The Inbox 33 subscription at a cost of $120 per annum, GST inclusive. Email: [email protected] Snippets 34 COVER Snapped 36 ‘Float’ at The Ponds (Photo: Fleetwood Urban/Simon Wood Photography) PIA Position Statement: Planning in a changing climate 37 www.fleetwoodurban.com.au
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ISSN 1324-8669 PP a233-867-00015 newplanner | DECEMBER 2015 | 3 EDITORIAL attention planners!
Andrew Wheeler PIA (Affiliate), Managing Editor, New Planner
Would you be shocked to discover that most humans have an But we also know there’s more work to be attention span shorter than a goldfish? It’s apparently true – done – and that’s where you come in. a recent study by Microsoft found that, on average, we lose In the coming weeks, you will have an opportunity to contribute to the future concentration after just eight seconds. Eight! The humble direction of New Planner by completing goldfish, paragon of concentration, lasts a full nine seconds. an online survey. I encourage you to have your say, and help ensure that New Planner continues to capture the attention his poses me an immediate often distracting us from the things that of planners, allied professionals – and challenge. By the time you finish matter most. interested goldfish – far beyond eight reading this paragraph it’s likely seconds per issue! As I found out the other day, one’s full that your mind will have wandered T attention is required to safely navigate At this junction in New Planner’s evolution, off track, distracted by the ‘ding’ of an Sydney’s slippery sidewalks following a I feel the time is right for me to step aside incoming message, the flash of an email heavy downpour. The take-away message: as Managing Editor and focus on my other notification, or a colleague discussing multitasking on a smartphone whilst commitments, both within and beyond the their plans for Christmas. Just thinking walking on wet surfaces can result in Institute. Thank you to the many people – the about Christmas you’re wavering, aren’t public embarrassment. Avoid unnecessary regular columnists, guest editors, design you? Stick with me. We’re not letting that technological distractions at all costs! team and Editorial Committee members – goldfish win if I can help it! Environmental who have supported me so ably over the past As we come to grips with the challenges and Evidence suggests attention spans are year-and-a-half. opportunities presented by ourR increasinglyesou rces getting shorter and shorter. Microsoft’s Environmental digitised lifestyles, publications like New In particular, I would like to thank report found that, since 2000, average Planner must evolve to remainM relevant.ana gemthe membersent of the current Editorial attention spans have dropped from Resources Over the past year, the New Planner Editors Committee for the many hours they have 12 to eight seconds. The culprit? New have worked hard to bring you – our readers contributed to make New Planner what it technologies saturating us with information MERMa nis aonge eofm thee wnortld’s leading providers of – four highly topical issues that we hope is today.En vironmental and feeding our insatiable appetite for environmental, social and planning consulting Envirhaveon stimulatedmen yourta interest.l We’ve also constant connectivity. I leave you in their very capable hands. focused on improving the Journal’sEsReMrv i cidesign,se so.n We e o hfa tvhee o Rwveoerr l1sd0’s0o oleuffa icdreincsg ie np 4sro0v cioduernstr ioefs The digital age, it would seem, has alteredRe sogivingur cit ae freshers look, and increasingeannvdir oenm mourpelo nyta lo, vHaveseor c3 iaa, 0merryl 0a0n ds Christmast apffla. nIn in NandgS Wca ohappy, nosuur l tiknegy our brain’s ability to slow down and focus, engagement through social media.spelravninc einsg. Wcoen htacvNewtes o Ma vYearreera: 1n0n0 aoffg icesm in 4e0 cnoutntries Management and employ over 3,000 staff. In NSW, our key planning contacts EarReM: is one of the world’s leading providers of ERM is one of theE wnorvldi’sr loeandinmg peronvitdearslwww of env.erm.comironmental, social and planning consulting environmental, social and planning consulting serv ices. We have over 100 off ices in 40 countries services. We have Rover s10o0 ouff ircecs ein s40 countwwwries and.erm.com employ over 3,000 staff. In NSW, our key Sydney T: 02 8584 8888 and employ overM 3,0a00n satagff. eInm NSeWn, otur key plan ning contacts are: Environmentapllanning contacts are: Environmental SydneyNewcastle TT:: 02 02 8584 4903 8888 5500 Resources ERM is one of the world’s leading providers wwwof .erm.com Resources NewcastleNorth Coast TT:: 02 02 4903 6584 5500 7155 wwwenvi.erm.comronmental, social and planning consulting MMaannaaggeemmeenntt services. We have over 100 off ices in 40 countries NorthCanberra Coast TT:: 02 02 6584 6253 7155 6888 and employ over 3,000 staff. InSydney NSW, our key T: 02 8584 8888 EERRMM iiss oonnee ooff tthhee wwoorrlldd’’ssSydney lleeaaddiinngg pprroovviiddeerprssl a oonffn ing contacts Ta:r 02e: 8584 8888 Canberra Newcastle T: 02 6253 6888 T: 02 4903 5500 eennvviirroonnmmeennttaall,, ssoocciiaall aanndd ppllaannnniinngg ccoonnssuullttiinngg services. We have over 100 Newcastleoff ices in 40 countries T: 02 4903 5500 services. We have over 100 off ices in 40 countries North Coast T: 02 6584 7155 and employ over 3,000 staff. In NSW, our key and employ over 3,000 stNorthaff. In Coast NSW, our key wwwT: 02.erm.com 6584 7155 ppllaannnniinngg ccoonnttaaccttss aarree:: Canberra T: 02 6253 6888 wwwThe World’.erm.coms Leading Sustainability Consultancy Canberra Sydney T: 02 6253 6888 T: 02 8584 8888 4 | DECEMBER 2015 | newplanner wwwThe World’.erm.coms Leading Sustainability Consultancy wwwwww.erm.com.erm.com Newcastle T: 02 4903 5500
North Coast T: 02 6584 7155 SydneySydney TT:: 0202 85848584 88888888 wwwThe World’.erm.coms Leading Sustainability Consultancy Newcastle T: 02 4903 Canberra5500 T: 02 6253 6888 Newcastle wwwThe World’.erm.coms LeadingT: 02 4903 Sustainability 5500 Consultancy NorthNorth CoastCoast TT:: 0202 65846584 71557155
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE have the stars aligned for planning in NSW?
David Ryan MPIA CPP, PIA NSW President
Two significant events have occurred in 2015 that I believe We have had a successful program of events in 2015, including the State Conference, have the potential to be game changers for planning in Awards, Gala Dinner, and recognition of NSW and Australia. Both the leadership change at the Fellows and Life Fellows of the Institute, Federal level and the appointment of a new Planning as well as numerous CPD, toolbox, Young Minister in NSW present some tantalising opportunities Planners, mentoring and other programs and events across NSW. All of these are for planning and planners. aimed at advancing the knowledge and professional competency of planners as well as providing professional networking alcolm Turnbull’s elevation to system, after the stalling of the Planning opportunities. Prime Minister appears to have Bill in late-2013. We have provided the brought the Federal Government Government with our suggestions for specific This is my last column in New Planner as ‘back into the game’, recognising reforms that can be implemented under the NSW President and I am very pleased to be M handing over the reins to such a capable the importance of planning, particularly current legislative regime. of cities, to the economic, social and person as Marjorie Ferguson, who I know will The Government appears committed to ongoing environmental wellbeing of the nation. do a great job in the role. Congratulations improvements to the planning system, and has a also to the new Vice Presidents, Gary Shiels, Following the NSW election in March welcome focus on major infrastructure delivery David Broyd and Jenny Rudolph. this year, the new Planning Minister, and urban renewal projects. Hon. Rob Stokes, has impressed us all with It has been a privilege and a pleasure This year, PIA embarked on an important his erudition and passion for his portfolio. serving as President for the last two years. program on the theme of recognising the I wish to thank the Minister for his great I wish to acknowledge the support I have “Value of Planning”. Following on from work support for PIA over the last year and, in received from the Executive Committee, on the same theme by our UK counterparts particular, his willingness to attend so Sarah Hill, Marjorie Ferguson, Scott the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), many of our events. Anson and our support team of Maurene this initiative aims to dispel the myth that Horder and Amanda Maskill. Thanks also In our recent meetings with the Minister and planning is hindering economic growth to the outgoing Divisional Committee the Secretary of the Department of Planning through over regulation of development members, whose volunteering efforts and Environment, Carolyn McNally, PIA has activity. Our thesis is that good planning is have contributed to the success of PIA as continued to strongly advocate the case for in fact a major and essential contributor to a credible and well-regarded voice of the ongoing improvements to the NSW planning economic growth. NSW planning profession n
SYDNEY’S FUTURE IN A PLACE
White Bay Power Station RFP Tim Holtsbaum M: +61 498 999 059 An historic opportunity to activate Sydney’s future [email protected] through a stunning 10 hectare* site within close proximity to the waterfront. The precinct features the Brett Burridge landmark White Bay Power Station, two further lots M: +61 447 299 274 available for development, a generous open public space [email protected] and spectacular views of the Sydney CBD. Request for James Parry Proposals close 3pm, Thursday 25th February 2016. M: +61 408 553 000 www.whitebaypowerstation.com [email protected]
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newplanner | DECEMBER 2015 | 5 EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REPORT reflections on 2015
Maurene Horder, PIA NSW Executive Officer
PIA NSW has had a busy year in 2015. Commencing We are grateful for the contribution of the many businesses and organisations that with the lead up to the state election in March, getting supported our events and programs in planning onto the political agenda was a key focus. The 2015. Our key sponsors included the NSW election resulted in the appointment of a new Minister for Department of Planning and Environment, UrbanGrowth NSW, City Plan Services, Elton Planning, Hon. Rob Stokes, who has been a very positive Consulting, Bartier Perry, Gadens, Village force for planning. Building Co., Walker Corporation, Parramatta City Council, Norton Rose Fulbright, BBC Consulting Planners, Allens, Willana ur professional development PIA NSW offered awards and scholarships Associates, Monteath and Powys, AEC Group, program was a highlight of 2015, for Young Planners to attend key and GM Urban Design & Architecture (GMU). with a regular program of courses, professional events in 2015, as well as These and all our sponsors are greatly Oworkshops and seminars held prizes to outstanding graduates of university valued as they enhance the quality and around the state. We conducted over 20 planning courses in NSW. number of events that PIA is able to offer to face-to-face events. Our regional program Our annual Awards for Planning Excellence our members. of half- and full-day workshops included were in November, with a record numbers of Planning is now underway for our program of Armidale, Lismore, Newcastle, Tamworth attendees and high-quality nominations in all events in 2016 and we look forward to sharing Wollongong and Yass. categories. Congratulations to the winners, this program with you soon. We wish all our We also hosted a series of after-work who are detailed later in this issue. readers the compliments of the season n seminars in Sydney, some of which were streamed to various regional cities. This program also involved a range of lunchtime webinars that proved popular. The NSW Division prepared and lodged many submissions to government agencies and parliamentary inquiries in 2015. Various initiatives advocated by the Division, such as the Greater Sydney Commission, were supported and introduced by the new government. We also conducted numerous member-only forums, including national consultations on the ‘evolution’ of PIA. 2015 involved an array of events for the NSW Young Planners, including site tours, presentations and networking drinks. NSW has a very active Young Planners Committee, which supports university orientation weeks and PIA’s mentoring program, among many L to R: Carolyn McNally, Secretary of the NSW Department of Planning and Environment; David Ryan PIA NSW other great initiatives and events. President; Hon. Rob Stokes, NSW Minister for Planning; Maurene Horder PIA NSW Executive Officer.
Rural and Environmental Planning Consultants Ian Sinclair - Principal Consultant
PO Box 1858, Bowral NSW 2576 T: 02 4861 4983 F: 02 4861 6778 [email protected] www.ruralplanning.com.auw
6 | DECEMBER 2015 | newplanner EDITORIAL
FROM THE MINISTER building a greater Sydney
The Hon Rob Stokes MP, NSW Minister for Planning
Across the globe, governments are responding to the down to the districts and into local council LEPs isn’t a radical approach – but it will strategic planning challenges of population growth by be transformational in bringing integrated better coordinating the delivery of housing, infrastructure planning to Sydney. and services. The Greater Sydney Commission will The authority will also take on all decision deliver the big picture thinking Sydney needs, while also making on rezoning proposals and plan operationalising ecologically sustainable development in a making which is currently undertaken by governance structure in Australia for the first time. the Minister for Planning (or his delegate), including pre-gateway reviews. The Commission will be the sole decision maker ver the next 20 years Sydney’s we deliver strategic planning for greater for both major and significant development population will grow much faster metropolitan Sydney. Although the assessments, as well as ruling on rezoning than it did over the last two principles of ecologically sustainable proposals across Sydney. decades. By 2031, Sydney will be development have been included in O These changes represent a significant home to an additional 1.6 million people planning legislation for decades, they have and an extra half a million jobs, nearly not been operationalised in governance shift in the existing approval process, doubling the city’s economic output to structures like they will be in the Greater from planning decisions being made on $565 billion annually. More than half of Sydney Commission. Macquarie Street to decisions being made this growth will occur in Western Sydney. by the community. The Greater Sydney The appointment of three independent With Sydney’s population set to sky- Commission will also operationalise Commissioners is an important first step rocket, there is no more time to sit back or ecologically sustainable development. By in balancing the needs of our communities prevaricate – we need to plan, manage and looking at Sydney through a big picture lens, into the future. The Commissioners’ deliver for change. the Commission will help ensure that as the role will be to provide balanced advice city changes it also becomes more liveable, The NSW Government is taking proactive to the Government on how to deliver more productive, more sustainable and steps to shape Sydney for the growth that’s economically, environmentally and socially more affordable than it is today n coming by establishing a new planning sustainable development in Greater Sydney authority, the Greater Sydney Commission. as it continues to grow and change. The Rob Stokes is the NSW Minister for In October, the Government introduced role of District Commissioners is to give Planning. Prior to this appointment he new legislation to the NSW Parliament local councils the opportunity to play a served as the Minister for the Environment, which brings state government, local major role in the decisions that shape their Minister for Heritage, Minister for the government and independent experts broader districts. Central Coast and Assistant Minister for together to deliver the strategic planning Planning as well as the Parliamentary The Greater Sydney Commission will Secretary for Renewable Energy and priorities that Sydney needs. develop, monitor, review and implement Energy Innovation. Rob was awarded a This new authority will consist of 13 strategic plans for metropolitan Sydney PhD in Law in 2008. He was previously a Board Members and divide greater to guide land use and planning decisions lawyer and academic in environment and metropolitan Sydney into six districts. Of across our city over the next two decades. planning law. Rob holds a life-long interest these 13 appointees, six will be District The Commission will also be responsible in environmental protection and planning, Commissioners, chosen by elected for creating six district-level land use heritage and sustainability. officials from Sydney’s local councils; plans, annual infrastructure priority lists Elected to the NSW Parliament as the three will be state government appointees and delivery plans for priority growth areas Member for Pittwater in 2007 and re- including the key Secretaries for Planning, across the city – which Local Environmental elected in 2011 and 2015, Rob represents Treasury and Transport; and three will be Plans will need to implement. the interests of approximately 65,000 independent commissioners including a The development of these plans will residents in a range of suburbs and coastal Social Commissioner, Environmental provide a much needed hierarchy of hamlets across 175 square kilometres of Commissioner and Economic Rural and Environmental Planning Consultants Regional, District and Local Environment outer metropolitan Sydney. He is a patrol Commissioner. Finally, an Independent Ian Sinclair - Principal Consultant Plans in the state planning system to captain at Mona Vale Surf Life Saving Club Chief Commissioner will be selected to identify pinch point infrastructure which and an Honorary Fellow at Macquarie lead this new authority. can be built to unlock housing supply. University. Rob and his wife Sophie live in PO Box 1858, Bowral NSW 2576 T: 02 4861 4983 F: 02 4861 6778 The structure of the authority signals Having tiers of strategic plans that flow Sydney’s northern beaches and are busy [email protected] www.ruralplanning.com.auw a significant shift in the way in which from the greater metropolitan region, raising three children. newplanner | DECEMBER 2015 | 7
REVIEW
PLANNING PERSPECTIVES editorial a year of promise
Steve O’Connor FPIA CPP, Partner, Koby Development Consultants & Technical Director, ERM Australia
Several announcements in 2015 have framed the year for Planning of the structure of the Commission at PIA NSW’s Annual as one of great promise. At the Federal level we had Conference in September. the recent announcement that the Commonwealth Reforms to local government and the Government now has a Minister for Cities and the Built planning system are essential if we are to Environment. This is a welcome initiative from a Coalition see 640,000 new dwellings constructed in government that has surprised a lot of people. Greater Sydney between 2011 and 2031. Conclusion There have been very significant t the State level we had the Coalition ‘Liveable, vibrant cities are absolutely announcements by both the State and returned for a second term in March critical to our prosperity…Historically the Commonwealth Government in 2015 which and the announcement of a new federal government has had a limited have laid the foundation for real progress to engagement with cities and yet that is where AMinister for Planning. More recently, be made in the next few years in terms of we were told the form of the Greater Sydney most Australians live, it is where the bulk of planning at the State and Federal level. Commission (GSC). our economic growth can be found’.2 2015 will be remembered as a year of great Intergenerational Report The PM went on to say, ‘we have to promise. It is to be hoped that the expectations We also saw the release of the latest ensure our prosperity, for our future, for that have been created by Coalition edition of the Intergenerational Report.1 our competitiveness, that every level of governments in Sydney and Canberra will be Since the first report was published back government works together, constructively realised in the years ahead n in 2002, every five years or so we have been and creatively to ensure that our cities progress’. Steve O’Connor is the Vice-President provided with a vision of what Australia and NSW Board Director of the Planning might look like in demographic and This decision heralds a new era in planning Institute of Australia. economic terms in 40 years’ time. for our cities and urban environments, Endnotes which all planners should welcome. As has been the case in previous reports, 1 Australian Government 2015, 2015 Intergenerational the latest version identifies the ageing of Greater Sydney Commission Report: Australia in 2055, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra. the population as presenting enormous The establishment of the long awaited 2 The Fifth Estate 2015, ‘What they said: Australia’s first challenges in the decades ahead. By 2055 GSC has taken a major step forward minister for cities and the built environment’, The Fifth Estate, 21st September 2015. there are projected to be over 40,000 people 3 with a budget allocation of $19 million 3 NSW Government 2015, Budget Statement 2015-16: in Australia aged 100 years or older; this and the announcement by the Minister Budget Paper No.1, NSW Government, Sydney. compares with just 122 people in 1975. The ageing of the population means that planning has to consider increasingly how age-friendly our public spaces are (see photograph). Australia’s productivity has been declining in recent decades. It is, therefore, not surprising that the economic outlook presented in the Intergenerational Report has a clear focus on improving productivity, encouraging participation in the workforce and maintaining the population growth that has seen Australia become the fastest growing developed nation in the world in recent years. Commonwealth Minister for Cities and the Built Environment Australia’s new Prime Minister has taken the bold move of establishing Australia’s first Minister for Cities. When Prime Minister Turnbull made the announcement he said:
newplanner | DECEMBER 2015 | 9 Sydney, the making of a resilient city
Norma Shankie-Williams MPIA Rachelle Newman MPIA, Planner, AECOM Suzanna Remmerswaal, Sustainability Consultant, AECOM
Cities are facing unprecedented challenges in the Workshop, hosted by the City of Sydney and supported by AECOM as Workshop Partner, 21st century, with the UN estimating that the world’s was attended by 150 stakeholders from a population will reach 9.6 billion by 2050 and that 70% wide range of sectors to discuss the critical of us will be living in cities. So, how can we prepare for issues for metropolitan Sydney. Significantly, this event provided the first opportunity this future and ensure our cities thrive? In Sydney, plans for a wide range of key stakeholders, are underway to position the city to respond to these including representatives from most challenges and, by doing so, become more resilient. Sydney metropolitan councils and 90 other organisations, to debate the key resilience challenges for Sydney and provided a s we respond to population growth, 100 Resilient Cities starting point for the development of a technological disruption and the 100 Resilient Cities (100RC), pioneered by the collaborative resilience strategy. impacts of climate change, our Rockefeller Foundation, offers tools, programs The findings of the workshop will be cities need to change. They must and support to assist cities in identifying their A taken up by the recently appointed Chief become more compact, flexible, efficient, strengths and addressing their weaknesses. Resilience Officer for Sydney, Beck green and, ultimately, more resilient. In recognition of the increasing pressures Dawson, and will set the foundation for the being placed on urban areas by globalisation, As a result of climate change, we know Resilience Strategy process. to expect rising temperatures and sea urbanisation and climate change, the 100RC Vulnerabilities for Sydney levels, increases in the severity and program was established to help cities build frequency of extreme weather events, and resilience to the shocks and stresses that can Shocks and stresses disrupt and weaken the urban fabric on a day- changing precipitation levels. Climate Workshop participants were involved to-day or cyclical basis. change is a threat multiplier to global in a number of activities to determine security, compounding the risks we are In December 2014, Sydney was selected as Sydney’s key vulnerabilities. Participants already facing – food and water shortages, a member city of the 100RC network, and were asked to assess shocks and stresses pandemic disease outbreak, refugee at a workshop on 25 June 2015, the first according to severity, frequency and crises and mass migration, civil unrest, step in the journey towards a more resilient likelihood, encouraging debate about their environmental degradation and resource city was taken. The Sydney Agenda Setting interrelationships. depletion. Climate change will exacerbate existing weaknesses in cities, particularly for the most vulnerable parts of society. We can’t predict when disruptive or catastrophic events will occur, who will be affected, or what the ripple effects may be. The complexity of urban systems to support our denser built environments means that a disruption to the system can have far- reaching – and, often, unexpected – impacts. What we can control is how our urban systems and communities respond to, and bounce back from, these challenges. Urban resilience refers to the ability of individuals, communities, institutions and businesses – and the urban systems that frame these – to maintain essential functions and to continue to evolve and develop in the face of acute shocks and chronic stresses. Through resilience efforts, there exists the opportunity to build a stronger urban fabric to The Sydney Agenda Setting Workshop face the challenges ahead. (Source: City of Sydney, 2015) 10 | DECEMBER 2015 | newplanner ARTICLE
opportunity for an integrated approach to Promotes Leadership & Can do much better: Can do better: Meets Basic Needs recognise and build on work already being Effective Management Supports Livelihoods undertaken. Empowers a Broad Range of Leadership & Health & and Employment Stakeholders Wellbeing Key elements emphasised by workshop Strategy Ensures Public Health Fosters Long-Term & Services participants to be part of a resilience Integrated Planning Promotes Cohesive & strategy included: Enhances & Provides Can do better: Area of strength: Engaged Communities Natural & Man-Made Assets • Building relationships between NSW Ensures Social Stability, Ensures Continuity of Security & Justice State Government and local councils Critical Services Infrastructure & Economy & across metropolitan Sydney, including Environment Society Fosters Economic Provides Reliable Prosperity the new Greater Sydney Commission; Communication & Mobility • Preparation of a detailed and diverse stakeholder engagement plan to ensure Key everyone has a voice; and Area of strength Can do better Can do much better • Evidence-based Resilience Assessment to confirm focus areas, explore interdependencies and create a Participant perspectives on Sydney’s strengths and weaknesses (Source: AECOM, 2015) resilience dividend. For Sydney, shock events of particular services, as demonstrated by the rapid, The challenges we face in the 21st century concern included heatwaves, flooding, coordinated response from emergency are uncharted territory and we cannot bushfire, infrastructure failure, drought, services in the April 2015 Sydney storms. rely on business-as-usual approaches. cyber-attack and resource shortages. The concept of resilience allows us to Key weaknesses that participants identified Key chronic stresses included housing view cities in a holistic and positive way for Sydney included a lack of affordable affordability, poverty and inequity by focusing attention on solutions to housing, which, coupled with struggling (including access to employment strengthen areas of vulnerability. Our end transport infrastructure and limited and transport), underperforming goal is to ensure our communities survive access to employment and services for infrastructure, obesity, mental health and – most importantly – thrive n some communities, was identified as issues, and short political cycles making having a detrimental impact on Sydney’s AECOM was the Workshop Partner for long-term strategic planning difficult. future economic prosperity and global the Sydney Agenda Setting Workshop, Sydney’s strengths and weaknesses competitiveness. Another area of weakness led by Norma Shankie-Williams, Suzanna Participants were asked to assess was seen as short political cycles and Remmerswaal and Rachelle Newman. AECOM Sydney’s strengths, weaknesses and the politicisation of the decision-making is currently working in partnership with 100RC areas for improvement using the 100RC process, with a resulting negative impact and local city councils in 14 cities worldwide. on consistent long-term planning and City Resilience Framework tool. The tool For further information on what AECOM is implementation. comprises four dimensions: leadership and doing to make our cities brilliant visit: strategy, infrastructure and environment, Resilience opportunities for Sydney www.aecom.com/About/Brilliant+Cities economy and society, and health and Following the workshop, a number of and our connected cities blog: wellbeing. Overall, Sydney was perceived opportunities for further examination http://blogs.aecom.com/connectedcities/ by participants to be strong in the areas emerged, including: of social stability and justice systems as For further information on the Sydney reflected during crises such as the 2005 • Improving housing affordability to Agenda Setting Workshop visit: Cronulla riots and the 2014 Sydney hostage meet the needs of essential service www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/vision/ crisis at the Lindt Café. Another perceived workers and support Sydney’s growing towards-2030/resilient-sydney strength was the performance of emergency population; • Improving underperforming, inadequate and over-burdened transport infrastructure; • Addressing social issues such as mental visual impact assessment health and obesity, particularly within strategic urban design vulnerable communities; advice • Consistent leadership and implementation of long term strategies; and • Enhancing Sydney’s role as a global city, ensuring ongoing economic competitiveness. Development of the Sydney Resilience Strategy offers an opportunity to identify how these key issues matter to the governance, businesses and people of metropolitan Sydney, and how they could shape the city in future. What’s next? The 100RC program offers a coordinated, regional-level approach to resilience The 100RC City Resilience Framework that goes beyond local government envisageconsulting.com.au (Source: City of Sydney, 2015) boundaries and political terms. It offers an newplanner | DECEMBER 2015 | 11 so many ‘enlightened politicians’: what are planners to do?
Peter Walsh FPIA CPP, Director, Walsh Consulting
In a talk at PIA’s Planning Reform series in July, the and an innovative financial model to open the door to low-income workers in a well- new Planning Minister, Rob Stokes, departed from what located part of Melbourne. I’m sure there can seem like a preordained agenda of faster, simpler are Sydney examples. planning approvals. He led us into some more ‘abstract’ Barriers to change: ‘ends’ vs ‘means’ ideas about the planning dilemma. It was as if he was We planners have been less effective at setting the profession a challenge. influencing the socio-political mechanisms required to deliver innovative change. What’s t can be difficult to get politicians work by Randolph and Tice shows social new today is that rather than just a planning interested in longer-term questions polarisation worsening over time.3 ‘push’, we’ve got to the point where there’s about our cities. They are always busy serendipitous societal and market ‘pull’ So far Australia has avoided the worst and there are usually hotter topics. But towards factors aligned with a sustainable I problems of spatially-based income and social and economic model for the city. just now city planning has political cred. Rob wealth inequality seen in the US and parts Stokes recently announced details of the This partly just due to crazy housing costs of the UK, with our high levels of home Greater Sydney Commission (GSC), which is but also reflective of the well-travelled potentially a gamechanger. We know Premier ownership acting as an equalising force younger generations’ lower inclination to Mike Baird was in the thick of the original over time. But we are seeing a shift. The larger homes and cars, and more interest in GSC decision, as well as other recent public homeowner entry cohort (under 35s) has physical and digital connection. New people transport infrastructure decisions. And it’s been in steady decline since the 1990s arriving in Australia are also more commonly not only those two politicians. Jodi McKay, recession and (anecdotally) has gone into from denser, less car-dependent places. freefall more recently. Even setting aside the the Opposition’s Planning Spokesperson, Even so, we can be sure that the kind of impressed all with her grasp of planning and question of a ‘fair go’, there is a lot of data now on the economic downsides to inequality change needed for a better, fairer Sydney – her progressive ideas at PIA’s Annual Dinner through transport, housing, environmental, in March. And, suddenly, we also have a of opportunity, especially where there is obvious unearned wealth for one group – design and taxation innovations – will bring public transport enthusiast as Prime Minister even enlightened politicians strife, unless and a new Federal Minister for Cities. such as in housing as we’re seeing now – and not others.5 This helps to explain why some they come with innovations in the social Does city planning warrant all this groups of young people feel so disconnected. processes behind policy change. attention? Plenty of responses already on the table New attention to the ‘relational’ Well…yes. Australia has the highest One of the points in Rob Stokes’ July talk population growth rates of the major Planners and related professionals have had links up here. He spoke of planning as a developed countries1 and 80% of this growth lots to say about these kinds of problems. ‘relational’ endeavour. About our job as the is accommodated in our cities. Our per capita The work of the CRC for Low Carbon Living, one that brings a deeper understanding greenhouse gas emissions are also just for example, demonstrates Australia’s world- of the cross-disciplinary dimension of the about top of the OECD table and are twice the class knowledge of integrated low carbon OECD average. Two major greenhouse gas building systems, low carbon urban precincts urban policy challenge. There is quite a bit to contributors are planning-related: housing and software tools responding to different this ‘relational’ idea. The research suggests form and car-dependence. Traffic congestion geographic settings. And, as recently as the that one of the things we get most wrong in is also having a substantive productivity June issue of New Planner, Rod Simpson complex policy problems the level of attention 7 effect, risking Sydney’s global city credentials raised the problem of myopic ‘problem- paid to inter-relationships. Most obvious is and thus the knowledge sector jobs we fixing’ mindsets in our transport planning the poor linkages between economic, social need to maintain living standards. Recently and presented some images of long-term and environmental reform agendas. But Infrastructure Australia estimated the cost change. He offered a ‘conversation-starter’ underpinning this are the human relationships of congestion at $13.7 billion/year, rising to on a more equitable and accessible city into between the actors involved in the policy $53.3 billion/year by 2031!2 the future. My thoughts here are an attempt debate, where different values, interests and to add a little to it. power relations are at play. If the last round of The mobility problem is hard to miss. But planning reforms in NSW is anything to go by, an indicator which is more hidden and even There are also many innovative concrete we have much to learn here. more concerning is that around spatially- projects. One that caught my eye recently based inequality. SGS has mapped the was The Commons by Breathe Architecture Relational thinking focuses on the tendency social-advantage/disadvantage (SEIFA) (Brunswick),6 which adopted a communal for big urban change to be blocked by index across Sydney (see map), and logic, excellent sustainability principles system actors already in positions of power. 12 | DECEMBER 2015 | newplanner OPINION
so many ‘enlightened politicians’: what are planners to do?
Peter Walsh FPIA CPP, Director, Walsh Consulting
Socio-economic advantage and disadvantage in Sydney: SEIFA index, ABS 2011 (Source: SGS Economics and Planning) 4
It suggests ‘too much space’ is usually of the causal relationship between a ‘learning say when the arguments about city building given to those arguing from a narrow, society’, economic growth and social progress, commence. I hope planners can be a single-issue viewpoint. For city planning which Nobel Prize winning economist vocal “critical friend” as far as the GSC is this is would include the familiar ‘pro’ or Joseph Stiglitz spoke of at the Productivity concerned, separating exaggerated fears ‘anti’ new housing development lobbying. Commission last year.10 from the legitimate, and encouraging it Treasury is also often bundled in. The towards its better self n Where do planners fit in? key, it is suggested, is to use innovative Peter Walsh is a Fellow of PIA and Director process design to remove this ‘luxury’. It is It’s not new to say that planners have an of Walsh Consulting. Peter has consulted about placing powerful actors in a position important role in presenting the argument to all three tiers of government in planning to be confident enough about reciprocal that just ‘going with the flow’, in the big system reform, and is in the final throes of behaviour to set aside sectoral interests for city structure questions, will lead to many doctorate research on the topic. a short time. The recent ‘National Reform more problems in the future. But this rare Summit’ where business, union and social political air we’re in at present shouldn’t be Endnotes services leaders got together was an taken for granted. It has created the best 1 See: stats.oecd.org/index.aspx?queryid=27482 example, and Catherine Livingstone’s talk chance for city planning in Sydney since, 2 Infrastructure Australia 2015, Australian to the Press Club which preceded it should well…ever. I know planners will continue Infrastructure Audit, Australian Government, be compulsory viewing.8 pushing ideas for innovative urban design Canberra. 3 and transport infrastructure. But we Randolph, B and Tice, A 2014, ‘Suburbanizing What about democracy? disadvantage in Australian Cities: sociospatial change should reflect more on our own role in the in an era of neoliberalism’, Journal of Urban Affairs, There is a complicated relationship between socio-political processes around change vol. 36. no. 1, pp. 384-399. 4 democracy and long-term city planning. On and how opportunities to influence change I’d like to acknowledge SGS for its support in updating the one hand, there are short-term election its SEIFA mapping for this article. open up or close down. 5 Piketty, T 2014, Capital in the Twenty-First Century, cycles, which foster the squeaky wheel Harvard University Press, Cambridge MA. mindset that Simpson discussed. On the other The GSC, and the Government’s call to take 6 See: www.architectureanddesign.com.au/awards- hand, democracy is foundational to bringing major planning-related powers away from 1/2014-winners/the-commons-by-breathe- itself is a massive call on the ‘opening up’ architecture-named-best-of legitimacy to decision-making and delivering 7 side. But there’s no guarantees here. If the Healey, P 2007, Urban complexity and spatial more equitable outcomes. Either way, the strategies: towards a relational planning for our interdisciplinary questions that surround city GSC does a good job, and tackles the real times, Routledge, Abingdon. shaping are less well served by traditional social and economic failings of our city, 8 See: www.bca.com.au/newsroom/national-press- approaches to political electioneering – ‘three it will draw plenty of powerful enemies club-address-by-catherine-livingstone 9 See the newDemocracy Foundation website for word slogans’ etc. – and more by giving who are simply looking after shorter term interesting ideas on citizen deliberation on serious and citizens the chance to become informed agendas. As Stokes inferred, there’s no complex policy questions: www.newdemocracy.com.au. before they ‘vote’.9 This is the wider question other profession that should have more to 10 See: www.pc.gov.au/news-media/lectures/joseph-stiglitz newplanner | DECEMBER 2015 | 13 when is a town planner a lobbyist? Town planners and political lobbying rules in NSW
Jodie Wauchope, Director, Planning, Environment and Government, Gadens Lawyers
Town planners who communicate with the state whether the firm is a ‘third party lobbyist’, because that may have implications for government about development applications or planning the individual planner. If in doubt, seek proposals are ‘lobbying’. Even planners making legal advice or contact the Electoral submissions to advocate for a change in policy or strategy Commission. are likely to be lobbying. A year on from the legal changes Watch out for the casual conversation that defined a huge amount of planners’ everyday work as at a function – lobbying extends to communications whether or not made in lobbying, this article explains what lobbying is – and what the course of carrying out the business of you need to do if you are a lobbyist. lobbying.
Some typical planning examples of obbying is defined in theLobbying prohibition explained below). If you are lobbying: of Government Officials Act 2011 preparing reports which will be considered and Regulation as ‘communication by any State government authorities – for • Rezoning application along a road with a NSW Government Official for example, the Department of Planning and corridor to achieve a change in use, L FSR or height where there is no the purpose of representing the interests Environment, Roads and Maritime Services, of others’. Office of Environment and Heritage – then specific policy in place you are making representations to state • State or regional significant ‘Communication’ includes writing, meeting, government authorities, and this law will application for a major private sector telephone, email or other electronic means. affect you. development A ‘NSW Government Official’ includes Lobbyists and third party lobbyists • A ‘gateway review application’ submitted a wide range of state government and If a person’s activities fall within the to the Department of Planning related entity employees, contractors and definition of lobbying, they are a ‘lobbyist’. • Application for a compatibility elected officials. It does not include a local certificate for a seniors’ development government official. If they carry on the business of lobbying government officials on behalf of others, • Submissions to a Joint Regional The communication is lobbying if it relates to: generally for money or other valuable Planning Panel (JRPP) • Legislation, proposed legislation, consideration, they will also be a ‘third • A submission to a priority precinct a government policy or proposed party lobbyist’. Third party lobbyists, and exhibition, or strategy such as government policy; individuals engaged by them, must be Parramatta Road corridor, on behalf • An application to initiate the making of registered on the Lobbyist Register. of residents or business an environmental planning instrument or Some people are not considered third party plan under the Environmental Planning lobbyists, according to the NSW Electoral What you need to know if you are ‘lobbying’ and Assessment Act (EPA Act); or Commission. These include professionals Lobbyists need to be aware of and abide • An application or request for engaged in providing professional services by the Lobbyists Code of Conduct. The development consent/approval or to a client who, as part of their day-to- Code sets ethical standards and disclosure modification under the EPA Act of any day work, represent the client’s views to requirements for all lobbyists, including development, project or activity. a government official. Town planners are that lobbyists must: likely to fall within this exemption. This means that if you are a person, 1. Disclose, before any meeting with a NSW including a town planner, communicating A town planner who is employed by a Government official: planning firm and is communicating with with the NSW State Government in relation • the nature of the matter to be the State Government in the ordinary to a planning proposal or application for discussed, and development (amongst other things) it is course of their work would not likely be a • any financial or other interest you have likely you are ‘lobbying’. third party lobbyist, though they are likely to be a lobbyist (depending, of course, on in the matter to be discussed. If you work solely in the local government what the communication relates to). This 2. Not engage in any misleading, sphere – for example, if you are a planner may depend on individual circumstances. dishonest, corrupt or other unlawful preparing SEEs for local applications to If a planner is part of a firm which does conduct in connection with a meeting or councils only – this will not impact on provide government relations (lobbying) communication with a NSW Government you (except in relation to the success fee services, they should seek advice as to official.
14 | DECEMBER 2015 | newplanner ARTICLE article
3. Use all reasonable endeavours to satisfy charged by professionals for provision of Useful information can also be found on the yourself of the truth and accuracy of all professional advice or services. Electoral Commission website. material information that you provide The NSW Electoral Commission can Given that most planning work involves in connection with a meeting or other investigate breaches of the Code. There making representations to State communication for the purpose of are no criminal sanctions for a breach of government authorities, planners should lobbying NSW Government officials. the Code, but an offender can be put on a be aware of the requirements and be These are things that planners would usually public ‘watch list’. Additional requirements familiar with the Code of Conduct n do as part of their work and, as such, the apply to people on the watch list. There are Jodie Wauchope is a Director in the requirements are not out of the ordinary. significant penalties for individuals and corporations for charging success fees, Planning Environment and Government In addition, third party lobbyists need to and forfeit of the fees can be ordered. legal team at Gadens with over 16 years’ comply with standards such as: experience in planning and environmental If you think you fall within the definition of law. She has advised and represented 1. Only communicate with NSW lobbyist or third party lobbyist, you will need many applicants and councils in the Land Government officials if you are on the to read the Code of Conduct in Schedule and Environment Court on the full range register of third party lobbyists (see NSW 1 to the Lobbying of Government Officials of planning issues and litigation. Electoral Commission website for the (Lobbyists Code of Conduct) Regulation. Email: [email protected] register). 2. Before any meeting or communication, disclose that you are a third party Checklist: is it lobbying? There are four key elements to lobbying lobbyist, the names of people you have 1 Representing Lobbying is representing the interests of others, even if they engaged to undertake the lobbying and interests of others are community interests. the name of the client. 3. Not lobby in relation to functions of the 2 Communication Lobbying includes writing, email, arranging a meeting, NSW Government board or committee of speaking on the phone or talking in person. which you (or individuals you engage) are 3 With NSW NSW Government official includes public servant, contractors, a member. Government ministers, and staff. 4. Not exaggerate or misrepresent official Local government officials are not included, except in relation your access to political parties or the to charging success fees. government, and keep any party political activities separate from lobbying. 4 Topic of You are lobbying if your communication relates to: 5. Not receive success fees for lobbying communication • Legislation, proposed legislation, a government policy or NSW Government officials. proposed government policy • An application to initiate the making of an environmental Lobbyists must not charge success planning instrument or plan under the EPA Act fees (fees contingent on the outcome) • An application or request for development consent/approval for lobbying NSW Government officials or modification under the EPA Act of any development, or local government officials. Notably, project or activity. success fees do not include the fees
newplanner | DECEMBER 2015 | 15 whatever happened to the planning review?
Tony McNamara LFPIA CPP, Director, Planning and Environment, City of Canada Bay
The review of the NSW planning system was the hot topic still present in the current system. For now, however, it would appear we are all in planning just a couple of years ago, at a time when the too busy to focus on such matters. There is system was described as the ‘world’s worst’. It appears still a view in government that development that we’ve now moved on, yet we still have the same assessment takes too long and that 40 planning system. Can somebody please explain? days is about the correct time for the average Development Application. Clearly, Complying Development Certificates can be completed in 10 days (provided that s recently as March 2015, Chris At present, there is an absolute feast of the documentation is compliant), so why Johnson of The Urban Taskforce development occurring in the Sydney should DAs take so long? This issue was at called on planners to raise metro area, driven by escalating real estate the centre of past discussions on planning the game from focusing on prices and the sense that big infrastructure A reform. Yet our real focus should be on the development assessment to doing some projects are actually being delivered. New nature, shape, location and character of real strategic planning.1 Chris referred to housing projects are evident anywhere future development – that is, on developing the failure of planning reform and the call within close proximity to transport. So, has the strategic tools that we need to shape for cultural change, while acknowledging planning reform happened? Did we miss NSW in the years ahead. that planners ‘really are the owners of it? Was it ever necessary? Or is it simply the pathways to the future’. There would the case that when things get busy, we In his opinion piece, Chris Johnson now appear to be a philosophy within tend to overlook perceived failures, and advocated lifting the thinking from the local government – one certainly promoted by when things become quieter, we return to to regional level. There is great merit in the Minister for Planning, Rob Stokes – that introspection and look for a better way? such an approach and, thankfully, there is planning reform can occur incrementally, evidence of this happening in NSW. It is my belief that at some point we will applying the 1979 EP&A Act, and return to the issue of planning reform in The Parramatta Road Urban implementing change via amendments to NSW because so many inefficiencies are Transformation Program offers one such regulations. example. Here, we see UrbanGrowth NSW, plus teams of consultants and representatives from 10 local councils, doing a sound job of planning for growth in this corridor, which stretches from the Parramatta to Sydney CBD. A draft strategy for the corridor was released in September this year, which deals with the important issues of housing, jobs, transport, land and social infrastructure.2 The draft strategy is an example of best practice collaboration; for the 10 councils to achieve the same result independently would simply be impossible. This is not intended to indicate support for council amalgamations; rather, it highlights that many planning challenges cannot be resolved by traditional approaches – they require collaboration. It also demonstrates that careful scoping, collaboration between the people and bodies that can make a difference, investing sufficient money and resources, and focusing on achieving agreed outcomes is likely to generate improved results. The Parramatta Road approach may well be a With wholesale planning reform seemingly off the political agenda, a more incremental approach might still deliver positive outcomes for NSW. model for Sydney’s future planning. 16 | DECEMBER 2015 | newplanner OPINION
Chris Johnson was also right to focus on However, tough planning decisions become current approach of incremental change governance as a critical planning issue. more palatable if we believe they are being is working in some areas and may be The council amalgamation discussion has made for the right reasons. expanded. The ‘big bang’ approach for centred on criticism of councils – which planning reform appears to be dead, but if always gets a run in the popular press. Planning is always incremental change can be maintained it However, governance is the real issue, political and, like could lead to broad reforms in governance and this is difficult to articulate in a few and legislation which are much needed, as lines. If local government needs reform politics, there is no the models we are working with now are then so too does state government – perfect system. still very last century n and this brings us back to the culture Tony McNamara is Director of Planning issue. Planning is seen by many – local If there is a group who work the longest and Environment at the City of Canada government, state government, politicians, and hardest to ensure planning principles Bay Council. He has been in this position developers, objectors – as being the are applied properly, it is the consultants for eleven years and seen the completion application of rules. If the rules don’t working on projects and the assessing “ of new planning controls for the City. work, we simply create more rules. We planners reviewing their work. These cut red tape by regulation. Rules inevitably planners have a real role in keeping the Tony recently facilitated an enhanced lead to conflicts as well as winners and dream alive. But they work best when the urban renewal process at Rhodes, which losers. The focus on rules takes the rules and regulations are relevant, fresh, has delivered many new community attention away from planning, which is futuristic, and deal with big issues in a way facilities. Prior to joining the City of a different process, but one ultimately that makes sense. We often struggle in Canada Bay, Tony was a partner with implemented through rules. this latter area, despite the good example Environmental Resources Management, a consulting firm specialising in Current planning for Sydney, which is provided by the Parramatta Road planning team and some of the Sydney growth environmental impact assessment and grappling with the big issues of housing contaminated site management. He supply, infrastructure, jobs and housing precincts. has held a number of positions with the affordability, needs to focus on making the Planning is always political and, like Planning Institute of Australia including city a better place, not just a bigger place. politics, there is no perfect system. President of the NSW Division. This is a very hard message to deliver to In NSW, we have great planners but people who don’t like change (most of us), we still have a lousy planning system. Endnotes or worse, to those who face losing their Despite that, there are some excellent house because of infrastructure projects 1 Johnson, C 2015, ‘Sydney needs planning leadership examples of how to plan for the future. to manage growth but many planners are still ticking (e.g. WestConnex). Planning is always Our planning system needs to recognise boxes’, New Planner, no. 103, March, p. 15. difficult when citizens are affected today excellence when it happens, with a 2 NSW Government 2015, Draft Parramatta Road Urban for the betterment of future generations. view to encouraging its recurrence. The Transformation Strategy, NSW Government, Sydney.
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newplanner | DECEMBER 2015 | 17 foreign investment in the Australian property market
Xueyao (Holly) Duan PIA (Student), Urban Planner, Ghazi Al Ali Architect
The pros and cons of foreign investment in Australian real Notwithstanding its complexity, the topic of foreign investment should be acknowledged estate, especially the residential property market, has been as sitting at the nexus of politics, planning, a topic of debate throughout 2015. This article discusses the and social and economic development, and data underlying the eye-catching newspaper headlines and thus one on which the community needs to be fully informed. suggests that debate is often based on questionable evidence. 3. Enhance inter-governmental coordination Better policy and implementation coordination is needed among relevant he current foreign investment 1. Improve data collection government departments. On the one hand, framework in Australia allows Existing data quality is insufficient to foreign investment has provided a catalyst for foreigners to buy new dwellings but support a meaningful policy discussion local construction, which accounts for nine Tprohibits the purchase of established on foreign investment in real estate or to percent of total employment in Australia,3 dwellings. We know that the overall rate of justify public decision-making. The Foreign and other development-based employment residential real estate purchases by foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) needs opportunities. On the other hand, this investors is increasing.1 However, the key to improve the extent and quality of data market determines housing availability and question is: does this activity benefit Australia? collection on foreign investment. cost which are important for international education and immigration, with both making In order to answer this question, the House Data collection should include: of Representatives Standing Committee significant contributions to the economy. • the purchaser’s residency and citizenship; Positive feedback loops also exist between on Economics conducted an Inquiry into • follow up of transitions from non- foreign investment beyond the property Foreign Investment in Residential Real Australian to Australian ownership when market and international education and Estate, inviting public submissions from a owners become Australian residents; migration, with one reinforcing the other. broad spectrum of stakeholders. • project-based data instead of approval Because of the interrelationship between Research findings based data; • the actual percentage of foreign purchases policy decision-making in different According to my qualitative analysis of of off-the-plan development; and sectors, collaboration among government the 68 publicly accessible submissions to • the foreign beneficiaries of Australian departments should be encouraged. The the Inquiry,2 most individuals who made newly appointed Minister for Cities and controlled investment activity. submissions were negative about foreign the Built Environment could initiate such investment in residential real estate. These Challenges will be faced in respect of collaboration, creating better policy synergies submissions generally lacked supporting privacy concerns with residency and to achieve the best outcome for Australia n evidence or contained evidence of poor citizenship data. It is suggested that only Xueyao (Holly) Duan is an urban planner at quality. In contrast, most organisations summary data be published, with detailed Ghazi Al Ali Architect Pty Ltd. She graduated were positive about foreign investment data being held in confidence by FIRB for with a Master of Urban and Regional Planning but often displayed bias due to industry- internal use. from the University of Sydney in mid-2015. based interests. Government agencies 2. Educate the public Holly also holds a Master of Environmental were more neutral and typically presented While it is uncertain whether public Management and Development from the strong arguments supported by evidence; perception of foreign investment will change Australian National University (ANU). She has been actively involved in urban research the submission by the Reserve Bank of as a result of better data provision, people and has co-authored two chapters of a Australia, for example, contained one of the have the right to know what is happening in forthcoming APEC Secretariat publication on best evidence-based analyses. the property market. The government should sustainable urban economic development, Due to the varying quality of evidence be responsible for educating the public. entitled ‘Partnerships for Sustainable Cities in contained in the submissions, the FIRB could, for example, publish fact sheets the Asia Pacific Region’. persuasiveness of the conclusions differed and make available online educational Endnotes considerably. Insufficient evidence makes videos that present the whole picture of 1 House of Representatives Standing Committee on opinions prone to political and xenophobic foreign investment and its consequences. Economics 2014, Report on Foreign Investment in influence; that is, they are more likely to be Residential Real Estate, Canberra, Australia. This would help to pre-empt unnecessary 2 Duan, X 2015, ‘Public perception on Australian subjective and biased. residential real estate and governmental response’ and misleading rhetoric around the issue, (unpublished Master’s dissertation), University of Policy recommendations smooth tensions among community Sydney, Sydney, Australia. Based on the findings of my research, three groups, and contribute a more harmonious 3 Reserve Bank of Australia 2014, ‘Submission to the Inquiry Into Foreign Investment in Real Estate’, policy recommendations are proposed. multicultural environment in Australia. Submission No. 19.
18 | DECEMBER 2015 | newplanner OPINION
WINNER DAVID KETTLE CARDNO TRUST AWARD 2015
why regional planning is important for Australia
George Karanfilovski MPIA (Graduate), Graduate, Planning and Urban Design, ACT Government
Australia’s economic prosperity and liveability are based on strong connections between the nation’s capital cities, peri-urban and green- wedge areas, and regional and rural population centres.
n the past, regional areas have played a significant role in the development of Australia as an agricultural, Imining and manufacturing nation. As the Australian economy continues its transition from a manufacturing- based to a services-based economy, it is more important than ever that regional planning plays a vital role in ensuring that our regions remain resilient, productive, Aerial view of Tamworth in regional NSW (Source: Ian Sinclair, Edge Land Planning) sustainable and liveable, along with being Australian cities already play a significant help regional towns and cities be more excellent places for current and future role within state economies as service affordable, attractive and vibrant places generations to live, work and play in. hubs and export gateways for regional to live, work and invest in. This will help Many of the challenges and opportunities businesses. In turn, well-connected ensure that future population growth and investment is not wholly concentrated in facing regional areas are relevant to regional centres that are within viable Australian cities alone. Creating a nation Australian cities. In an increasingly commuting distances of capital cities and of prosperous, resilient, productive, connected world, the type of employment regional centres offer attractive housing, sustainable and liveable regions will needed to compete within the global employment and lifestyle opportunities. require a focus on strengthening regional economy requires a varied pool of labour This can relieve pressures on capital economies, strategic infrastructure and other expertise. Agglomeration cities by absorbing some of their growing investment and service delivery, along with economics and the benefits of businesses populations. By providing opportunities for rebalancing population growth between clustering together are increasingly decentralised population and employment Australia’s cities and its regional areas n important to productivity. Highly productive growth in regional cities and areas, and resilient businesses in Australian regional planning can help regional George Karanfilovski received the David cities are locating in central city areas to cities become larger, independent and Kettle Cardno Trust Award for this essay take advantage of the emerging digital, more resilient. As they grow, they will on ‘why regional planning is important’ knowledge and sharing economies, urban be able to provide better employment at the 2015 NSW Awards for Planning amenities, trade opportunities, access opportunities, and better local health and Excellence in November. educational services, to their residents and to specialised employment markets, and The David Kettle Cardno Trust Award is surrounding rural populations. They will knowledge transfer. At the same time, an presented each year to a NSW or ACT also provide Australians with more choices ever-increasing population are living further Young Planner with an eye for regional about where they live and work. away from these opportunities in new planning issues. David Kettle was widely outer-suburban developments. This is a key The long-term prosperity of Australia’s respected for his knowledge and advocacy challenge facing Australia’s productivity, regions will be supported by investments of important planning and development sustainability and liveability that could be that facilitate the growth of regional issues in the Central Coast region of best addressed through regional planning. areas, enabling them to be better NSW. He was also an encouraging mentor Regional Australia can provide the integrated with capital cities and nation to the younger planners that he worked opportunity to mitigate such issues, whilst and international markets. It is important with and it is for this reason that his also developing and leveraging the benefits for regional planning to play its part in family wanted to establish the Award in that Australian cities currently experience. improving regional city connections, and his name.
newplanner | DECEMBER 2015 | 19 Congratulations to this year’s winners
AWARD: PLANNER OF THE YEAR Winner: Sarah Hill MPIA AWARD: YOUNG PLANNER OF THE YEAR Winner: Andrew Wheeler PIA (Affiliate) Commendation: Laura Schmahmann MPIA AWARD: PRESIDENT’S AWARD PLANNER OF THE YEAR Winner: Patrick Fensham MPIA Sarah Hill MPIA AWARD: BEST PLANNING IDEAS - LARGE PROJECT Winner: NSW Department of Planning & Environment Project: SEPP 65 and the Apartment Design Guide Commendation: Hames Sharley, Penrith City Council Project: Penrith Progression - Place Shaping Framework AWARD: BEST PLANNING IDEAS - SMALL PROJECT Winner : Waverley Council Project: Urban Interventions Waverley Council AWARD: FROM PLAN TO PLACE Winner: UrbanGrowth NSW, Cox Richardson Project: The Ponds PRESIDENT’S AWARD AWARD: GREAT PLACE Patrick Fensham MPIA Winner: COX Architecture Pty Ltd, DESIGNINC Project: Chatswood Transport Interchange + Metro Residential Towers Commendation: Lismore Sustainable Transport/ Northern Rivers Social Development Council Project: Lismore Transit Centre Project AWARD: IMPROVING PLANNING PROCESSES & PRACTICES Winner : WaterNSW Project: The NorBE Assessment Tool Commendation: Waverley Council Project: Waverley Council Planning Agreement Policy 2014 AWARD: OUTSTANDING STUDENT PROJECT Winner: Emma Clinton PIA (Graduate) YOUNG PLANNER OF THE YEAR Project: Housing Essentials - Low to moderate income worker housing in Andrew Wheeler PIA (Affiliate) Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs Commendation: Tina Kao PIA (Graduate) Project: The Impact of Retail Markets on Local Economy AWARD: PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT & COMMUNITY PLANNING Winner: Lane Cove Council Project: Strategy for an “Age-Friendly Lane Cove” Commendation: Ashfield Council Project: Ashfield Town Centre Renewal AWARD: THE HARD WON VICTORY Winner: Greater Taree City Council, Tidy up Taree, Night Bazaar Project: Improving Taree’s town centre
20 | DECEMBER 2015 | newplanner NSW AWARDS
newplanner | DECEMBER 2015 | 21 Aboriginal land claims in New South Wales – some town planning issues
Harvey Sanders FPIA, Consultant, Design Collaborative Pty Ltd and Adjunct Associate Professor Urban and Regional Planning in the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning, the University of Sydney
The Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW) introduced ALRA.3 Behrendt addressed how land claims were dealt with as well as the subsequent a process for Aboriginal Land Councils to make land development potential of land that had been claims in respect of vacant Crown Land in certain returned to its original owners through the circumstances. The successful return of land to land claim process. Under Section 36 (1) of Aboriginal people through that process has given rise the ALRA, Crown land is claimable if certain criteria are met. One of the most relevant to town planning issues that need to be addressed. of these is whether the land in question is lawfully used or occupied. This can include buildings; successful land claims have been hortly before his death in 1768, White Paper – The Keane Report made in respect of the former Newcastle Lord Morton, the then President One of the recommendations of the Keane Post Office, the former Malabar Police of the Philosophical Society of Report2 was: Station and the former Parramatta Gaol. Edinburgh, offered some hints S That land owned by Aboriginal Another relevant criterion is whether the ‘to the consideration of Captain Cook, communities be governed by special Crown land is needed or likely to be needed Mr. Banks, Doctor Solander and other planning provisions of the Planning either as residential land or for an essential gentlemen who go upon the expedition on and Environment Commission public purpose. Extensive consideration board the Endeavour.’ The hints extended which would permit Aboriginal has been given by the Courts as to the over a number of manuscript pages, communities to develop projects that interpretation of these criteria. with the introductory words including the may otherwise be contrary to local following: It is important to note that one of the critical planning ordinances, provided such objectives of the ALRA was to provide a To exercise the utmost patience and projects were of special importance to mechanism whereby Aboriginal communities forbearance with respect to the Natives the Aboriginal community and did not could take advantage of economic and social of the several Lands where the Ship adversely affect adjoining residents. benefits derived from land returned through may touch. Second Reading Speech the land claim process. At the time of writing They are the natural, and in the this article in mid-2015, Section 36AA of the In the Second Reading Speech the then strictest sense of the word, the legal ALRA came into force. This provides for the Minister, Frank Walker, noted that the possessors of the several Regions they negotiation of Aboriginal Land Agreements legislation ‘recognised prior ownership of inhabit. between the Crown Lands Minister and one the State of New South Wales by Aborigines’, or more Aboriginal Land Councils, which, It is clear that somewhere along Captain and that ‘vast tracts of Crown land will be among other things, are an alternative Cook’s lengthy voyages, and the subsequent available for claim and will go some way mechanism whereby land can be returned to voyage of the First Fleet, these enlightened to redress the injustice of dispossession.’ its original indigenous owners. hints were lost. Instead of the due Furthermore, the Minister noted that ‘land recognition of its then owners, an invasion rights would also lay the basis for Aboriginal The manner in which the land claim by a European colonial power took place self-sufficiency and economic well-being.’ process has evolved gives rise to the need in 1788, and all of the land was unjustly to reconsider the as yet unimplemented Long Title expropriated without regard to the millennia recommendation in the Keane Report of prior ownership and occupation – and In the context of Lord Morton’s hints, relating to the application of ‘special planning without any compensation. it is worth noting, amongst others, the provisions’ in respect of land that has now following words that appear in the Long been returned to its original owners. In this Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 Title of the ALRA: context it is noted (at the time of writing) that General 1. Land in the State of New South Wales there are, for example, State Environmental It was to be very many years before a start was traditionally owned and occupied Planning Policies (SEPPs) in relation to was made to address this wrong. One of the by Aborigines; Mining, Petroleum Production and Extractive important steps taken in New South Wales 2. Land is of spiritual, social, cultural and Industries; Housing for Seniors or People was the enactment of the Aboriginal Land economic importance to Aborigines. with a Disability; and Affordable Rental Rights Act 1983 (ALRA). Among other things, Housing. This would suggest that there this groundbreaking piece of legislation led Emerging issues is no impediment, in principle, to a SEPP to the establishment of Local Aboriginal In an article published in 2011, Jason or some similar policy being formulated Land Councils1 and set up a process for land Behrendt considered certain town planning which gives effect to the aforementioned claims to be made by the original owners. issues that relate to land claims under the recommendation in the Keane Report, having 22 | DECEMBER 2015 | newplanner OPINION
regard to issues that have emerged through the implementation of the Aboriginal land claim process since the ALAR was enacted. A constructive example Among the numerous land claims that were lodged after the passing of the ALRA4 was one concerning a large area of Crown land in Western Sydney. The claim had been made in 1989 and was refused in 1993 on the basis of the then Minister’s assertion that the land in question was likely to be needed as residential land. The Land and Environment Court allowed the appeal on the basis that the Minister had not demonstrated that the land was, in fact, likely to be needed as residential land in the context of the provisions of section 36 (1) (b1) of the ALRA, and ordered that the land be transferred to the Applicant – the local Aboriginal Land Council.5 This ruling opened the door for the local Aboriginal Land Council to utilise the land and, thus, receive associated social and economic benefits. The key issue here is not whether the land Harvey Sanders is a town planner with nearly was or was not suitable for development, five decades’ experience, principally as a However, one of the characteristic and but rather the length of time it took for consultant in New South Wales but also in problematical features of the land claim the land title to be transferred to the central and local government in the UK. process is not only the length of time the local Aboriginal Land Council and the Over the past twenty years he has provided Minister takes to consider and determine restrictions that were placed on the land advice to Local Aboriginal Land Councils claims, but also the length of time that the by government agencies during this time. and the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Minister takes to transfer the title of land These restrictions ultimately undermined Council in respect of various town planning that has been granted to the Aboriginal Land the Council’s right to determine how their issues associated with Aboriginal land Council in question. It is also not uncommon land would be used in the future – whether claims and land that has been returned to for government agencies to treat land that is for development or other purposes. Policy Land Councils as a result of successful land in the ownership of Aboriginal Land Councils makers should be aware of this and other claims. The views expressed in this article as if it were in some sort of quasi-public are personal views. ownership, rather than in private ownership, similar examples when dealing with land when formulating plans. that has been granted to Aboriginal Land Endnotes Councils. 1 It also provided for the establishment of the New South In the case being examined, it was some Wales Aboriginal Land Council. years before the land was transferred to the Conclusion 2 Parliament of NSW, Select Committee upon Aborigines & Keane, MF 1980, First report from the Select Committee local Aboriginal Land Council, and during this Reviews of the Environmental Planning of the Legislative Assembly upon Aborigines; Report and time various government agencies formed and Assessment Act 1979 and ALRA are Minutes of Proceedings, Government Printer, Sydney. the view that much of the land had ecological currently ongoing. Accordingly, there could 3 Behrendt, J 2011, ‘Some emerging issues in relation to claims to land under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 characteristics that merited conservation, not be a better time to reconsider the (NSW)’, UNSW Law Journal, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 811-834. thereby limiting the land’s development formulation of a planning policy in relation 4 In the period from 1983 to 2005, approximately 7,500 potential. And while the Biodiversity Banking to Aboriginal land directed at implementing land claims were lodged, and, in the period from 2005 to 2012, approximately 28,500 claims were lodged. Of and Offsets Scheme could provide possible some of the important and socially these total land claims (as at 2012), 7% had been granted, opportunities for economic benefits to be significant ideas that have been discussed 20% refused and 73% were as yet undetermined. (See derived from the land, the Scheme does not for over three decades since the Keane Aboriginal Land Rights Act review 2012: report of the findings and recommendations of the working group) deliver the same level of benefits that would Report was published, but which have not 5 See Daruk Local Aboriginal Land Council v The Minister be generated by development. yet been realised n (No.2) (1995) 89 LGERA
randwick urban activation precinct sydney CBD and southeast light rail barangaroo delivery authority WestConnex parrammatta road corridor grafton second crossing study transport planning and advisory government and public sector
www.gta.com.au
newplanner | DECEMBER 2015 | 23 IN THE COURTS simplified LEP -making process still a procedural minefield
Peter Williams MPIA, Senior Lecturer in Planning, Faculty of Built Environment, UNSW Australia
In a recent judgment the NSW Court of Appeal has clarified the suggested a departure from this process. Specifically the language did not purport exercise of local councils’ powers in the LEP making process. to confer authority on anyone other than The Court overturned a finding of the Land and Environment the Council or an officer acting under Court that a council officer had the authority, as an agent of delegated authority to exercise the power to the council, to sign an amendment to council’s LEP. make the Amending LEP. It was common ground in the appeal that the Amending LEP was validly made simplified LEP-making process 2. The Council had failed to comply pursuant to s 59(2) of the EPA Act only if – involving planning proposals, with the community consultation the Council officer was authorised to sign Gateway determinations and requirements specified by the the instrument on behalf of the Council. It Aextensive delegation of LEP- Minister pursuant to s 56(2) of the was agreed that the Minister’s delegation making to local councils – was introduced EPA Act. to Council to make the Amending LEP into Part 3 of the Environmental Planning 3. The Council officer lacked authority to under s 59(2) of the EPA Act was valid, as and Assessment Act (EPA Act) in 2008. sign the Amending LEP on behalf of the was Council’s decision to delegate this Despite this reform, a recent judgment of Council. function to its General Manager under the NSW Court of Appeal in De Angelis v s 377(1) of the Local Government Act The Court of Appeal held that the primary Pepping [2015] NSWCA 236 emphasises 1993. There was also no challenge to the that essential procedural requirements Judge had not erred in relation to the first two contentions. However, the Court found primary Judge’s findings that the General contained in the streamlined LEP-making Manager, although he had power to sub- process must be followed. for the appellant on the third contention, ruling that the primary Judge’s finding delegate to the Council officer authority to The appellant owned a parcel of land in that the Council officer had authority as sign the instrument (under s 378 of the LG Bowral which it wished to develop. The the Council’s agent to sign the Amending Act), had not done so. It should be noted Council, however, purported to make an LEP on its behalf, was incorrect. Two that the Council itself lacked the power to amendment to its LEP, which rezoned the main reasons led to this finding of lack of delegate authority directly to the Council site from ‘B4 Mixed Use’ to ‘R3 Medium authority: first, the wording – and hence officer to sign the Amending LEP, because Density Residential’, effectively prohibiting effect – of Council’s resolution “to proceed s 377(1) of the LG Act permits a council development of the site for commercial with the making of the amendment” to to delegate to the General Manager, but purposes. The Amending LEP was ‘made’ the LEP and, second, the Council officers’ not to an employee of the council. This when signed by a Council officer. authority as an agent. lack of authority, said the Court, could not be overcome by the doctrine of agency The appellant brought proceedings in the The Council’s resolution “to proceed with (which may permit an administrative Land and Environment Court under s 123 of the making of the amendment” provided decision maker to act through an agent the EPA Act challenging the validity of the authority for Council officers to forward the independently of its power of delegation) Amending LEP. The primary Judge rejected “final proposals” to the Department for the because of the limitation imposed on a the appellant’s challenge and dismissed the drafting of the LEP. Before the Amending application. An appeal against this decision LEP could take effect, the final step in the council by s 377 of the LG Act. was then lodged with the Court of Appeal process had to take place. The relevant The Court thus held that Council had no based on the following principal contentions: decision-maker had to determine that the power to delegate authority to the Council 1. The appellant had not received notice of Amending LEP, as drafted, should be made officer, and while the General Manager had the planning proposal which led to the and exercise the power conferred by s 59(2) power to sub-delegate, this had not been Amending LEP and thus was deprived of the EPA Act to make the LEP. Nothing exercised. Thus the amending LEP was of the opportunity to make submissions. in the language of the Council resolution held to be invalid n
Philip Brogan Director
L14, 109 Pitt St Sydney, NSW 2000 T+61 2 9232 8065 M 0401 719 632 F+61 2 9232 8087 [email protected]
24 | DECEMBER 2015 | newplanner REVIEW
HEALTHY BUILT ENVIRONMENTS progressing the agenda in a year of change, challenge and opportunity Peter McCue, Executive Officer, NSW Premier’s Council for Active Living (PCAL) Susan Thompson FPIA, Professor of Planning and Associate Director (City Wellbeing), City Futures Research Centre, UNSW Australia
Political change has been ever present throughout 2015. We Other news have seen significant shifts across all levels of government, An excellent summary of Australian healthy planning initiatives across creating both challenges and opportunities for healthy the public, private and not-for-profit planning in NSW. A new Prime Minister, state election and sectors can be found in an international compendium on planning for health looming local council amalgamations have provided the and wellbeing published earlier this backdrop to an inevitable realignment of strategic directions. year. Entitled The Routledge Handbook of Planning for Health and Well-Being: Shaping a Sustainable and Healthy Future, n our final column for the year we The Integrated Planning and Reporting the book brings health into the centre reflect on these political movements and (IP&R) framework guides the long-term of planning, strengthening the hands of what they mean for healthy planning strategic planning of local councils.2 The those who argue and plan for healthy Ipractice and policy. We also offer a great overarching strategic document is the environments.5 A chapter illustrating how Christmas/New Year read to inspire your Community Strategic Plan (CSP), which environmental sustainability initiatives healthy planning passions well into 2016! is updated to coincide with local council have significant co-benefits for health is elections. The next elections are scheduled particularly pertinent to planners. Kevin Changes at the national level for September 2016. PCAL has prepared McCloud, of Grand Designs fame, has At the national level our new Prime an electronic resource that demonstrates endorsed the book and wants to see every Minister has called for the development of how healthy eating and active living politician, planner and developer with a copy. ‘vibrant, liveable cities’, and appointed the considerations can be incorporated So all in all, 2015 has been a year of change country’s first ever Minister for Cities and 3 across all stages of the IP&R process. An and opportunity for healthy planning, with the Built Environment. Minister Briggs has expanded case study of how the Illawarra a great anthology of resources to cap it off! indicated a desire to ‘ensure that public Food Plan was incorporated into the IP&R We encourage you to continue to play your transport works better in Australia’, and responses of three Illawarra councils is part in helping to bring about the improved has been tasked with the preparation of also available.4 health and liveability of our cities, towns a new Federal plan for cities, working and local communities. We look forward to NSW residents will soon have the with states, local government and urban sharing the journey with you into 2016 n communities. We have the opportunity for opportunity to participate in community a more coordinated whole-of-government consultations to inform local council Endnotes 1 approach to address the interconnections updates of their CSPs and subsequent See: www.nsw.gov.au/making-it-happen 2 NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet 2013, between the planning of our cities, IP&R responses. We encourage everyone Integrated planning and reporting manual for local productivity, increasing congestion and who wants to embed healthy planning in government in NSW, NSW Government, Sydney. local government priorities to participate 3 See: www.nswpcalipr.com.au/ declining liveability. 4 See: www.pcal.nsw.gov.au/case_studies/IP_and_R_ in forthcoming IP&R consultation Changes at the state level and_the_Illawarra_Regional_Food_Strategy processes. 5 See: www.routledge.com/products/9781138023307 The Baird Government was re-elected in March 2015 and has instigated a number of changes with implications for healthy planning in NSW. A new overarching State Plan, Making it Happen, articulates 12 ‘Premier’s Priorities’, including ‘building infrastructure’ and ‘tackling childhood obesity’.1 Light rail and expanded public transport infrastructure projects provide a significant opportunity to increase participation in active travel such as walking and cycling. Changes at the local level Potential council amalgamations have been a major focus in 2015, although the State Government is yet to formally Light rail, now linking the city and the inner west, will soon be a feature of Sydney’s public transport propose any mergers. system. Construction will be full steam ahead in 2016. newplanner | DECEMBER 2015 | 25 planning to manage change
26 | DECEMBER 2015 | newplanner NSW CONFERENCE
Stakeholders abound – and they should be informed, engaged and inspired. “Parramatta City Council
There has been a ‘gear shift’ – with local councils becoming more proactive and expansive. Jennifer Dennis MPIA
Shared services that deliver the most efficient path for local government reform are critical. That is, to share those activities that benefit from size, while keeping in-house those activities done best on a small scale. Barry Smith
Sydney Airport is Australia’s major gateway to the world and our nation’s premier airport…it is a vital economic hub. Ted Plummer
Placemaking is the collaborative process of creating, enhancing and managing people focused places. Kylie Legge MPIA
What is the city but the people? Acknowledge that urban renewal is long-term and a degree of flexibility is required. Jeremy Gill newplanner | DECEMBER 2015 | 27 NSW CONSULTING PLANNERS heliostats – a revolution in city planning or all ‘smoke and mirrors’?
David Appleby, Associate – Urban Design, Conybeare Morrison (CM+)
Beginning with Central Park in central Sydney, heliostats took included an update of the Rhodes West DCP, assisting Council in lodging a further step in 2015 with their emergence as a planning a Planning Proposal with the NSW tool on the Rhodes Peninsula in Sydney’s west. Will heliostats Department of Planning and Environment, become key to delivering liveability in dense urban areas, or and preparing public exhibition of the are they just a passing fad? proposed legislative changes. Adjoining, and to the south of the Rhodes Station Precinct, Council has recently or over a century city planners access, generally at winter solstice and completed a new urban plaza called have utilised height, envelope and during the lunchtime period. Rhodes Town Square. Maintaining solar access to this new community asset is a setback controls to maintain solar Heliostats, usually located at roof top level, key requirement as the remainder of the Faccess to our valued public places provide an opportunity to direct sunlight – the public parks, plazas and waterfronts to neglected places in our urban centres Precinct is developed. that bring amenity to our urban areas and that are south facing or overshadowed by Armed with computer generated built enrich our experience of the city. buildings to the north. In certain situations form modelling and shadow studies, CM+ Heliostats are potentially a ‘game changer’ they have opened up the opportunity for established appropriate precinct scale and in terms of city planning. In simple terms building height constraints to be relaxed, building envelope controls for the Precinct. a heliostat is two sets of mirrors, one fixed as direct sunlight can be replaced by These were formalised in proposed and the other computer controlled to track reflected sunlight. changes to the Canada Bay LEP height and the path of the sun across the sky. The Case study: Rhodes density controls, and amendments to the Rhodes West DCP. combined effect of the mirrors is to provide A recent City of Canada Bay project the opportunity to direct sunlight to plazas, highlights the challenges involved in The VPA process was both collaborative laneways, parks, atriums, play areas, and planning for heliostats. CM+ recently and iterative. Council negotiated with potentially any place in the public or private prepared the Rhodes Station Precinct three developers to arrive at a mutually domain that might otherwise not receive Masterplan that was part of a Voluntary agreed masterplan and provide reasonable direct sunlight. Planning Agreement (VPA). The work uplift for the precinct, along with a Heliostat precedents The award winning One Central Park development in Chippendale, Sydney has pioneered heliostat technology in Australia. Designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, One Central Park features a heliostat that was designed and constructed by Sydney company, Kennovations. The heliostat captures and redirects sunlight through the glass ceiling of a shopping centre atrium at the podium level and to landscaped terraces (see image). Located on the southern side of a residential tower, sunlight is directed deep into the building complex. This supports attractive green plantings within the retail levels, enhancing the shopping experience. A new design ‘tool’ Many urban parks and plazas in our cities are protected from overshadowing by development controls that stipulate maximum height planes to ensure solar Heliostat solar path principles (Source: Kennovations Pty Ltd)
28 | DECEMBER 2015 | newplanner REVIEW
corresponding series of public benefit facilities and related public domain upgrades. Out of the negotiations a new proposal emerged – to incorporate a heliostat on top of the tallest residential tower in the Precinct, to direct sunlight towards the Town Square (see diagram). This would replace the sunlight lost from the overshadowing that extra building levels would create. The heliostat promises to maintain solar access to the Town Square during the crucial winter solstice lunchtime hours and potentially mitigate overshadowing of the plaza by an existing eight-storey building to the north. The heliostat proposal has allowed the developer to maximise building height and residential yield, whilst offering a potential urban landmark and sculptural feature to highlight the peninsula’s built form. The additional building height will also reinforce the site as the ‘natural’ high point of the peninsula and increase the number of residents within close proximity to the public transport hub of Rhodes Station. Technical and legal questions associated with the proposal were addressed to Council’s satisfaction, and following consideration, the proposal was progressed. A fundamental concern was that although the One Central Park heliostat provided a precedent, the Rhodes proposal was for a body corporate managed heliostat to supply sunlight in perpetuity to a public place – the Rhodes Town Square. Who is responsible? If building height is restricted to protect solar access to a public place, whether it be park, plaza or similar, urban planners can be reasonably confident that sunlight will be maintained, effectively forever. However, in this case, what would happen if the new strata owners collectively decided to shut down the heliostat, or if it was seen to be too costly to run, or too expensive to repair, say following damage in a hailstorm? Any agreement would need to be legally ‘iron-clad’ to One Central Park heliostat and reflector installation (Source: Kennovations Pty Ltd) ensure compliance for the benefit of future generations. Are body corporates and local councils And most importantly, should taller building in a position to manage these contracts with heliostats be allowed, will my experience Legal concerns into perpetuity? We will have to see, as of city life remain the same as I sip a coffee at As a result of these concerns, significant only time will tell whether these new my favourite café, in my favourite city plaza, legal safeguards form part of the legal constructs are fully workable and under reflected sunlight? n proposed VPA contract. The developer resilient. is to register a Public Positive Covenant David Appleby is an Associate, Urban that will require the new body corporate The future Design at CM+ with more than 25 years’ of experience. He is responsible for of the strata scheme to “…operate, Will heliostats become more common, projects that encompass strategic and maintain, repair and replace (as reshaping our cities and their silhouettes master planning of city precincts, major necessary) the heliostat reflector in against the sky? We may find that city urban centres, including Priority Precincts perpetuity”. The body corporate are also buildings, which are currently constrained (UAPs), urban renewal and town centre required to take out insurance, allow by height limits designed to protect our upgrade projects. Council to inspect the Heliostat, comply public spaces, are allowed to grow taller so with any reasonable directions from long as they are crowned with heliostats. Is Endnotes Council, and indemnify Council from, and now the time to rethink the benchmark for 1 City of Canada Bay Council 2015, Rhodes West Station Precinct – Marquet & Walker Streets Planning against, any insurance claims. the height of our city’s buildings? Agreement, City of Canada Bay, Drummoyne. newplanner | DECEMBER 2015 | 29 NSW YOUNG PLANNERS an interview with the outgoing Committee leaders
Christina Livers MPIA, Convenor, NSW Young Planners Harry Quartermain MPIA, NSW Representative, National Young Planners Committee
Christina and Harry have both served on the NSW and • Arranging for the Minister for Planning to speak to the Young Planners at our National Young Planners Committees for a number of state forum in 2013. I think that it’s years. As their time as ‘Young Planners’ (YPs) comes to important for YPs to feel connected to an end, they’ve interviewed each other, reflecting on their their profession and I see engagement professional journey to date. with the top levels of government as a key role for PIA. • The Mentoring Program. Gary Shiels Harry Quartermain (HQ): How do you feel CL: What would you list as your top three and I have helped run the mentoring you have developed during your time as moments as a member of the NSW Young program for the past three years Convenor of the NSW Young Planners? Planners? and it is always rewarding to see Christina Livers (CL): I have been the HQ: There are many favourite moments how much is gained by mentees and Convenor of the NSW Young Planners for from my four years on the NSW YP mentors alike. the past two years. Providing professional Committee, but my top three would have HQ: What achievements during your time as development opportunities to young to be: NSW YP Convenor are you most proud of? planners so that they can develop, thrive and prosper is at the heart of what the • Organising YPConnect in 2014. CL: I have had the opportunity to initiate NSW Young Planners Committee was YPConnect is a great event that is various professional development events. set up to achieve. Through organising held annually in conjunction with The following events were highlights: various PIA program and events for young the PIA National Congress. In 2014 planners, I have been able to develop YPConnect came to Sydney and I was • Meet the Leaders important skills including leadership, lucky enough to convene the two-day This event provided over 100 young event management and interpersonal event. It’s always great to show off planners with insight into the career communication, and build my network your (adopted) home city to those from journeys of numerous leaders in our field, across the NSW planning industry. interstate! such as Lucy Turnbull.
Christina Livers addressing attendees at a Young Planners professional development event earlier this year. 30 | DECEMBER 2015 | newplanner REVIEW
• Young Planners vs. Young Developers a committee or participate in another of Australia is the vehicle that will propel Debate volunteer position. In particular, I would the profession forward by giving those in I was proud to initiate this event with recommended that young planners get the planning industry a collective voice. Chris Johnson (CEO, Urban Taskforce), involved in PIA initiatives as it provides As such, I will continue to be involved in which saw PIA and the Urban Taskforce an opportunity to step up and take on various PIA initiatives. leadership roles, which is important for join forces to host a debate that pitted CL: What initiatives are you keen to be overall career development. If you’re young planners against young developers involved in next? on the controversial topic, ‘Planning Rules interested in finding our more, simply drop Drive Urban Innovation’. us a line on Facebook (www.facebook. HQ: Well, I have a few other initiatives com/nswyoungplanners) or via email on the go. Following an inspiring talk by • Young Planners Forum, NSW State ([email protected]). Kate Dundas at YPConnect 2014, I set up Conference 2000acres.org to promote urban agriculture CL: How does the NSW YP Convenor on vacant or underutilised land. I’m working I had great fun organising this inaugural contribute to broader PIA initiatives? event, which saw the Young Planners on this project with a small committee Forum integrated into the PIA NSW State HQ: Young Planners are usually in their first of volunteers to get people growing (and Conference for the first time. few years of their career and are therefore eating!) more fresh food in Sydney. Although new to PIA. The NSW YP Committee helps I did not seek nomination this year, I intend • Density, but not just downtown – is this to attract new members to PIA by running to maintain my involvement with the PIA the future of Sydney’s Growth Centres? events that are professionally relevant NSW Divisional Committee and may seek This sold out event provided young and fun to take part in. The Committee election to the Committee in future. I will planners with insight into the key factors also provides a conduit through which YPs also maintain my involvement with the NSW affecting change in Sydney’s Growth can have a voice in policy discussions at branch of the Royal Town Planning Institute. Centres and how this impacts development state and national level. By attracting and CL: What role do you think PIA has to play and greenfield urban design. engaging members, the YP Convenor, with in managing the rapid challenges facing our the help of the NSW Committee is able to CL: What did you learn from your time as a communities? contribute to broader PIA initiatives. leader of the NSW Young Planners? HQ: PIA provides a voice and a best- HQ: Now that your time on the YP Committee HQ: I learned an immense amount during practice guide for planning professionals is over, what do you want to do next? my time as NSW Convenor, as well as in Australia. Equipping members with NSW Representative on the National YP CL: I am passionate about furthering relevant training and pertinent, timely Committee. When I first joined the NSW the profession by taking a ‘big picture’ advice is the role that I think PIA must Committee, I had only just arrived from the approach to effectively manage the continue to play in the future. However, UK and, in hindsight, didn’t know much numerous and rapid changes facing our PIA can only play this role with the help about PIA or planning in NSW! I have been communities. In order to effect positive of committed members who volunteer able to meet a fantastic range of people, change, the voice of not one, but many, their time. I would encourage anyone and and make many friends and professional is critical. I believe the Planning Institute everyone to get involved! n contacts across the country. The opportunities offered by PIA, particularly whilst NSW YP Convenor, have helped me upcoming EVENTS develop a range of skills that will prove useful throughout my professional life. Study Tour of The Goods Line – Christmas Party @ Cargo Lounge – 9th December, 4.30pm 9th December, 6pm onwards HQ: Would you recommend that other YPs This study tour will provide an Join the Young Planners as they host get involved in PIA and, if so, how can they opportunity for Young Planners to the PIA NSW end of year Christmas do this? learn more about one of Sydney’s celebration. The event will be held at CL: Over the past six years I have most exciting urban renewal projects, Cargo Lounge (52-60 The Promenade, experienced first-hand the value of The Good Line. King St Wharf, Sydney). being actively involved in PIA and I would To attend either event please register through the PIA NSW website. encourage anyone reading this to join
newplanner | DECEMBER 2015 | 31 PLANNERTECH 30 moments that sum up PlannerTech for 2015
John O’Callaghan, Director, JOC Consulting
It’s been a big year for technology and the built metrics like capital costs and water and environment. More professionals are now engaged with energy consumption in balance. 21. Researchers at ETH Zurich used drones the conversation, new products are on the market and the to build a prototype rope bridge that can potential for innovation keeps pushing new boundaries. hold the weight of a person. In NSW we’ve made considerable progress. Here are 30 22. SolarWindow Technologies showcased moments from NSW, and around the world, inspiring a new solar window that generates power from direct and indirect sunlight change and shaping better places. as well as artificial light. 23. Building Information Modelling (BIM) made buildings ‘smarter’ by embedding 1. The NSW Department of Planning and 11. Tesla Motors released Autopilot important product and asset data into Environment launched an innovative Version 7.0 and made progress on the 3D computer models. Planning Hub. company’s high-precision mapping 24. Then MP, now PM, Malcolm Turnbull 2. Toshiba’s humanoid robot, Aiko software. General Motors (and other live tweeted from (Newcastle) train; the Chihira, assisted shoppers in a Tokyo manufacturers) are predicted to catch tweet went viral. department store. up fast. 25. Western Sydney University, in 3. NBN launched its first satellite, Sky 12. Boston Dynamics advanced work on its partnership with The Institute for Muster, which has the capacity to robot dog prototypes and jumping ‘sand Culture and Society, The Young and deliver download speeds of 25 megabits fleas’. Well Cooperative Research Centre and per second (Mbps). 13. SJB Urban, in partnership with RMIT Parramatta City Council, launched University, launched a beta version of 4. Blockbrief entered into partnership with ‘Invisible City’, a research project its housing choice app, Home:LIFE. CoreLogic RPData, the largest property mapping youth sentiment in and data and analytics provider in the world. 14. Urban Screen Productions and the towards Parramatta. Media Architecture Institute held the 5. More drones (UAVs) hit the skies 26. BrandCulture, in partnership with Meld first Digital Placemaking Symposium, but under tighter regulations, Strategies, developed a unique Digital called xCommunicate, at COFA. including CASA Certification and local Wayfinding System for the University of government approval. 15. Google unveiled its Sidewalk Labs Technology Sydney Campus. initiative, headed up by Dan Doctoroff, a 6. Data retention laws were implemented 27. The ACT Government passed new former deputy mayor of NYC. across Australia, requiring regulations enabling Uber, and other telecommunications companies to 16. Hassell Studio continued to produce (new) ride-sharing services, to legally record personal metadata for two years. great online videos, finding balance enter the Canberra market. between humour, education and 7. As part of Melbourne’s Urban Forest 28. ArcGIS partnered with what3words, showcase. Strategy, the City of Melbourne and a global address system based on a OOM Creative gave the City’s 77,000 17. Adam Beck, the director of innovation grid of 3mx3m squares, to improve trees individual email addresses. Soon at EcoDistricts, and an advisor to the the accuracy of addresses and after, people around the world start Washington DC-based Smart Cities communication. emailing and were surprised to get a Council, returned to Sydney. 29. Vision VR launched a consultancy and reply of thanks from ‘the tree’. The BBC 18. The Smart Future Cities 2015 Conference virtual reality CAD service in Sydney dubbed it ‘treemail’. was held in Newcastle in October. for architecture, construction and real 8. Lake Macquarie City Council developed 19. The US Department of Energy’s Oak estate clients. its first Digital Economy Strategy. Ridge National Laboratory 3D printed 30. Liquid water was discovered on Mars, 9. A digital ideas wall, by Social PinPoint a vehicle and house that communicate raising the question: should NASA hire for the Lake Macquarie Digital and share power wirelessly. a Planner? Economy Strategy, became the industry 20. AECOM and creative technology benchmark for online community agency, S1T2, created a game called With so much happening, could 2016 be the engagement. ‘Reconnected City’ with data drawn tipping point for technology in Planning? Let’s 10. Live-streaming app Periscope from AECOM’s Sustainable Systems set ourselves some homework, or at least entered the market, improving on Integration Model (SSIM). Players are organise our Christmas orders. I hear you older streaming services like Google challenged to improve traffic congestion can buy 3D printers online for less than an Hangouts and Meerkat. in a virtual city while keeping other key iPhone n 32 | DECEMBER 2015 | newplanner NEWS
the inbox
Elle Clouston MPIA
As we near the end of another Construction Authority, Transport for NSW (TfNSW), where he was responsible year, let’s take a moment to for providing advice to key government absorb the latest industry agencies and other stakeholders on news from around the State. planning approvals and assessments, as well as managing sustainability targets. Norma Shankie-Williams had her final day fter 21 years at GeoLINK, 12 at AECOM in October and Dean Hosking of them as owner/director, departed Cardno, moving into a Senior Rob van Iersel has stepped back Consultant role at Urbis. Ato provide planning services as a We close by wishing Jim Clarke (pictured) sole trader: rob van iersel + environmental from the NSW Department of Planning and planner. Rob is operating out of his North Environment all the best in his retirement. As Coast home and offering urban and many New Planner readers would know, Jim environmental planning services to both worked for the NSW Government for over 40 public and private clients. We congratulate years and has been instrumental in achieving Rob and wish him all the best in this new a number of significant planning milestones endeavour. on the NSW North Coast. His attention to After six years as Director, Office detail and keen eye for grammatical errors of Strategic Lands, Carl Malmberg led to his nickname of “Apostrophe Man”, a has accepted the new role of CEO of badge he proudly wears. Cemeteries and Crematoria NSW. Jim remembers fondly the many staff that Rachael Logie recently stepped aside he dealt with over the years. He is sad from her position at the Land and Housing to be saying goodbye; however, after 40 Corporation to join the HillPDA team as years working for the government, many an Associate. Also at HillPDA, Sarah Hill, would agree that his retirement is very well former PIA NSW President, announced the deserved! n birth of her baby girl, Savannah. Do you know of any industry news, such as a David Gainsford has been appointed recent recruitment, promotion or retirement, as Executive Director, Priority Projects that would interest New Planner readers? If Assessments in the NSW Department so, we’d love to hear from you! Send an email to [email protected] with ‘The of Planning and Environment. David Jim Clarke with his new recruits standard issue joins the Department from the Transport Inbox’ in the subject line. 1981 vintage green folder.
newplanner | DECEMBER 2015 | 33 snippets
David Winterbottom LFPIA
Green roofs in Europe France introduced a new law earlier this year mandating that all new buildings in commercial zones must be partially covered in either plants or solar panels. Environmentalists had been campaigning for green roofs to cover the entire roof surface, but the enacted requirement has been set to allow solar panels to help businesses reduce their energy bills and climate change emissions. Toronto introduced a bylaw mandating green roofs on all new industrial and residential buildings in 2009, and green roofs are widespread in Germany, Netherlands and in some other parts of Europe. Improving the urban environment through greenery need not just be at ground level. Paul Burall, Town & Country Planning (UK), June/July 2015 Drone’s eye view Even if you haven’t seen a drone or two flying around your city, chances are you will soon. Inexpensive and easy to operate, they’re coming to the masses and taking hold in industries from entertainment and energy to construction and engineering. Planners say they could offer tremendous uses in the field with real-time aerial views, high-resolution aerial imagery, and more detailed data for decision making. Despite the potential, commercial drone operation remains illegal in the U.S. without a special exemption from the Federal Aviation Green roofs are now mandatory in many countries. Administration. While the agency is moving toward establishing a licensing system in The students’ work provided a baseline Foreign language signs 2016, many commercial operators aren’t survey with some recommendations, Brisbane City Council has installed 55 waiting. It’s time to learn more about what addressing wider social, economic and foreign-language ‘wayfinding’ signs across could prove to be one of the greatest tools environmental challenges and opportunities the CBD, Fortitude Valley and Spring Hill. we’ve seen in the past decade. for improvement. It recognised the ability The signs provide directions and distances of communities to go beyond the statutory Craig Guillot, Planning (USA), October 2015 to key city locations, public transport hubs Neighbourhood Plan to produce a broader and places of interest in English, Chinese, Reconnecting town and gown ‘community plan’ that addresses some of Korean, Arabic and Japanese, helping the threats and opportunities associated In November 2012, the University of Brighton visitors and locals to navigate the city. with new development in the pipeline. The Planning School began working with the students’ work provided the community with Queensland Planner, Spring 2015 Hove Station Neighbourhood Forum on an a useful starting point for their own ideas innovative project that brought together Designed to flood and group development. student planners and residents in a process Call it trial by water. In early June, Mother of shared learning and co-creation of Samer Bagaeen, Georgia Wrighton Nature dropped nearly three inches of rain knowledge during the early stages of the and Mike Gibson, on an already soggy Chicago in one night, neighbourhood planning process. Town & Country Planning (UK), June/July 2015 flooding its newest public space – just two 34 | DECEMBER 2015 | newplanner NEWS
Brisbane City Council multilingual wayfinding sign (Source: Larraine Henning, Dotdash)
Chicago Riverwalk (Source: Don Harder, flickr) weeks after it opened. The city was already agencies that are set up there to support On the health track them, there’s little doubt that many of abuzz about the newly built space, which The fusion of public health and planning has created a continuous walkway and their inhabitants, often immigrants from isn’t new, but it’s gaining steam. During series of recreational spaces. If the city the French colonial diaspora, are battling the past 15 years at least, planning and residents were surprised that the project to get on the first rung of the economic public health entities, as well as non- flooded, the design team was not. ladder. But the pain is felt across all traditional grassroots organisations, have groups – our neighbours’ daughter was All lighting, plant materials and paving unemployed for months but has recently collaborated to improve community health along the Riverwalk were designed to landed a job – but as an au pair and in through better programs, policies, and withstand floodwaters, and the electrical Australia! planning of the built environment. service was located above flood level. The American Planning Association and The design team was most interested Graeme Bell, the American Public Health Association’s to see how quickly it would all clean up. Town & Country Planning (UK), June/July 2015 Plan4Health project aims to accelerate The verdict? Twelve hours for the water The world’s most liveable city? to recede and then another six hours to these efforts in communities throughout power wash the space and remove the For the fifth year in a row, Melbourne has the U.S. In March, the associations kicked sediment. Most of the Riverwalk was been named the world’s most liveable city off a three-year, $9 million nationwide reopened the evening following the storm. by The Economist. While it is very easy to initiative – funded by the federal Centers fall into cynicism about this accolade, in for Disease Control and Prevention – that Mary Hammon, my view it is an opportunity for celebration, provides grants to unique local coalitions Planning (USA), Aug/Sept 2015 reflection and action. But as planners, let’s to tackle two major contributors to chronic Unemployment in France also work on how we can expand the vision disease: lack of physical activity and lack In the Aude, the unemployment rate, at beyond “liveability” to richer objectives of access to nutritious foods. around equity, resilience, sustainability, over 12%, is among the highest in the This first year, 18 coalitions were awarded wellbeing and happiness. Let’s focus on country. This economic stress shows a cumulative $2.25 million to support actions that can spatially and sectorally mainly in the major towns, and then at its their projects. APA and APHA currently spread employment opportunities, improve most extreme in the high-density social are vetting 85 proposals from 38 states to transport equality, provide education, and housing estates. These mono-tenure, determine the second round of grantees raise both preventative and restorative barracks-like developments are no-go for the coming year. areas for outsiders, and while they have health standards. the advantage (if you could call it that) James Larmour-Reid, Laura Pedulli, of being easy to service by the multi- Victorian Planning News, Sept 2015 Planning (USA), October 2015
newplanner | DECEMBER 2015 | 35 SNAPPED Barangaroo before and after
Stephen McMahon FPIA, Inspire Urban Design and Planning
Aerial view of Barangaroo, Sydney 2015*
Barangaroo Reserve, 2012 to 2015* Munn Street, 2013 to 2015 Pyrmont Bay Wharf, 2013 to 2015 Shelly Street, 2013 to 2015 * Source: Barangaroo Delivery Authority. Used with permission. 36 | DECEMBER 2015 | newplanner PIA POSITION STATEMENT | 37 | DECEMBER 2015 | 37 planner new Planning in a changing adopt the principles and to statement, climate outlined in the statement positionand approach access To going forward. in their practice visit the of the position statement, a copy www.planning.org.au/policy/ PIA website: n current-positions government and the community, and by and the community, government of responsibility acceptance the advocating an have planners urgency, and need for of action on be leaders opportunity to change. climate to institutions with research Working needs of the identify the research better ways develop and to planning profession science climate communicate better to help tackle can is another way planners also help can change. Planners climate integrate to and academics educators PIA change planning into climate planning courses. accredited meaningful, inclusive Promoting and engagement with communities their awareness raise to stakeholders change, and enabling their about climate is participation in policy development, of planners. responsibility another key with other collaboration Through develop can planners professions, and integrated that are responses their professional and enhance effective, and understandings. connections the As the national body representing PIA also has an planning profession, play in supporting to role important of build their level to members change. about climate understanding development professional By offering and opportunities, sharing tools mitigation and adaptation, for approaches and mentoring, to access providing PIA can policy development, to contributing amongst development support capacity in and decision makers both planners and industry. government the read to all members PIA encourages
Focus on the whole of existing of existing on the whole Focus development. new not just communities, Adopt multi-disciplinary and working practices, collaborative and other professions alongside build consensus to governments, of whole develop within communities, and identify responses, government actions for and coordinated consistent mitigation and adaptation. and communities with affected Work risks and assess to other stakeholders change and climate to vulnerabilities responses. resilient appropriately develop Promote strategies that seek to reduce reduce that seek to strategies Promote non-renewable for demand the overall greenhouse reduce of energy, sources and support the shift to gas emissions energy. renewable • • • • Through the position statement, PIA the position statement, Through of the complexities acknowledges challenges planning in a changing climate planning, to approaches traditional and collaboration innovation, requiring approach responses. A preferred flexible change outlined in climate addressing to planners provides the position statement adapt their practice, ways to with practical a across policy making and performance of areas. range is leadership. approach this to Central clients, to provided the advice Through The principles recognise that the decisions recognise The principles in guiding urban and now make planners will shape the future development regional Planners live. in which we environments should, therefore: ial to sential to position Planning in a
ood planning is es climate and adapt to mitigate change. PIA’s changing climate
in a changing climate in a changing
Planning G
and economy. significant challenges to our ecosystems, communities to our ecosystems, challenges significant being felt in Australia, and they continue to present present to continue and they in Australia, being felt wellbeing. Already, the effects of climate change are change are of climate the effects Already, wellbeing. are likely to impact our biodiversity, food security and food impact our biodiversity, to likely are sea level rise, and more intense storms and cyclones and cyclones storms intense rise, and more sea level heat, longer bushfire seasons, more regular drought, regular drought, seasons, more bushfire heat, longer The risks of climate change cannot be ignored. Extreme Extreme be ignored. change cannot The risks of climate gies. strate mitigation and adaptation emissions, and developing climate change climate and developing emissions, play their part in reducing greenhouse gas greenhouse play their part in reducing framework for PIA and its members to to PIA and its members for framework the position statement provides a provides the position statement By outlining a set of planning principles, By outlining a set of planning principles, term challenges of climate change. of climate challenges term are under-prepared to deal with the long- deal with the to under-prepared are related issues and that planning systems and that planning systems issues related strengthen its understanding of climate- its understanding strengthen that the planning profession needs to needs to that the planning profession The position statement also acknowledges also acknowledges The position statement levels of government. of government. levels adaption strategies being employed by all being employed adaption strategies the planning policies and mitigation and alignment, coordination and integration of and integration alignment, coordination position statement encourages greater greater encourages position statement risks presented by climate change, the by climate risks presented To effectively reduce and manage the reduce effectively To changing climate. engagement to address the reality of a the reality address engagement to research and innovation, and collaborative and collaborative and innovation, research calls for stronger leadership, continued continued leadership, stronger for calls of long-term strategic leadership. It leadership. strategic of long-term been developed in response to a lack to in response been developed change, PIA’s position statement has position statement change, PIA’s acknowledge the need to plan for climate climate plan for need to the acknowledge Australia have adopted policies that adopted have Australia While various levels of government in of government levels various While global challenge. challenge. global planners to help address this significant this significant help address to planners statement provides a starting point for all point for a starting provides statement Experts in delivering innovative & Utilise our planning lawyers’ expertise and responsive planning solutions
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newplanner | DECEMBER 2015 | 39 11th - 13th May 2016, Brisbane
11th - 13th May 2016, Brisbane
40 | DECEMBER 2015 | newplanner