Thesis Annette Bardsley 2018
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
PERCEPTIONS OF BUSHFIRE RISK AND PLANNING IN PERI-URBAN ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA AND LOCARNO, SWITZERLAND ANNETTE BARDSLEY BA (Honours), Geneva University, Switzerland PGDipEd, Monash University, Melbourne Thesis submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Geography Environment and Population (GEP) School of Social Sciences Faculty of Arts The University of Adelaide December 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………….i LIST OF TABLES………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………….….vi LIST OF FIGURES…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………..viii LIST OF PLATES………………………………………………………………………………….………………………......….……………..x ABSTRACT ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……….xi DECLARATION………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….xiii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………xiv ABBREVIATIONS…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………………..xv CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROBLEM ……………………………………………… 1 1.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1 1.2 Significance of the problem and key theoretical framework …………………………..…………….……………. 2 1.3 The temporal and spatial scope of the study…………………………………………………………….…………………. 6 1.4 Thesis aim and objectives……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 8 1.5 The rationale for the cross-cultural research approach……………………………………………………………….. 9 1.6 Outline of the study and key research questions………………………………………………………………………… 10 1.7 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 12 CHAPTER 2: PLANNING FOR HIGH ENVIRONMENTAL RISK IN THE PERI-URBAN SPACE WITHIN A RISK SOCIETY CONTEXT……………………………………………………………………………………………………….…..…….……14 2.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….14 2.2 Risk society and the motivational goals of personal values…………………………………………….……………15 2.3 Collaborative management in an era of personal disengagement and focus on self……….…………..19 2.4 The dynamics of the peri-urban space……………………………………………………………………………….………..21 2.5 The management of values and risks in the Mount Lofty Ranges ……………………………..…………………26 i 2.5.1 Landscape value and biodiversity management……………………………….………….………………26 2.5.2 Bushfires in the Mt Lofty Ranges………………………………………….………………………………………31 2.6 Personal perceptions of values and risks……………………………………………………………………………………..33 2.7 Comprehensive planning through education and deliberation…………………………………………………….38 2.8. Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………….……………..………………………..40 CHAPTER 3: SETTING THE SCENE: STUDY SITES…………………………….……………..……………………………….42 3.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…42 3.2 The Australian study site……………………………………………………………..……………………………….…….………43 3.2.1 The geography climate and environmental risk factors of the Mount Lofty Ranges………………………………………………………………..………………………………………………………..….…46 3.2.2 Governance and planning in South Australia…………………………………………..….……….…..….52 3.3 Swiss study site: the Locarnese region on Canton Ticino, Switzerland…………………………….……………58 3.3.1 Geography and climate………………………………………………………………………..….……….…………58 3.3.2 Governance and planning …………………………………………………………………………….………….…66 3.4 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………….…………...70 CHAPTER 4: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY……………………………………………..……………………..………………..71 4.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………….………….…………………..…71 4.2 Quantitative and qualitative research methodologies……………………………….….………………………..….71 4.3 Gathering empirical evidence ……………………………………………………………………..……………….………..….73 4.3.1 Selecting the sample……………………………………………………………………...……………………..……73 4.3.2 Pilot interviews and questionnaire design …………………………………….……..………………….…74 4.3.3 Undertaking the surveys……………………………………………….………………….………..…..…..……..76 4.4 Methodological specificities of the Australian case study ……………………….………….……….…………..…76 ii 4.5 Methodological specificities of the Swiss case study ……………………………………………..……………………80 4.6 Survey response rates ………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………….84 4.7 Socio-cultural and demographic profile of respondents …………………………………….……………………….86 4.7.1 Demographics of Australian respondents………………………………….…………………..……………87 4.7.2 Demographics of Swiss respondents…………………………………….……………………………………..88 4.8 Analytical approach and data presentation ………………………………………………………..………...……………91 4.9 Ethical considerations when dealing with environmental risk………….…………………..………….…………93 4.10 Limitation of research methodology…………………………………………………………………..……..….………….93 4.11 Methods to ensure the quality of research…………………………………………………………………….…………94 4.12 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………………….……..……….………………95 CHAPTER 5: PERCEPTIONS OF BUSHFIRE RISKS AND ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES IN THE MOUNT LOFTY RANGES……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….96 5.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…96 5.2 Values in relation to place and the environment…………………………………………………………………………97 5.2.1 Attachment to place and personal values influencing choice of residential location………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………97 5.2.2 Personal values in relation to the natural environment…………………………………………….101 5.2.3 Personal safety and security values in relation to forest management aimed at mitigating the risk of bushfires……………………………………………………..………………………………………….………..102 5.3 Perception of natural hazard risk and vulnerability…………………………………………………..………………103 5.3.1 Personal experiences and knowledge of bushfires ……………………………………………………103 5.3.2 Personal agency in risk mitigation and satisfaction organisation of fire risk management………………………………………………………………..………………………………………….….……105 5.3.3 Likelihood of a major fire occurring………………………………………..………………………...…..….106 5.3.4 Perceived vulnerability of the residential property……………………………………………………107 iii 5.3.5 Planned behaviour for a catastrophic day……………………………….………….….…………………110 5.3.6 Voluntary relocation due to the perceived bushfire risk …………………………………….……..114 5.3.7 The capacity to escape a potential fire…………………………………………….…..……..…………….116 5.3.8 The relationship between inhabitants and trees in the Hills……………………………….………119 5.3.9 The question of ‘checking before buying’……………………………………………………………..……121 5.4 Relationship to urban planning processes………………………………………………….………………..……………122 5.4.1 Voice, familiarity/knowledge of the land use planning system……………………………….…122 5.4.2 Satisfaction levels with land use and spatial planning system…………………..………………..124 5.4.3 Respondents’ suggestions for enhanced safety…………………………………………………………128 5.5 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………..……………………….……………………….……128 CHAPTER 6: LANDSCAPE PLANNING PERSPECTIVES WITHIN A DELIBERATIVE DEMOCRATIC SETTING OF HIGH ENVIRONMENTAL RISK………………………………………………………………………………………………..130 6.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………..……………………………………………130 6.2 Perceptions of place and of the environment……………………………………………………………………………131 6.2.1 Attachment to place and values influencing choice of residential location…………………131 6.2.2 Perceptions of the natural environment and urban sprawl……….……………………..………..137 6.3 Perception of natural hazard risk and vulnerability………………………………………………..………………....142 6.3.1 Personal experiences and knowledge of wildfires ………….…………………….……………………142 6.3.2 Satisfaction with the organisation of the fire risk management……………….…….………….145 6.3.3 Perception of environmental risk push factors…………….………………………………..………..…145 6.3.4 Wildfires as the most significant natural hazard threatening the home…..…….…………..147 6.3.5 Likely timeframe of a major wildfire, hazard evaluation and management responsibilities………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………….….148 6.3.6 Risks coming from the forest itself and the extent of the forest………………………………….150 iv 6.3.7 Removal of trees to create buffer zones…………………………………………………………………...151 6.3.8 Identifying risk management options that enhance feelings of personal safety………..153 6.4 Relationship to the urban planning process………………………………………………………………………………154 6.4.1 Familiarity with/ knowledge of the spatial planning system………………………………………154 6.4.2 Voice and participation in the planning system……………………………………….……….………155 6.5 Conclusion……………………………………………..…………………………………………………………….………………….159 CHAPTER 7: DELIBERATIVE PLANNING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RISK…………………………………..………162 7.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….162 7.2 Planning challenges in areas of high environmental risk and significant ecological value….……….164 7.3 Spatial planning in a highly deliberative context…………………………………………………….………………….170 7.4 Hazard education and communication through participatory planning……………………….……..……..175 7.5 A deliberative planning system for South Australia……………………………………………….……….…………179 7.6 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………………….……………..…….…………182 CHAPTER 8: CONCLUSION………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………184 8.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………….184 8.2 Summary of findings based on the research questions …………………………………………………….……….185 8.2.1 Socio-ecological dynamics within peri-urban areas exposed to environmental hazards and of high amenity and conservation values…………………………………………………………………....185 8.2.2 Deliberative planning strategies for safer spatial outcomes in peri-urban areas of elevated bushfire risk………………………………………..…………………………………………….………………..188 8.2.3 Learning planning lessons from international comparisons ……………………….…………..…191 8.3 Limitations of study and recommendations for future research……………………………………………..…191 8.4 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………..……………………………….…………….194