UNSW City Planning 2018 - Capstone Projects

Gold Sponsors

Ethos Urban is Australia’s leading national urban solutions company. We blend design, economics, engagement and planning to help our clients create urban environments that people love. People are at the heart of our business and projects; that is our ethos. ethosurban.com

Industry Partners Industry Partners

Table of Contents

message from the dean

message from the discipline director

message from course convenor, bachelor of city planning

master of city planning, final year theses planning program staff acknowledgements 008 010 014 016 154 152 181 180

bachelor of city planning, final year theses

message from course convenor, master of city planning

message from the dean

UNSW built environment planning our tomorrow

Our vision is to inspire and develop the next generation of city makers and prepare them for global careers. We are proudly achieving this through initiatives designed to empower our students; to shape their learning and establish global research and learning partnerships for knowledge exchange and thought leadership. Our Faculty is working in an environment where students determine their own path to global careers. Through personalised education that is both broad and deep, students can navigate flexible pathways within our programs connecting world-class knowledge with leading practice to prepare them for meaningful careers. Our students have been learning from highly regarded academic planning experts and

a select group of seasoned planning practitioners—all of whom combine theory, knowledge and practical skill sets in classroom pedagogy. Additionally, project-based learning experiences developed from briefs relevant to, and provided by industry, as well as the one-year BCP work experience program, offer students a university experience unique to our Faculty. Our research agenda is vital to cities, their built environments, and inhabitants. Research is ingrained in the Faculty’s culture through the interplay of research with education and practice. The capstone projects featured in this catalogue reflect the teaching and research nexus that the Faculty boasts as a strength in both undergraduate and postgraduate planning programs.

Since 1966, the City Planning Program at UNSW Built Environment has educated many of the key planners and urbanists who have shaped Australia’s cities. A top ERA ranking of 5* for Urban and Regional Planning in both 2012 and 2015, recognises the contribution of excellence in research, as well as quality education, to the success of the Planning Program and the academics who have been pivotal in contributing to an informed discourse on the development of our cities. As we work toward UNSW 2025, our Planning programs will continue to be an integral part of the Faculty. We will continue to build on our strong pedagogical foundation in evidencebased analysis, logical and lateral urban think-

ing, creative processes and technical rigour. UNSW Built Environment provides the platform to generate innovative solutions for today’s world that also anticipate and mitigate tomorrow’s urban problems. Our imperative is to make the world a better place through a better built environment.

Professor Helen Lochhead

Dean, UNSW Built

Environment

message from the program director

city planning

A warm congratulations to this year’s graduating planning students. I hope you enjoy this special celebration that marks the successful completion of your graduation thesis.

This year’s thesis catalogue includes over 80 thesis projects, both undergraduate and postgraduate final year students. Each topic reflects the great city in which we live and the tremendous change it is undergoing in terms of urban form, economy, society and culture. The topics touch on many of the challenges and opportunities in city planning, including emerging issues on greening cities, the sharing economy, blockchain technology and timely issues such as affordable housing, internal migration, climate change and our ageing society. Each project draws on a critical mass for future city planning, evaluation and strategies.

I would like to extend my appreciation to the teaching and administration staff from the Program, City Futures Research Centre, sessional staff and external partners. Special thanks go to Lilly and Susie, our fabulous administrative team, for your efforts throughout the year. This year’s thesis project has been particularly challenging with two streams of cohorts, Bachelor of Planning and Bachelor of City Planning degree, merging. Indeed, this year’s thesis course has truly been a team endeavour. As supervisors and students, we met face-to-face when needed, sent many chapter files back and forth, and had a series of meetings, sometimes with tears, to deliberate ideas, concepts and theoretically challenging questions. I am sure that you all are inspired by this collection of tremendous

work as a result of unpacking Pandora’s box of ‘Planning Our Tomorrow’.

Last but not least, I would like to express my sincere thanks to our sponsors. This year’s planning exhibition has been sponsored by our long-lasting partners: Ethos Urban, GSA Planning, Planning Ingenuity and City Plan. Without their kind support we could not have hosted such event with over 120 participants.

We are very proud of the work produced by this year’s students, as it collectively shows a great deal of knowledge, inspiration and creativity. Your efforts will not only allow you to have successful and worthy careers in city planning practice but will enable you to tackle the many challenges facing our modern urban environments towards a liveable city.

Once again, congratulations on your remarkable achievement at UNSW over the past years. Please always remember that planning is a small world. No matter where you travel within the state, inter-states or overseas throughout your career, you will meet many UNSW planning alumni. Our school of planning ages 52 years with thousands of graduates—be sure to remain connected.

My final remark is taken from my ‘Quantitative Methods’ lecture:

“Meeting each one of you is like winning a ‘Gold Lotto’ in my statistics dictionary”.

Bon Voyage,

Associate Professor Hoon Han Director City Planning Program

bachelor of city planning final year theses

course statement

final year thesis

bachelor of city planning

It is exciting to see another exhibition catalogue come to fruition and to acknowledge its place in 53 years of archival material produced by the program. In the final year of the Bachelor of Planning and the newly minted Bachelor of City Planning degrees, students design and then execute independent research on a topic of their choice. Their research culminates in an undergraduate thesis of up to 20,000 words, the capstone project of their degree.

This catalogue represents a snapshot of hundreds of hours of class time, thousands of hours of research, carefully planned individual fieldwork and countless days of writing produced by our graduating class.

Groundwork for a thesis project begins in

Bachelor of City Planning

semester one through a preparatory course that revisits the practicalities of research design, research ethics and methodology. Students develop a research proposal that sets out exactly what they plan to do in their independent research project, how they will do it, and why it is worth doing. The range of topics is vast, reflecting both the breadth of planning as a discipline and the interests and backgrounds of the students themselves. Students have been involved with GIS mapping, built-environment audits, in-depth interviewing, participant observation, creating and administering online surveys via social media platforms, autoethnography, and data and policy analysis. They have covered issues such as sharing and disruptive economies,

the UNSW Torch Precinct, blue urbanism, unconscious bias in decision making, bushfire buy-back scheme, engaging with Aboriginal stakeholders in environmental management, and a range of other topical planning challenges that face our cities and regional areas today.

In their final semester, each student is assigned a supervisor from the City Planning staff, City Futures Research Centre staff or a practitioner from industry. Successful completion and examination of so many independent research projects within a relatively short space of time would not be possible without guidance and input in supervisory and examination roles— their time is appreciated. It is also fitting to take this opportunity to thank the many other people who have assisted students in their research

endeavours this year. Literally hundreds of people have contributed directly through participation in interviews, surveys and other advisory capacities.

Throughout their undergraduate journey, students have intensively studied the forces that have shaped planning outcomes for better or worse in many different contexts and at different scales. Having worked closely with them, I can see that they are ready to take on new challenges and make their marks on the planning profession. No doubt, each year sets the benchmark higher for the next and I am proud to have been part of their success.

Dr Christine Steinmetz Course Convenor

The global scale of contemporary environmental issues has resulted in a growing realisation of the need to steward the environment in pursuit of desirable social outcomes. Although the surface of the planet is predominantly blue, analytical discussions of environmental stewardship have traditionally favoured terrestrial environments. Based on a foundational understanding of ‘blue urbanism’, this thesis considers the extent to which ‘softening’ the urban edge through interventions in the built environment can foster a holistic ethic of ocean stewardship. This aligns with the shifting focus of planning; a discipline once concerned only with fixed spaces on land now becoming increasingly

spatial and strategic. The relationship between blue urbanism and ocean stewardship is explored through a mixed-methods approach: in-depth interviews, domestic and international case studies, and a critical literature review. The findings of the primary research indicate that built environment interventions alone cannot foster ocean stewardship. A holistic ethic of ocean stewardship calls for a proactive and interdisciplinary approach to cultivate a culture of care for the ocean and prioritise resilience in the face of unprecedented change. This thesis contributes an understanding of the need to integrate a holistic ethic of ocean stewardship into marine spatial planning theory and practice.

“Although the surface of the planet is predominantly blue, analytical discussions of environmental stewardship have traditionally favoured terrestrial environments.”

Alastair Sim

Where are the trees? A strategic approach to urban greening in Sydney's south-west growth area

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Author 2018

The valuable role that trees and vegetation play in creating liveable and sustainable urban environments is well attested to in planning literature. Trees and vegetation located within built-up areas provide suburban communities with amenity, a sense of place, enhanced biodiversity and help mitigate against contemporary climatic impacts in a landscape primarily dominated by buildings and hard surfaces. Despite the seemingly obvious advantages of maintaining and developing tree canopies, achieving positive outcomes on the ground is not always easy.

In Sydney’s fast-expanding South West Growth Area, it is critical that the effective landscaping of new greenfield residential subdivisions becomes a strategic priority of both

state and local governments. The ongoing adverse environmental impacts of taking ‘no action’ are multiplied in south-western Sydney, bearing in mind the characteristics of this region’s geography. The primary aim of this project is to determine whether the current development policies and planning strategies pursued by local and state government within the Growth Area realise the goal of creating sustainable, liveable and leafy suburbs. Drawing upon best-practice examples of urban tree management and the expertise of interviewees, this thesis highlights management, governmental and other barriers to urban greening and proposes practical solutions to these issues.

“…this thesis highlights management, governmental and other barriers to urban greening and proposes practical solutions to these issues.”

Alexandra Satz

In train(ing)

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Kerioke 2012

Successful integration around stations has no one single definition. If achieved, it can result in a better return on investment for the government, help to reduce car dependency in a city facing a congestion crisis and, most critically, has a multitude of positive outcomes for the community. Historically, seamless transport and land-use integration has not been consistently achieved around heavy rail stations in Sydney. Case studies at Green Square and Wentworth Point will seek to identify the presence of comparable characteristics and policies used to achieve transport and land use integration.

This thesis investigates the challenges faced by the New South Wales

Government in achieving seamless transport and land-use integration around the proposed Bays metro station. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods are used to explore to what extent definitive processes are in place to achieve this integration. In-depth interviews with industry professionals provided unique perspectives on the topic and identified a range of views around the definition of successful transport and landuse integration. Interviews similarly explored reasons why integration in a Sydney context has historically been unsuccessful. Numerous agencies, both government and non-government, must work together to facilitate and achieve seamless transport and land use integration.

“This thesis investigates the challenges faced by the New South Wales Government in achieving seamless transport and land-use integration.”

Beau Drummond

City branding business: Case study of Rapha, place and city branding

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Author 2018

It is easy for individuals to become lost in the 21st century, a time where the world is driven by power and money. Companies are continually developing their profiles to tap into new markets and source new revenue, often learning how their consumer behaves and interacts with the world. One of the primary natural behaviours of a human is to seek belonging and a sense of place, which can be achieved through various means. Through key informant interviews, discourse analysis and autoethnography, this thesis attempts to understand how one company in particular is taking a different approach in establishing a connection with its

consumers. Rapha has a unique business model that utilises city branding and place identity to develop its profile and expand its market. This research establishes a connection between sense of belonging, place identity and profitability at both a global and a local scale. The interviews highlight the role of ‘community’ in building a successful company profile, proposing a link between the built environment and business revenue. Thesis conclusions suggest that links between companies and place can increase profile and profitability where city branding influences the consumer market.

“This research establishes a connection between sense of belonging, place identity and profitability at both a global and a local scale.”

Brenton Pearce

What happens when a regional town becomes the MTB capital of Australia?

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Author 2018

Increasingly, rural towns are looking to tourism as a means of economic and social renewal. Unspoilt rural landscapes, scenic beauty, distinctive culture and unique heritage, are key characteristics that attract outdoor recreational enthusiasts to a destination. Bicycle tourism offers a model that allows bicycle enthusiasts to coexist with rural communities and appreciate the facilities that the town has to offer. There are a range of factors that make world-class cycling destinations attractive such as authentic visitor experience, specialist infrastructure, and a strong local cycling culture. In this regard, Victoria sits atop of the list in the Australian context as an established destination for bicycle

tourism. Recent investment by the State Government of Tasmania as part of the Tasmanian Government’s T21 Visitor Economy plan via the Tasmanian Cycle Tourism Strategy has dedicated $6 million to the Tasmanian Cycle Tourism Fund. The fund supports the development of new bicycle tourism infrastructure such as rail trails and mountain bike parks within rural towns. This thesis explores the impact bicycle tourism has had in Bright, Victoria and Derby, Tasmania. Using observation through an ethnographic lens and a series of in-depth interviews to demonstrate the effectiveness of bicycle tourism as a mechanism for rural renewal.

“Bicycle tourism offers a model that demonstrates the ability for bicycle enthusiasts to coexist with rural communities.”

Brigitte Bradley

The people’s home: Innovation for social housing in an increasingly political climate

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Author 2018

Australian implementation of social housing has historically been driven by cultural philosophies, demographics and housing needs. In the current neoliberal climate, government involvement in the design and construction of social housing has taken a back seat forcing the role onto the free market to provide high quality housing without impacting the bottom line. Using qualitative research techniques, this thesis aims to determine how design outcomes can be achieved in the specific Australian context. Best practice principles in international case studies have been identified through comparative housing analysis based on strategic documents and academic literature at

a city level. Further research into the current and future vision for the NSW perspective has been determined through in-depth interviews with key stakeholders involved in the various aspects of social housing development. Consideration of the current political landscape and investigations into the role of government intervention in social housing in NSW determined the potential for new methods of procurement which consider design outcomes. This thesis establishes recommendations for providing high quality, low cost design outcomes for future development in NSW and how the role of design should be addressed in future social policy.

“...government involvement in the design and construction of social housing has taken a back seat forcing the role onto the free market to provide high quality housing.”

Brock Cauchi

Life in the estate: Exploring privatism and community in Ropes Crossing, a master planned estate on Sydney’s fringe

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Author 2018

Master planned estates (MPEs) have become an increasingly important feature of urban development in Australia over the past 30 years. This has been highly attributed to a shifting economic and policy landscape, a restructuring housing market, and new public-private co-relationships. Within Sydney, MPEs have greatly stimulated the socio-spatial redistribution of wealth across the city, and in turn are significantly redefining the concepts of ‘privatism’ and ‘community’; characteristically prominent within these urban typologies. This reflects a shifting demographic of residents who seek relatively upmarket housing in locations where such development was not traditionally accessible. Using Ropes Crossing in Sydney’s west as a case

study, this thesis explores the concepts of ‘privatism’ and ‘community’ amidst the phenomenon of MPEs. Through a community questionnaire and semi-structured interviews, this study contributes to existing research by analysing the lived realities of residents in MPEs. The research also explores the perceived implications of the development adjacent to suburbs that Ropes Crossing is socio-economically distinct from. While residents’ share many commonalities with their experiences in Ropes Crossing, this thesis demonstrates these experiences are intrinsically multifaceted and complex. Preconceived assumptions about MPEs will thus be challenged through the perspectives of residents and other relevant stakeholders.

“This study contributes to existing research by analysing the lived realities of residents in MPEs.”

Caleb Ball

Australia’s got talent: Investigation of the NSW Pilot State Design Review Panel

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Sasin Paraksa n.d.

For a range of reasons related to the liveability, productivity and sustainability of our cities, design considerations have been elevated by governments across Australia in recent years. The term 'design governance' refers to the ways in which governments may choose to intervene in the means and processes of designing the built environment. Design governance can take many forms, including design guidance, design controls, and tools such as design competitions and design review panels. An increase in major project development across NSW has prompted the NSW Government Architect to provide a State Design Review Panel. This has ramifications for designing schools, universities and

hospitals. This thesis explores the potential implications for the planning and project development phase of State Significant Development (SSD).

A review of the literature on design quality, design governance and design review formed the basis for the research. The empirical research then involved in-depth interviews with stakeholders that have first-hand experiences of this new design review panel. The State Design Review Panel was found to be a reactive measure to align design governance with other jurisdictions across Australia as a way to provide design guidance for SSD projects. The panel is a pilot program and thus recommendations were made on future design review panels in NSW.

“An increase in major project development across NSW has prompted the NSW Government Architect to provide a State Design Review Panel.”

Challenging the economics of the urban environment: Affordable housing in the City of Sydney

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Lindle+Bukor 2016

A complex challenge for policy makers and urban planners for decades has been how to provide housing for moderate and low-income households. This thesis investigates the economic conditions required to achieve affordable housing in the City of Sydney LGA.

In June 2018, the City of Sydney Council proposed the extension of their affordable housing levy across the entire LGA. Under the proposal, all new major developments will be required to either provide completed dwellings or pay a levy of between one and three per cent.

The thesis reviews the policy framework around setting development levies, the lack of a publicly available analysis of what those levies might raise, and the lack of a model for the costs associated with building affordable housing. The thesis also investigates the targets set by the City of Sydney, both at the number of total dwellings to be built and the target of having seven and a half per cent of the housing stock affordable by 2030. Finally, the thesis reviews ABS data re the rate of dwelling construction over the past eleven years compared to the targets that were set.

“The City of Sydney’s proposed extension affordable housing policy across the entire LGA would have an increase in the provision of affordable rental housing.”

Cameron Gray

Public art provisions in local planning

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Author 2018

Public art can exist in a wide variety of forms and through a number of different mediums. As a result, there is no singular approach to the development of public art around the world or within Australia. This is particularly evident in New South Wales, where varying cultural policies have resulted in an inconsistent distribution and function of public art works. This thesis investigates the recent proposal by the Department of Planning and Environment to standardise Development Control Plans as a unique opportunity for a more uniform approach to public art to be delivered across the state. The findings

of this work have been informed by a review of current literature on the topic and relevant public art policies. In addition, an analysis of all Development Control Plans within New South Wales and in-depth interviews with employees from various local councils have been undertaken. The research has concluded that public art must be considered within the standard Development Control Plan in order to create a more uniform mechanism for the development and distribution of public art. A number of model provisions have been suggested as a result of the research which in turn may be used more widely across Australia.

“There is no singular approach to the development of public art around the world or within Australia.”

Charlotte Ryan

Children gone wild: Nature in the city

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy G. Martin 2018

The physiological and psychological benefits of nature for children are well researched. The message is clear: without regular experiences in nature, children are more vulnerable to physical and emotional illness. Without an appreciation of the natural world, children are less inclined to nurture and protect it. Amidst urban planning strategies to ‘green’ our city and increase canopy cover, there have been few attempts to devise policies, guidelines or strategies to facilitate children’s need to be connected with nature, particularly as our cities densify.

This study uses interviews with nature play specialists and industry professionals to identify the qualities

and elements that constitute a good nature play experience for today’s children. As well, findings from three diverse case studies of nature play gardens in Australia demonstrate the benefits and challenges planning for, designing and implementing nature play spaces in Australian cities. The research results demonstrate the need for a more strategic approach to planning for nature in contemporary cities. The thesis concludes with a set of recommendations for planners to create opportunities for children to connect regularly and meaningfully with nature within the urban built environment.

“The message is clear: without regular experiences in nature, children are more vulnerable to physical and emotional illness.”

Christian Han

Digital public involvement: Past, present and future

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Sharp & Company 2014

With the advent and advancement of digital and communication technologies, the scope of public involvement practice has been largely widened around the globe. Digital participation innovations are now being used by governments and organisations to streamline public involvement processes and reach out to wider communities. The effectiveness and applicability of many of these projects are, however, ambiguous and under researched. This thesis examines the development history of digital public involvement practice and investigates its implications on community engagement for social and general planning issues. Through the in-depth assessment of international case studies and interviews with relevant planning professionals from

Australia and overseas, the research establishes a new framework for digital public involvement on the basis of the 1993 World Bank model of public involvement. The research indicates that by using applicable digital techniques, the efficiency and effectiveness of public involvement can be improved. Nevertheless, possibility exists that technologies could be misused in public involvement, which leads to some digital participation innovations failing to achieve the desired result. The thesis ultimately provides recommendations which are based on the current situation of worldwide digital public involvement practice and suggests potential applications and research directions for planners.

“Digital participation innovations are now being used by governments and organisations to streamline public involvement processes and reach out to wider communities.”

Claire Ferguson

From metropolis to region: Employment as a driver of migration to Orange, NSW

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Author 2018

Strong population growth in Australia’s metropolitan cities, accompanied with concerns regarding housing affordability and congestion, has reignited political debate around the need for stronger regional policies as part of a wider national settlement strategy. Current migration patterns tend to focus on movement to coastal areas that already benefit from tourism interest and sea-changers. However, this research explores the recent ‘treechange’ experience in Orange in Central West NSW. ABS 2016 Census data highlights good growth in working age cohorts, with local employment opportunities growing in parallel. Interviews with a range of recent movers to the city, employed by key Government

agencies and other public sector organisations, highlight a range of important motivations, notably lifestyle factors and urban amenity underpinning the city’s pull for young professionals. Interviewees emphasise the financial and social benefits afforded to them by having made the move. Orange has experienced a high level of success in attracting new residents compared to other similar sized regional locations. The thesis explores the context within which employment and wider economic policy settings have helped contribute to this success, as well as considering the potential to help inform improved approaches to decentralisation and regional growth in NSW.

“Orange has experienced a high level of success in attracting new residents compared to other similar sized regional locations.”

David Rowley

Bachelor of City Planning

Engaging the metropolis: The application of communicative planning principles by the Greater Sydney Commission Image courtesy Author 2018

Liberal notions of democracy have been widely acknowledged as a central tenet to the planning profession, and the past two decades have seen ideals of ‘communicative planning’, which emphasise inclusive and collaborative engagement with diverse stakeholders, gain prominence in planning literature. Despite this, it has been acknowledged that there is a 'theory-practice gap', and such an approach has not been fully realised at a metropolitan-wide scale in Sydney’s strategic planning. The emergence of a metropolitan authority responsible for strategic planning in Sydney, the Greater Sydney Commission, has presented an opportunity to shift the landscape of engagement in the city by taking steps to close this gap. This

research examines the methods of engagement utilised by the Greater Sydney Commission, having been informed by interviews with experts who have worked with the Commission, in conjunction with desktop analysis of online material. It explores these theoretical ideals of communicative planning through a literature review of scholarly sources and reflects on debate regarding its benefits. This exercise informs a comparison of the methods implemented by the Commission in practice against those ideals developed in theory to highlight the challenges in applying these ideals. From this comparison, evaluations are made that inform policy recommendations.

“The emergence of the Greater Sydney Commission has presented an opportunity to shift the landscape of engagement in the city.”

Eliza Arnott

Hostile Vehicle Attacks: Can we plan for the unpredictable?

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Walwyn 2018

Over the past decade the threat of terrorism has grown globally, with low-tech and low-cost terrorist attacks on members of the public becoming an increasingly common occurrence. This trend is most clearly apparent in the rise of hostile vehicle attacks in Western countries; attacks where a perpetrator in a vehicle seeks to cause fear or harm to a population, business or otherwise to affect public spaces. High profile hostile vehicle attacks have occurred in France, Australia and the UK in the last two years. While many governments have sought to protect people through counterterrorism interventions in infrastructure, buildings and open spaces, these have sometimes been poorly integrated into

the built environment and have had harmful effects on the amenity and vitality of the public realm. This thesis investigates the role of urban planning within counter terrorism strategies and responses in the context of Sydney and NSW more broadly. Using an analysis of academic literature, in-depth interviews and case studies this thesis looks at whose responsibility it is to ensure that members of the public are protected from terrorist threats whilst using the public realm. The thesis ultimately argues that urban planners should play a greater role in ensuring counter terrorism mitigation measures are integrated appropriately into streets and other public spaces.

“Planners should play a greater role in ensuring counter terrorism mitigation measures are integrated appropriately into streets and other public spaces.”

Elizabeth Playoust

Bachelor of City Planning

The North South Rail Link: The spine of the Western Parkland City Image courtesy Author 2018

The new Greater Sydney Region Plan and associated District Plans, launched by the Greater Sydney Commission in early 2018, marked a fundamental shift in strategic planning directions shaping the future form and structure of metropolitan Sydney. A Metropolis of Three Cities seeks to ‘rebalance’ Sydney through the recasting of Western Sydney as a networked ‘Metropolitan Cluster’, bringing together the existing cities of Penrith, Liverpool and Campbelltown around the new hub of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis. The Western Sydney City Deal seeks to coordinate tri-level Government commitment to these plans, with the major infrastructure commitment of the North South Rail Link encapsulating

this direct political and economic focus. This thesis explores the decisionmaking processes behind the alignment of the North South Rail Link and how the proposed route will influence the evolution of the Western Parkland City. Ten in-depth interviews were undertaken with representatives from the Commonwealth, State and Local Government as well as from the private sector. The research highlights the significance of a ‘staged’ approach to long-term infrastructure, and the importance of strategic alignment of the rail link for extensive city shaping opportunities tied to economic development and jobs provision in the Western Parkland City over the next 30 years.

A Metropolis of Three Cities seeks to ‘rebalance’ Sydney through the recasting of Western Sydney as a networked ‘Metropolitan Cluster’.

Ellen Shannon

Generational perspectives on unconscious gender bias: Considerations for planning policy makers

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Hanaceck 2016

Recent media discussions about how unconscious bias can influence society has shed new light on decision making processes, generally. There is no doubt that unconscious bias has impacted planning for the built environment in addressing the needs of women in cities and public spaces. While some steps have already been taken to achieve enhanced and more gender equitable outcomes, this thesis is aimed at identifying what ongoing impacts unconscious bias has in the planning process and what further can to be done to limit these. Through a series of in-depth interviews conducted with

senior female planning professionals the findings capture their experience and perspectives on how unconscious bias continues to impact planning policies and what further can be done to ensure the needs of women are more effectively addressed in the planning process. The outcomes of this research suggest that the planning process needs to incorporate more explicit strategies than at present to ensure gender equitable outcomes within the built environment so that unconscious biases held by planners do not impact these objectives.

“There is no doubt that unconscious bias has impacted planning … in addressing the needs of women in cities.”

Elyse Kenny

How can parklets be best integrated in the City of Sydney to create more interesting and inviting streetscapes?

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Nancy Marshall 2013

Parklets are a type of street intervention in which a structure replaces an on-street parking space and works as an extension of the footpath. The purpose and design of parklets vary, but most commonly the space is used as a seating area and can activate and enhance street environments. These structures are becoming increasingly common in cities around the world as the movement becomes more widely recognised. Within the City of Sydney, however, there is no clear framework or system for implementing parklets, making the process of proposing one quite complex, costly and time consuming. Given the benefits that parklets can have for villages in the City of Sydney, there is a clear opportunity

to establish a straightforward process which can facilitate the approval and management of parklets. This thesis utilises in-depth interviews, site audits and a literature and policy review to understand the success behind other cities’ existing parklet programs and the challenges associated with their implementation. The research undertaken has informed a number of recommendations as to how parklets can be best integrated in the City of Sydney to create more interesting and inviting places. Adopting these recommendations can help to enhance local streetscapes, encourage social interaction and improve movement along footpaths.

“… there is a clear opportunity to establish a straightforward process which can facilitate the approval and management of parklets.”

Emily Hou

The disappearing backyard: Exploring changing backyard sizes and housing choices in new residential developments within South West Sydney

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Nearmap 2018

Backyard sizes are changing in Australian suburbs. While the large backyard is ingrained in the ‘great Australian dream’, a concept that has shaped housing aspirations for generations, the yard has, in fact, declined in size. Larger dwellings on smaller lots dominate, resulting in little room for backyards traditionally valued for providing a range of environmental and recreational benefits. The trend is found in urban settlements across Australian cities, particularly in new housing developments. This study seeks to explore changing backyard sizes and provide an insight into how much the backyard is valued by households today. It examines whether outdoor space is still considered a

necessary part of one’s home and to what extent the backyard is a key consideration that is reflected in people’s housing choices. An online questionnaire was used to gauge households’ perceptions and considerations tied to backyard provision across three new masterplanned estates in Sydney’s South West Priority Growth Area. The survey was followed up with a number of indepth resident interviews exploring how households in the study area personally engage with their backyard. This thesis argues for wider discussion regarding how the market meets consumer preferences in the planning of future communities.

“Larger dwellings on smaller lots dominate, resulting in little room for backyards traditionally valued for providing a range of environmental and recreational benefits.”

Estelle Grech

Taking a walk in her shoes: Understanding the experience of culturally diverse, migrant women in public spaces of Western Sydney

Bachelor of City Planning

Drawing by Myra Shimada 2018

Inspired by participatory action research, this thesis experiments with photo voice and go-along qualitative research methods to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences and comfort of migrant women within the public spaces of Western Sydney. If public spaces are to be truly accessible and ‘work’ for women, more needs to be done to consider how overlapping categories of age, culture, income, faith, or migration status can present additional barriers for women from culturally diverse backgrounds. This thesis helps to fill this gap, tracing the routes migrant and refugee women living in Western Sydney undertake in

their day-to-day lives and conducting research ‘on-the go’ by taking a walk (or drive, or train trip) with the participants. Through stories shared during these journeys, and photos taken by participants of public spaces they frequent, it becomes clear that culture and gender do shape the experience of women through the streets and spaces of Western Sydney. Additionally, this thesis explores how these alternative research methods can be used as an effective engagement tool by urban planners and designers to listen to the voice of migrant women when seeking to design or manage welcoming and inclusive public spaces.

“…this thesis experiments with the photo voice and go-along qualitative research methods to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences and comfort of migrant women within public spaces…”

Gavin Ho

Igniting change and sparking collaboration: Management and governance of urban bushfire planning

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Facebook, NSW Rural Fire Service 2018

Bushfires are unavoidable, naturally reoccurring and with no permanent solution to eradicate the hazard. The Australian climate, landscape and our desire to develop on bushfire affected lands, means we are placing our assets in areas of risk, exposing life and property to a higher vulnerability of bushfire disaster. The aim of this research is to outline where the responsibility in bushfire management lies, and how governance and collaboration between organisations and agencies can contribute to improved planning practice. This research includes: case study research into two recent land subdivision case studies within the Sutherland Shire

Local Government Area and face to face interviews with professionals in the field of bushfire management and urban planning. The findings of the research reveal that there is inadequate interagency communication and a lack of accountability and responsibility within government and private agencies in planning for and managing bushfire risks, contributing to regulatory and legislative failure. For a more successful system, a greater level of proactive planning, collaboration and responsibility in bushfire risk management is required to create a more robust governance structure for bushfire planning.

“For a more successful system, a greater level of proactive planning, collaboration and responsibility in bushfire risk management is required to create a more robust governance structure for bushfire planning.”

Geraldine Pham

Public participation in planning for the Sydenham to Bankstown metro corridor

Bachelor of City Planning

Image Courtesy Save Marrickville South 2018

The Sydenham to Bankstown project is one of the NSW Governments signature urban renewal projects driven by the upgrade of the heavy rail line to metro status. Located within existing and well-established communities, the SydenhamBankstown project presents a number of considerable implementation challenges. The project has given rise to community action groups who endeavour to propose development in a different form to that envisaged by the government. In part driven by community action, the rezoning plans associated with the metro project have been withdrawn and planning control handed back to the Councils. This thesis focuses on public participation in the planning for the Sydenham-

Bankstown corridor and seeks to investigate how the community can be engaged in the planning process. Insight to community’s concerns, aspirations and actions to influence the development of the precinct is gained from community meetings. Further details on the perspectives, opinions and attitudes of affected residents and relevant Council staff are captured via in-depth interviews. Qualitative data obtained from this research can be used to inform future engagement planning for the metro corridor by the councils, including recommendations that ensure that the future planning and development of the metro corridor is centred on community needs and aspirations.

“Located within existing and wellestablished communities, the Sydenham-Bankstown project presents a number of considerable implementation challenges.”

Geordie Gilmour

For good: Pro bono in the Australian planning profession

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Jeayesy n.d. and Leonid n.d.; edited by Gilmour 2018

Planning professionals frequently give their time and expertise pro bono; often with little, or no acknowledgment of it. Despite anecdotal evidence of the occurrence of pro bono planning, this area has not previously been the subject of research - a gap this thesis seeks to address. This research explores the nature of pro bono planning, and the motivations, barriers, and attitudes of planners to the provision of pro bono. Pro bono originates from the Latin phrase pro bono publico, which means ‘for the public good’. It generally refers to professional services rendered for little or no fee to those with limited means, or whose outcomes are in the public interest.

A dual primary research methodology of in-depth interviews and a quantitative survey was utilised; supplemented and informed by a review of relevant literature. This research uncovered a diversity of motivations, which are underpinned by a shared professional desire to give back, to contribute to access to planning, and improve societal equity. Barriers include lack of support and lack of time to commit to pro bono projects. This understanding and insight into pro bono planning has led to the development of recommendations to reduce barriers, and improve frameworks, policies, and strategies around its practice.

“Planning professionals frequently give their time and expertise pro bono; often with little or no acknowledgment of it.”

Gisella Velasco

Playing house: Examining the socio-spatial dynamics and homemaking practices of shared living residents in Inner Sydney

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Mags Ocampo 2018

Group or shared living provides a means for many people to live where they want and support their careers and lifestyles while offsetting the financial burden of living in expensive cities like Sydney. Shared living is not an entirely new phenomenon but has re-emerged as a means to address decreasing housing affordability and an increasing demand for socialisation and community. While forms of shared living such as boarding houses, student accommodation and aged care have been topics of research and policy, share houses and the experiences of sharers have not. The traditional family home is now shared among unrelated persons. This phenomenon

challenges established perceptions of home, especially its relationship with tenure and to the formation of identity. Through an analysis of demographic trends, in-depth interviews and a photograph exercise, this thesis explores the ways in which sharers make home and form their identity while navigating the socio-spatial dynamics of shared living. The findings reveal the responses of the individual to the collective, whether a collectively shared space or a collectively defined ideal. In shared living, the practice of making and defining oneself and one’s home is an emplaced approach to forces acting beyond the bedroom door.

“The phenomenon of shared living challenges established perceptions of home, its relationship with tenure and to the formation of identity.”

Hugh Shouldice

The retention of industrial zoned land is crucial to the growth of the microbrewery industry due to its impact on local communities. Microbreweries have become more than just a regular pub. Microbreweries are places that reflect common cultural practices, values of the local communities and an inclusive environment. The microbrewery industry plays an important role of providing a sense of place, economic rejuvenation and living cultural history within local neighbourhoods.

Since the 1960s, some believe that the Australian beer drinking culture has produced an unbreakable nostalgic link to national identity. Currently, Australia now boasts over 150 microbreweries;

with a number of them residing within Sydney’s inner-west region. While traditional manufacturing uses have disappeared from Sydney’s inner suburbs, microbreweries are now operating in spaces previously occupied by traditional manufacturers.

This thesis explores cultural, economic and environmental impacts of microbreweries in the Inner-West Local Government Area in the Sydney metropolitan area. It is possible that the microbrewery industry can become a useful and proactive planning mechanism, which harnesses the history and image of the ‘local’ to ensure the society today can enjoy their place at the bar stool.

“Microbreweries have become more than just a regular pub.”

Isabel Virgona

Planning education in NSW School Geography Curriculum: Get them while they’re young!

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Author 2018

Sydney is rapidly growing and creating a future for our young people that will look, feel and function very differently. Urban and regional planning lessons are being taught in all secondary school geography classrooms across NSW as part of the new K-10 NSW geography curriculum. This thesis draws upon teacher and student perspectives on the potential impact of the curriculum on students understanding and ability to engage in planning processes. Using a mixed-method approach, data were collected through five case studies across Sydney inclusive of teacher interviews, student surveys and lessons plans. This was supported by additional interviews with associated

organisations and a review of academic literature. Analysis of the results suggest a broadly positive response to the relevance of content, indicating enhanced empathy for other people in the community and appreciation for the complexity of planning processes. Despite an expressed interest, students continue to feel unsure of how to engage with planning issues beyond the classroom. Findings of this thesis provide feedback on the curriculum in its first year of full delivery and explores student interest in their built environments as a result of classroom exposure to inform future youth participation in planning.

“This thesis draws upon teacher and student perspectives on the potential impact of the curriculum on students understanding and ability to engage in planning processes.”

Isabelle Kikirekov

Better together: Intergenerational communities improving the lives of seniors

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Bandurenko 2018

Australia’s population is ageing and it is estimated that by 2064 close to one in four (23%) Australians will be aged 65 or over. Seniors are more likely to be women than men and healthier than any generation previously. However, ageism can often act as a barrier to seniors contributing in their local communities, even though they are physically and mentally able and willing. This societal attitude leads to social isolation, which is especially felt by Australian senior women. This thesis explores the fears, identity and social interactions experienced by senior women in New South Wales. The research demonstrates that senior women are strong, relatively fearless,

lead active, healthy lives and see intergenerational relationships as a benefit to their overall wellbeing. This thesis triangulates data from several methods, including primary research interviews with Baby Boomer and Silent Generation women aged 65 or over and interviews with experts in intergenerational studies and ageing. The secondary research involved a literature review and case study analysis of best practice models facilitating intergenerational interaction. As Australians will continue to live longer and healthier lives, it is essential that planners seek new ways to facilitate intergenerational interaction to build age-inclusive communities.

“Senior women are strong, relatively fearless, lead active, healthy lives and see intergenerational relationships as beneficial to their overall wellbeing”.

Jarred Statham

Schools out: Encouraging the implementation of joint and shared-use agreements between Sydney schools and the surrounding community

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Minstry 2017

The implementation of joint and shared-use agreements between schools and the surrounding community provides a range of favourable impacts: increased community connections, increased rates of physical exercise and more efficient use of resources. This thesis seeks to understand the current joint and shared-use implementation process within Sydney and challenges impending implementation. Methodologically, the thesis uses data obtained from in-depth interviews with a range of stakeholders, a content analysis of state significant school projects on the NSW Government’s major projects website, and existing literature to investigate the topic. A detailed case

study on Bella Vista Public School is also undertaken. This research finds that excessive noise, limited parking supply, liability concerns and various conflicts of interest between government agencies are current barriers which increasingly restrict joint and shared-use agreements from being successfully implemented. In exploring these challenges, this thesis concludes by recommending a range of strategies to the NSW Department of Education and NSW Department of Planning and Environment that could be implemented to aid in mitigating against each identified implementation barrier, thereby encouraging the enactment of more joint and shared-use agreements into the future.

“The implementation of joint and shared-use agreements between schools and the surrounding community provides a range of favourable impacts.”

Jason Watkins

Together we grow far: The role of community gardens in facilitating refugee resettlement

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Australian Institute of Food Safety 2018

Community gardens are a complex, multifaceted community asset offering a bountiful harvest of benefits to gardeners, including access to healthy food, social connections and opportunities for skills development. Consequently, they provide fertile grounds for places of respite concerning vulnerable population groups in the city. This thesis looks at the role of a refugee community garden in Auburn, Sydney. While community gardening benefits for refugees are widely noted, the role they have played throughout resettlement, often difficult and traumatic time in their lives, is ultimately less understood. Accordingly, this thesis investigates the role that community gardens

play in facilitating better resettlement outcomes for refugees, conceptualising community gardens as an informal, social learning experience. This thesis applies academic and policy literature together with the findings of in-depth interviews to investigate (1) refugee motivations and perceived benefits behind community gardening, (2) the role they have played during their resettlement, and (3) how the garden assist in overcoming any barriers faced in the resettlement country. Recommendations are provided to assist in bolstering community gardens as meaningful social catalysts for further refugee integration into the host country.

“While community gardening benefits for refugees are widely noted, the role they have played throughout their resettlement is ultimately less understood.”

John Booth

Pipeline or pipedream?

Investigating the nexus between infrastructure supply and land release in growth centres

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Craig & Rhodes Pty Ltd 2018

An inability to appropriately plan infrastructure to support population growth is not a recent issue affecting metropolitan Sydney: the challenge of coordinating land release, housing supply and appropriate and timely infrastructure provision can be traced back through time. However, this issue has been compounded by the recent population boom, with the city reaching an annual growth rate of over 100,000 for the first time in 2016/2017. This strong growth has translated into significant housing supply and affordability pressures, and in order to accommodate this growth, the strategic planning and delivery of infrastructure supply for growth centres needs to be examined closely, to ensure it is

adequate to service future populations. This thesis evaluates the NSW government’s proposed residential density controls in Sydney’s north-west Growth Centres, and a wider look at land release strategy and infrastructure in release areas. Key amendments to the Growth Centres SEPP (2006), and the current processes of planning and providing infrastructure are explored through a range of interviews with key public and private sector stakeholders involved in Greenfield residential development. Findings highlight provisions relating to the funding and strategic planning of infrastructure for population growth need to be addressed to ensure adequate supply is provided.

“The challenge of coordinating land release, housing supply and appropriate and timely infrastructure provision is not a recent issue effecting Sydney.”

Jonathan Kerr

NSW infrastructure delivery and it's service of the public interest

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Author 2018

After a lull in transport infrastructure delivery in New South Wales through the late twentieth century, since 2011 significant transport infrastructure development has been facilitated by the State government’s readiness to invest in transport infrastructure. However, there has not yet been a thorough review of the social impacts of this approach of using tax-payer money to assume the risk of infrastructure development from the private sector. Whilst the fiscal benefits are evident, this thesis examines the social impact of this funding model and seeks to identify the implications that result from the use of this model during the assessment phase of a project. A two-fold approach was taken in the

research for this thesis. Firstly, there is an historical summary of the way in which Public-Private Partnerships (‘PPPs’) have been used in NSW, and their social impacts. Secondly, two case studies (M4 East and Sydney Metro: Chatswood to Sydenham) have been selected and augmented with targeted qualitative interviews and reviews of submissions. This permits interrogation of the implementation of the government investment PPP model and how both project teams and the public have responded to this model. The thesis seeks to provide recommendations for future projects that will follow this model, in order to enable a better outcome for affected communities.

“…since 2011 significant transport infrastructure development has been facilitated by the State government’s readiness to invest in transport infrastructure.”

Judith Elijah

Land value capture and its impact on urban amenity and design of the public domain along light rail transit corridors

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Pixabay 2017

Methods to fund infrastructure are currently insufficient in capturing the value of the benefits generated by announcements of new transport infrastructure projects. The Australian Government’s Smart Cities Plan endorses Value Capture (VC) as a mechanism to fund infrastructure, however, it is necessary to ensure that the intended amenity and design of the public domain along transport corridors are adequately considered to create liveable spaces to accommodate a growing population.

Through in-depth interviewing, this thesis explores the implications for urban amenity and intended design of

the public domain to ‘capture value’ along the Parramatta Light Rail Transit (LRT) corridor. This research uncovers that current methods to capture value along LRT corridors are ineffective in addressing the cumulative impacts of development, where the quality of the amenity of the public domain is affected as a result. This thesis argues that land value uplift occurs at the time of media release and it is necessary for the NSW Government to commit to a position on accommodating value sharing. Methodologies are recommended to allow for the early implementation of VC within the strategic framework of the NSW Planning system.

“Current methods to capture value along LRT corridors are ineffective in addressing the cumulative impacts of development.”

Julia Moiso

Urban acupuncture: Interventions to uplift the experience of the streetscape

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Author 2018

Mental health and well-being is a holistic concept of human health linked to our surrounding built environments. Built environments that do not promote a positive sense of place can be detrimental to an individual's sense of belonging to their environment and community. This thesis presents ‘urban acupuncture’ as a new approach that focuses on small scale urban design interventions within a place. This research focuses on the built environment context of the streetscape; the space situated between the public and the private realm, acting as a fabric connecting the lives of different types of people and places. Using a synthesis of qualitative research, discourse

analysis and case studies, this research highlights the importance of small scale urban acupuncture interventions on the success in activating the streetscape. Drawing upon the metaphor of therapeutic acupuncture, this thesis will explore the ways in which small scale urban design interventions can uplift the experience of the streetscape to promote positive mental wellbeing and help shape place identity. Ultimately, this thesis aims to assert the importance of streetscape urban design interventions in facilitating a need for more holistic understanding of urban mental health and well-being in an everyday streetscape context.

"This thesis presents ‘urban acupuncture’ as a new planning approach that focuses on smallscale urban design interventions within a place."

Chi Kei Justin Tse

End of the line: The demise of Sydney’s tram system in the 1960s

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Author 2018

Sydney formerly had the second largest tram network in the world, with over 290km of tram lines at its peak in 1923. However, the next forty years saw the tram having to compete with other public transport modes such as private buses. This eventually saw the large-scale closure of the Sydney tram network by 1961. The causes of the demise of the tram network have been debated by historians and planners alike, but little consideration has been given to the role of transport policy in dismantling the Sydney tram network. This thesis utilises a literature

and policy review of government archives and strategic plans to review the actions of key stakeholders in the wider transport network in Sydney in the period 1923-1961. Secondary accounts of the broader history of Sydney provide a framework for understanding the historical context. With the recent re-emergence of light rail transportation in Sydney, this research can provide further insight into the role of transport policy in influencing light rail implementation and operation in Sydney.

“Sydney formerly had the second largest tram network in the world, with over 290km of tram lines at its peak in 1923.”

Kathleen Withers

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Author 2018

In an age of constant connectedness our understanding of what it means to experience solitude is changing. This study defines solitude as a state of disengagement from the immediate demands of other people - even when occupying the same physical space as others. Urbanisation and technological progress present a new set of challenges that shape the way individuals seek and experience solitude, especially when cities are increasingly becoming high-density, noisy, crowded, and polluted. This research has sought to understand whether there is a need to anticipate the desire for solitude in planning and urban design practice, whether this

desire is currently accommodated for, and how improvements might be implemented in future public spaces. The study utilised a mixed methods approach, including a literature review, surveying, behavioural mapping, discourse analysis, site evaluations and case vignettes (minor case studies) to illustrate the contemporary context surrounding solitude and the built environment. This research draws attention to the need to look at innovative solutions and alternatives to the trend of place activation, in order to create urban landscapes which provide opportunities for positive experiences of solitude.

“Urbanisation and technological progress present a new set of challenges that shape the way individuals seek and experience solitude.”

The battle of the Beachside Villages

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Simon Cocksedge 2010

Consecutive metropolitan strategies, including the most recent 2018 Greater Sydney Region Plan - ‘A Metropolis of Three Cities’, have identified urban consolidation as an important objective for successive NSW Governments. Such metropolitan strategies have, at times, conflicted with the aims of Local Environment Plans and Development Control Plans on the Northern Beaches. While resident action groups battle to preserve 'village character', public participation often only occurs after community outcry. This thesis proposes the following question: As planners, when do we ask the public to be involved? The methodologies undertaken in this

research involved a literature search that reviewed various approaches to public participation. It also included indepth interviews with key stakeholders responsible for shaping the future of villages on the Northern Beaches. The case study areas of Freshwater and Avalon Beach Villages discuss the historical and current situation of public participation in planning for densification. The findings reveal that local governments must do more to balance competing interests, offer the community a more authoritative voice in planning decisions, and help facilitate more active participation in shaping its beachside villages.

“While resident action groups battle to preserve 'village character', public participation often only occurs after community outcry.”

Laura Morabito

Urban accessibility from the Leppington Town Centre to key employment hubs across metropolitan Sydney

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Author 2018

Sydney is experiencing a significant population increase at the metropolitan fringe. In order to meet the housing targets set by the State Government, Leppington in the south-west, is currently undergoing major urban redevelopment. This has placed intense pressures on surrounding infrastructure including major road networks and public transport. Local residents have raised liveability concerns as travelling times are continuously increasing. With the population in the Leppington area likely to see an additional 25,000 residents by 2036 and minimal upgrades being proposed to supporting infrastructure, the functioning of transport networks

will only continue to deteriorate. To understand the commuting patterns of local residents, surveys were conducted in addition to one-on-one interviews with built environment professionals and local residents. Both methods were used as a way of understanding the key intentions for the Leppington Precinct Area and the likely impacts within the foreseeable future. The findings emphasise that the common employment locations within Greater Sydney were not appropriately considered during the planning phases for the Leppington Precinct Area. Consequently, we are seeing ongoing congestion on public transport modes and on surrounding road networks.

“Local residents have raised liveability concerns as travelling times are continuously increasing.”

Lu (Lulu) Huang

Coming home to no parking space: A review of parking policy in compact cities

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Author 2018

Australian households’ high car ownership and reliance have been progressing since the early 1900s. For several years, compact city policies have been adopted aiming to reduce car ownership and use as one way of addressing climate change and air population. However, in some of Sydney’s high-density residential precincts, commuters continue to choose to drive to get to places. Parking emerges as one of the most concerning issues and the key users of the land for the community. Based on a case study of Wentworth Point, one of the first selected “Priority Precincts” in NSW, this thesis investigates parking related issues and conflicts and how parking policy impacts on the travel decision of the residents in the area.

The research involves a literature review, a community focused survey, interviews with various stakeholders and best practice examples of how other cities progress with parking in the changes of the urban dynamic with urban densification. The thesis argues that car parking is often neglected but plays an important role in land use practices and integrated transport planning schemes. It also examines the correlation between car parking and other transit modes, how parking policy can support transport planning and encourage more sustainable ways of travelling. Initiatives such as a parking reform are urgently needed in the strategic and statutory planning frameworks in NSW.

“Car parking is often neglected but plays an important role in land use practices and integrated transport planning schemes.”

Lucy Donnelly

Retreat from the line of fire:

A case study of the Black Saturday Bushfire Buy-back Scheme

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Pendavingh 2009

Bushfires are a part of the Australian psyche and they are predicted to become more frequent and more severe in south-eastern Australia. In an era of climate change and uncertainty, planners have a key role to play in reducing the number of individuals living with unacceptable bushfire risk. In order to achieve this, a comprehensive understanding of the available disaster risk reduction tools is required.

Arguably the most controversial, and least studied, of these tools is the government buy-back of bushfire prone properties. This thesis uses the case study of the Black Saturday Bushfire Buy-back Scheme as a lens through which to explore the concept of unacceptable risk and assess whether

a government buy-back of bushfire prone properties can reduce risk in a meaningful way. The research involves a review of the relevant Australian and overseas literature, a review of planning policy and regulations for bushfire prone land, and in-depth interviews with academics, expert witnesses from the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission and the project manager tasked with designing and delivering the Black Saturday Bushfire Buyback Scheme. The research findings suggest that although property buyback schemes with certain attributes can meaningfully reduce risk, the Black Saturday Bushfire Buy-back Scheme did not possess these attributes.

“Arguably the most controversial, and least studied, of these tools is the government buy-back of bushfire prone properties.”

Luke Signoretti

Planning for efficient last kilometre freight deliveries in the rise of online shopping

Bachelor of City Planning

Approximately 75 per cent of non-bulk domestic freight is carried on roads and is forecasted to increase by 50 per cent by 2030. Recent increases in volumes of online shopping and home delivery is adding further pressure on road networks and loading zones, and access for freight vehicles within dense urban areas. Recent trends, however, indicate declining rates of provision for freight vehicles within new projects as they seek to maximise development potential and meet urban amenity requirements in compact city contexts. Therefore, it is important to identify alternate strategies and processes, which disperse the number of

deliveries being made at peak periods of the day, as well as consolidate deliveries to reduce the number of trips being made to single destinations. Discussions held with government planners, as well as observation of loading zones within the Sydney CBD, reveal various factors which influence delivery trucks and their use of zones efficiently, including passenger vehicles and prolonged parking times of delivery vans to reach multiple drop off points on foot. This thesis argues that smarter use of loading zones and more efficient freight delivery processes could be an answer to easing pressures within the Sydney CBD.

“Approximately 75 per cent of nonbulk domestic freight is carried on roads and is forecasted to increase by 50 per cent by 2030.”

Luke Thorburn

Landing jobs in Western

Sydney: Exploring the role of urban governance in delivering employment within the Western Sydney Aerotropolis

Bachelor

of City Planning

Image courtesy Katherine Griffiths 2018

Western Sydney Airport is a highly topical infrastructure project and deemed priority on the Australian nation-building agenda. Sydney’s second airport is viewed by the various levels of government and key stakeholders as a major catalyst for employment. The term ‘Aerotropolis’ has been used to describe the new mixed-use precinct surrounding the new airport. The term has evolved through recent years, and it has significantly influenced the way airport planning is now approached. This thesis challenges the ‘Aerotropolis’ concept and explores the role of urban governance in the delivery of employment within the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.

The thesis takes an analytical approach in reviewing literature on the role of an airport within a city and the economic benefits gained through infrastructure provision. This is complemented by in-depth interviews with key personnel and stakeholders involved in delivering the new airport, and the surrounding Aerotropolis. The research findings indicate that the various government entities and stakeholders have been communicating when delivering their plans for the Aerotropolis injecting a measure of coordination. However, the differing interests from each authority play a significant role in shaping the employment forecasts for the region. This thesis concludes the employment forecasts, like the concept and meaning of the Aerotropolis, will forever evolve.

“… the differing interests from each authority play a significant role in shaping the employment forecasts for the region.”

Madison Winnel

The evening economy: Planning for the night-time operation of businesses without liquor licenses in Surry Hills

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Author 2018

A defining characteristic of a successful downtown evening, or night-time economy, is the quality of the experience provided not only to its visitors, but also the extent to which it caters for its local inner-city residents. There is often much difficulty in finding balanced lively commercial venues and urban spaces that maintain the character, aesthetic and amenity of a locality at night. As such, the night time economy remains a contentious aspect of inner-city life and has been the centre of debate for the New South Wales Government in recent years. This thesis proposes that flexible governance of non-restricted premises

(i.e. shops, galleries and indoor recreational spaces) should be a key component of any realistic strategic vision for Sydney’s night time economy. The thesis examines Surry Hills as case study area. It includes in-depth interviews with business owners and observation of the area at various times of the day and different days of the week. Findings show that business owners are best-placed to determine the viability trading late; whether the need is driven by events, tourism, specific week days or seasonal change, flexible planning of non-traditional nighttime economy uses would allow Sydney to compete in the ‘global city’ space.

“…flexible governance of nonrestricted premises should be a key component of any realistic strategic vision for Sydney’s night time economy.”

Manwella Hawell

Defending city spaces: Designing out urban terrorism

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Author 2018

Through the eyes of a determined terrorist, cities are an ideal backdrop for terror attacks given their richness of targets, numbers of people and the ability of bystanders to capture and report chaos instantly. Recent attacks in major cities like London, New York, Berlin and Melbourne have demonstrated a shift in the modus operandi of terrorists in increasing the ‘appeal’ of everyday crowded places. The nature of public places makes them difficult to defend from terrorism without radically changing how we experience our cities, presenting new challenges for the planning profession to appropriately respond to the risk and reality of urban terrorism. The

Australian Federal Government has begun responding to some of the concerns about terrorism by releasing the National Counter-terrorism Plan 2017; however, the role of urban planners in safeguarding our cities is overlooked. This thesis explores the need to balance security effectiveness with the aesthetic quality of the public realm, using public squares as examples of public spaces. Using indepth interviews with key professionals and a thematic analysis of current discourse and academic literature, this thesis explores the extent to which urban planners can contribute to designing out terrorism from public squares.

“The nature of public places makes them difficult to defend from terrorism without radically changing how we experience our cities.”

Max Chipchase

Codifying the statutory and the strategic nexus of metropolitan planning

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Mountainise 2018 & NSW Government 2018; edited by Chipchase 2018

There has been an inherent disparity between strategic planning and development application assessment within the NSW Planning System.

The updates to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and the newly released metropolitan plan provide the first interrelated convergence between the ‘strategic’ and ‘statutory’ realms of planning practice. The convergence is the first to be implemented within any Australian state planning system and provides for the Greater Sydney Commission to administer metropolitan planning within the legislative framework. The thesis examines the strategic and statutory nexus of metropolitan planning in Sydney. It reviews policy and academic literature to critique the

effectiveness of planning reforms and the performance of metropolitan plan delivery mechanisms. To accurately account for the present and provide recommendations for the future prospects of metropolitan plan delivery, a qualitative analysis of professional perspectives is conducted via indepth interviews that further inform the research findings. Although often overwhelmed by social, economic, political and environmental dynamics, metropolitan planning has lacked the statutory machinery to comprehensively achieve plan objectives. In its conceptual stages, the legislative updates have provided a degree of certainty and established a strategic line of sight contextualising planning decisions across spatial scales.

“Although often overwhelmed by social, economic, political and environmental dynamics, metropolitan planning has lacked the statutory machinery to comprehensively achieve plan objectives.”

Meghna D’souza

Land use conflict and strategic planning: A case study of the Upper Hunter Strategic Regional Land Use Plan

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Expedia 2018; Newcastle Coal 2018

Land use conflict in the Hunter Valley has been an ongoing concern, with strategic planning inadequately addressing serious issues to date. Conflicts are framed around the various cumulative environmental impacts perpetuated by the mining industry on surrounding agricultural industries and residents. However, while agricultural industries claim to provide essential goods, services and tourism, the mining industry provides the highest employment in the region. While the NSW government implemented the Upper Hunter Strategic Regional Land Use Plan (SRLUP) in 2012 to address land use conflicts, they have continued post-mining boom. This thesis

emphasises the important roles that various industries play in the Hunter Valley and how strategic planning can be implemented to address the land use conflict occurring between these industries. The SRLUP is explored as a case study to evaluate the effectiveness of regional planning policy, drawing on interviews with various stakeholders within the region. The concept of ‘rural’ itself is also explored alongside an examination of the processes involved in the implementation of strategic plans. This thesis emphasises the complexity of rural areas and the challenges that arise when developing and implementing strategic plans for these areas.

“Land use conflict in the Hunter Valley has been an ongoing concern, with strategic planning inadequately addressing serious issues to date.”

Moana Prescott

Enhancing engagement with Aboriginal stakeholders in environmental management: The Barkindji people and the Darling River in western NSW

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Volkofsky 2018

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been largely omitted from involvement in environmental and river management. The planning, and more specifically the control and manipulation, of natural resources has been a major tool in the marginalisation and oppression of Indigenous rights and interests since colonisation. This has resulted in the loss of culture, connection to Country and autonomy in the environmental planning process for many communities. Little has been researched in mainstream planning literature and policy and this thesis aims to address gaps in our understanding of planning policy and practice. This research involved reviewing international river and basin

management models, comparing their Indigenous stakeholder engagement methods and designing a superior engagement model. Focus groups were conducted with Barkindji Elders to investigate their aspirations for the Darling River, their traditional lands, and their desires for the environmental management process. Case law and literature, most famously Mabo and others v Queensland (No 2) (1992), has shown that Aboriginal people should be more involved in the planning process and planning processes should adapt to accommodate engagement with Aboriginal people. This thesis proposes alternative environmental management practices that prioritises the desires of First Nations people.

"Aboriginal people should be involved in the planning process and planning processes should adapt to accommodate engagement with Aboriginal people."

Nick Croft

Walking in a car-free Sydney

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Lindsey Holley 2018

Walkability has been linked to myriad of public health and social benefits. It encourages physical activity, social inclusion and interactions with both the natural and built environment. While benefits of walkability are well established throughout existing research, there is lack of consensus as to what makes a walkable place. Identifying micro-built environment elements that most effectively improve walkability has proven difficult due to the number of structural or fixed physical factors that exist in cities. The establishment of car-free zones provide opportunities for improvements

to pedestrian accessibility and comfort within busy urban centres. However, to what extent do these developments improve walkability within these centres? This study assesses carfree zones by using a comprehensive walking audit through the evaluation and comparison of a variety of micro elements in three separate corridors within Sydney’s CBD. This includes the recently pedestrianised section of George Street, Martin Place and Pitt Street. The findings aim to contribute to an overall evaluation of walkability within a city centre at a micro-scale.

“The establishment of car-free zones provide opportunities for improvements to pedestrian accessibility and comfort within busy urban centres.”

Niroshini

Stephen

Slamming the brakes on private car use: How car sharing shapes travel and car ownership choices

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Kobiz Media 2018

The average car sits unused for 90 per cent of the time. Parking is important in cities as a lot of highly valued land is set aside to accommodate unused cars. Car sharing schemes are emerging as an alternative way to move around as it creates an opportunity to remove private cars from streets and reduce competition for parking. The pioneer of car sharing in Australia is GoGet, which now has 100,000 members. Despite the growth in car share members in Australia, there is little academic research investigating how car sharing schemes are changing people’s travel and car ownership choices. Through a survey in Sydney’s Inner West,

where there is a chronic shortage of parking, this thesis investigates the travel behavior, car ownership choices and values towards car share of both members and non-members of car share schemes. The results indicate that having several car share vehicles nearby, reliability of the service and maintenance of the vehicles are factors which influence whether residents participate in car share schemes. This research concludes that the number of private vehicles owned by car share members has decreased. The findings can be used to inform a future policy around car share regulation in the Inner West Council area.

“Car sharing creates an opportunity to remove private cars from streets and reduce competition for parking.”

Paige Crowe

What makes the local, ‘local’?

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Jan Smith 2012

Pubs have an extensive history within Australia, often serving as the anchor of rural and urban communities. Following the closure of a few historical pubs, Balmain residents have raised concerns that these venues are more than commercial enterprises—they are integral social spaces. This research improves our understanding of what defines the Australian ‘local’ pub, and the extent to which it should be retained as both social infrastructure and a cultural icon of Australiana.

The concept of the ‘local’ pub is explored through a review of literature on the historical role of pubs and place attachment theory. Balmain pubs are presented as case study complimented by interviews with owners and patrons of local pubs, and Inner West Mayor,

Darcy Byrne. The research findings indicate that although there are physical features that are common amongst local pubs, these are secondary to the social benefits that contribute to their character. Personable staff and owners who are immersed in the community are just two of the major themes to emerge from the findings.

This research stretches the ill-defined concept of social infrastructure, from primarily government delivered facilities, to include commercial spaces that are fundamental to a community’s identity. Understanding roles and features of ‘local’ pubs can support their protection through policy definition refinement and targeted policy amendments.

“Personable staff and owners who are immersed into the community are just two of the major themes to emerge.”

Patricia Eltakchi

The interface of apartment buildings with the public domain: A critical examination of SEPP 65 in practice

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Author 2018

The total number of apartments under construction in NSW hit the highest level on record in 2017. With apartment living becoming an increasingly popular choice for Sydneysiders, the design quality of apartment buildings is critical to maintaining the liveability of the city. This thesis focuses on the interface of apartment buildings and the public domain – something that has implications for issues of community safety, health, comfort and enjoyment. Apartment design policies in NSW (SEPP 65 and the accompanying Apartment Design Guide) are critically

examined. Through semi-structured interviews, project appraisals and a case study of recent apartment developments in Parramatta, the thesis explores the variables that impact design quality at the private/public domain interface and considers whether there is a need for planning reform. It is ultimately argued that apartment design policies in NSW can be improved to deliver better urban design outcomes for the private/public domain interface, with specific recommendations made on possible policy refinements.

“… apartment design policies in NSW can be improved to deliver better urban design outcomes for the private/public domain interface…”

Reg Wade

Developing a functional model of industrial displacement outcomes

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Author 2018

Industrial activities frequently face displacement pressures, from rezoning to higher-value uses or the encroachment of sensitive uses on their area of operation. This problem has been compounded by the dwindling supply of industrial land in Sydney’s inner areas. Techniques to assess the outcomes of industrial displacement must be developed to ensure the efficient functioning of the urban environment.

The research project involves compiling a database of spatial and economic indicators for industrial land suitability within Metropolitan Sydney, which is then used as the basis for an analytical model which assesses the availability and relative performance of alternative

areas in the event that an industrial activity is displaced from its current location. Interviews with industrial businesses are used to refine the indicators within the database down to those which are significant for a particular industrial activity.

The research constitutes an initial investigation into the feasibility of such a tool being employed as part of the assessment process for strategic land use changes and decisions. It provides a potential methodology to be expanded upon through further development, identifies strengths and weaknesses in applying a quantitative approach to this task, and highlights where improvements in available data sources can be made.

“Techniques to assess the outcomes of industrial displacement must be developed to ensure the efficient functioning of the urban environment.”

Ryan King

Open space delivery through urban consolidation and brownfield regeneration

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy MyCityLife 2010

In Sydney there has been increasing pressure to redevelop parts of the inner city for higher density residential development. Urban consolidation and brownfield regeneration policies encourage public provision of amenity as a trade-off for the loss of private spaces. However, there is growing concern that open space outcomes do not match wider compact city policy objectives. Through interviews with key informants and community members, this thesis examines the challenges in delivering open space through the operation of urban consolidation and brownfield regeneration in inner city Sydney. Opinions are explored and

analysed to understand how varying groups view open space provision. The research indicates contrasting perceptions around the delivery of open space as a result of urban consolidation and brownfield regeneration. In particular this thesis examines these differing opinions to conclude that the current policy delivers open space outcomes that are not aligned with intended policy direction. Revision is needed to improve open space delivery policy for future urban consolidation and brownfield regeneration. This thesis argues that a rethink is needed to ensure policy delivers outcomes that aligned with community expectation.

“…there is growing concern open space outcomes do not match the wider compact city policy objective.”

Samantha Campbell

High-rise families: Aligning urban consolidation policy with the needs of families with young children

Australian cities are experiencing a new phenomenon of families raising children in high-rise apartments. However, the needs of children in these environments have not been well considered. In Sydney, new highdensity centres have largely been planned for singles, young couples and empty nesters – all similarly childless. In reality, shifting lifestyle patterns and housing unaffordability have resulted in an increasing number of families with children exchanging low density suburban homes for high-rise apartments. This disparity between who the compact city is planned for and the reality of who is living there has resulted in spatial challenges within

the apartment and social infrastructure vacuums within high-rise communities. This thesis presents an analysis of Sydney’s metropolitan planning documents since the mid 2000s with regard to their consideration of children as citizens of the city. A qualitative study in the form of in-depth interviews with high-rise families on the fringes of the inner city in Sydney and relevant experts in the field provides insight into the neglected experience of families with children in the urban densification agenda. Planners must address children’s needs in high-density environments to ensure that the future compact city is inclusive for diverse communities.

“Planners must address children’s needs in high-density environments to ensure that the future compact city is inclusive for diverse communities.”

Serena Li

Does affordable housing exist for university students in greater Sydney?

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy The Student Housing Company, n.d

University students studying in greater metropolitan Sydney makes Sydney the second largest higher education exporter in the world. Besides the revenue and economic productivity this brings, there is an assumption that students will find their own accommodation at market–valued rates. The impacts of this has not been researched and together, with limited affordable housing choices and a wider housing affordability crisis in Sydney, there is a grey area as to whom has the responsibility to protect students’ in ensuring they have access to affordable housing. There is little research or policy on this topic

focusing purely on students. This thesis explores the different types of housing accommodation available to students and whether delivering affordability is a priority between stakeholders. Research has been conducted through a student survey, key informant interviews and review of census data. The results of this research suggest affordable student housing should be a collaborative approach between policy makers, student accommodation providers and students. For any real change to occur, it is critical that there be dedication from all parties to initiate a conversation and be innovative in their approach.

“This thesis explores the different types of housing accommodation available to students and whether delivering affordability is a priority between stakeholders.”

Shaun de Smeth

Reactive or proactive?

Exploring NSW planning system through car parking policy in the Hills Shire

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Greater Sydney Commission, Greater Sydney Region Plan, NSW Government 2018

Over the past decade, there have been five strategic plans that aim at shaping the way Greater Sydney is planned; all providing varying visions and goals. There is some concern that the high number of strategic plans in a short space of time has created uncertainty in planning ambition and led to reactive policy at council level. This has affected a variety of councilled policies including car parking rates for new developments, potentially leading to wider impacts on the very precincts the strategic plans aim at improving. As the urban character of Sydney moves towards higher density precincts centred around the use of public transport, it is fair to question the role of strategic plans in influencing

local car parking policy reform. This thesis explores the level of influence state strategic plans have on local government policy reform and how inconsistent strategic plans effect the ability for local councils to develop proactive policies rather than reactive. The study uses car parking policies in Norwest Business Park as a case study to demonstrate how state led rezoning, as a result of metropolitan strategic plans, have affected the ability to implement successful local policies. The thesis concludes with a discussion on how metropolitan strategic plans can be better developed in conjunction with local governments to ensure polices are implemented successfully and proactively.

“Over the past decade, there have been five strategic plans that aim at shaping the way Greater Sydney is planned…”

Siobhan Ryan

Housing an ageing population in Greater Sydney: An analysis of demographic, housing and intra-metropolitan mobility patterns

Bachelor of City Planning

Population ageing in Sydney has profound economic and social impacts. While ageing in place is the preferred option for most seniors, a reality of ageing is the deterioration of health and the managing of chronic conditions and disabilities that often require long-term care. Ensuring a suitable supply of accommodation that meets the needs of this growing cohort is a critical issue facing planning in Sydney. This research investigates demographic and spatial trends of seniors using the 2006, 2011 and 2016 ABS Census, separated into four categories; ages 55-64 – preretirement, 65-74 – active retirement, 75-84 – mature aged seniors, and 85+ older aged seniors. Comparison of spatial patterns of seniors against

the locations of retirement and aged care accommodation is used to determine adequacy of accommodation provision. Findings show that while inner and middle-ring areas have higher concentrations of senior’s accommodation provision, those areas have lower growth rates and negative net migration. Outer Sydney areas have higher growth rates and positive net migration of seniors but with low accommodation provision. This demonstrates that the aged care and retirement industry is not responding to current and future ageing population demographic changes. This thesis contributes to internal migration literature and ageing population research.

“This research investigates demographic and spatial trends of seniors...”

Stefanie Gorman

A placemaking approach to Western Sydney Airport and aerotropolis

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Department of Planning and Environment 2018

The proposed Western Sydney Airport (WSA) will be one of the largest and most complex infrastructure projects in Australia having the potential to reshape metropolitan Sydney. Airports are often seen as ‘placeless’ environments - anonymous, standardised and lacking in identity, but there is an opportunity with WSA to create a place that is distinctive, welcoming and brimming with regional identity. Airports are often bounded by fragmented industrial lands, but WSA is planned to be surrounded by an ‘Aerotropolis’ of knowledge-intensive jobs, high tech industries and research institutions. A people-centred focus on authenticity, culture and liveability

will be key to creating the high quality working and living environment needed to attract knowledge workers and businesses to the region. This study will review literature on airports as places, evaluate ‘best practice’ airport placemaking case studies, and analyse the context of and opportunities for WSA. This thesis recommends relevant and effective forms of placemaking and human scale design for WSA, working at three scales throughout: passenger terminal, airport site, and airport city. This research will consider the WSA and Aerotropolis both as local destinations and global-facing transport nodes connecting Sydney to the world.

“There is an opportunity with WSA to create a place that is distinctive, welcoming and brimming with regional identity.”

Tia-Rose Mills

Putting the place in placeless: How do we assess a placeless development?

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Author 2018

Residential precincts are designed based on their efficient use of space, maximum profit production and their ability to mass produce the housing and subdivision design. A place that is considered to be placeless lacks conscious and authentic design that is sympathetic to the existing character of the area, and creates a standardised and homogenous landscape. Many modern residential developments are placeless; precincts are uniform in design, grid-like in nature, and evoke negative sentiment from both residents and visitors to the community. Placelessness is a social phenomenon that has become a forgotten element of the design process. This thesis develops criteria for assessing

placelessness in residential precincts in the form of an accessible diagram and practical considerations. The research process for this thesis incorporates comprehensive discourse analysis and key informant interviews with academics and industry professionals with expertise relating to place and placelessness. Community place audits of two residential precincts have been conducted, utilising the assessment diagram developed throughout this research process to ensure its effectiveness and practicality. The final assessment diagram has been used to present recommendations for the elements of design that are imperative considerations in the development of residential precincts.

“Placelessness is a social phenomenon that has become a forgotten element of the design process.”

Tian Hu

Blockchain–based collaborative housing: A means to affordable housing

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Pike 2017

The sharing economy, or a version of it, has had a long history in housing markets as a means to provide affordable housing. Over the past decade, as an after-effect of the global financial crisis, a typology of house share schemes emerged resulting in housing arrangements like Airbnb and co-housing. Collaborative housing is a recent trend popping up in communities that has been seen to benefit the city in different ways; however, it has also been at the centre of debate for planning issues.

A collaborative housing model can bring vitality to the economy and help with affordable housing as well as provide a cost-effective, efficient, sustainable and social way of living. But with these

novel living arrangements comes a host of issues often overlooked: security, interpersonal problems and impacts on local housing market and tourism. To reduce barriers to collaborative housing, this thesis applies an emerging technology, blockchain, to examine collaborative housing. Through decentralisation, transparency, immutability and consensus, blockchain can avoid fraud, tampering and forging information and create a trust-free platform for better collaborative housing system. This thesis utilises interviews with relevant professionals to study the impact of collaborative housing and discover the potential and possibility of blockchain technology to solve existing collaborative housing problems.

“To reduce barriers to collaborative housing, this thesis applies an emerging technology, blockchain, to examine collaborative housing.”

Timothy Walsh

Modular housing: A solution to Sydney’s affordable housing crisis?

Image courtesy Author 2018

A case study analysis of Evolve Housing’s modular affordable housing development in Guildford, NSW – the first of its kind in the country – forms the basis of this research.

Academic literature points to the benefits of a modular build, namely reduced construction costs, faster build times, the creation of a more efficient product and increased sustainability outcomes. However, modular construction has yet to become widelyadopted in the Australian construction industry, let alone in the delivery of affordable housing.

This thesis aims to investigate the potential benefits and barriers of

modular, and whether a greater uptake of modular construction can increase Sydney’s affordable housing stock. Interviews were conducted with a range of academics, developers and community housing providers to understand their views and opinions on the Guildford case study, their experiences working with modular construction and the barriers to the uptake of modular construction in Australia. Considered to still be in its infancy, greater government leadership is required to champion this typology in the face of pre-existing attitudes and cultural issues within the Australian housing industry and within other built environment professions.

“…modular construction has yet to become widely adopted in the Australian construction industry, let alone in the delivery of affordable housing.”

Thomas Stanton

Is heritage worthwhile? The Standard Instrument LEP’s heritage conservation incentive clause

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Otto 2018

While many agree built form heritage must be preserved, there is a range of opinions, methods, and results when it comes to redeveloping or repurposing built form heritage items within NSW. Since 1970, the value of built form heritage has been widely recognised by built environment professionals. Urban land use planning has been recognised as a critical influence in the battle to conserve and restore heritage. Strict government budgets have resulted in a neoliberal approach to NSW planning policy, meaning that heritage conservation is increasingly delivered through incentivising heritage redevelopment for private sector interests with access to greater resources. However, the results of this

thinking are embodied in vague and ambiguous incentive clauses within the Standard Instrument LEP. By interviewing a range of professionals involved in these projects and conducting an audit of developments assessed under clause 5.10 (10) of the Standard Instrument LEP, this research has found that these policies create mixed results when it comes to restoring heritage sites. The results point to the need for reform within policy and more consideration regarding how consent authorities should respond to lack of legislative specificity. The results show that reforms related to assisting negotiation between the parties are crucial to achieving better results going forward.

"…heritage conservation is increasingly delivered through incentivising heritage redevelopment for private sector interests with access to greater resources."

Vivian Long

Planners at the frontline: The lived experience of the duty planner

Bachelor of City Planning

Photo by Spencer Selover, n.d.; Vector Map by Ilya Shrayber, n.d.; Sydney Harbour Bridge by Jason Tong , n.d.; compiled by Long 2018

In today’s NSW local council, a representation of the planning department must be available to provide guidance to the members of the public regarding planning matters. This demand has shaped how vital a planner’s role is for the frontline of planning. However, communication challenges have been identified through members of the public and the internal related departments.

The aim of this thesis is to explore how planners at the frontline approach communication methods and systems for a better understanding of the planning process and procedures. It also focusses on the problems that the role, itself, presents. The study

documents the ‘lived experience’ of a duty planner through using the methods of autoethnography and in-depth interviews of planners who have been duty planners at all levels in their planning career; it also includes a literature review. Through this research, the outcome can improve the role of duty planning. The findings form recommendations and approaches to local councils to implement the procedures and systems for a better framework in communication methods. Overall it introduces how the frontline of planning is currently being considered and how it could be considered in the future.

“The study documents the ‘lived experience’ of a duty planner through using the methods of autoethnography and in-depth interviews...”

Willem van Wyk

Trusting the technocrats:

An initial review of mandatory local planning panels

Bachelor of City Planning

courtesy Department of Planning & Environment 2018

Mandatory local planning panels (LPPs) fundamentally change the way contentious, complex and sensitive developments are assessed by shifting decision making power away from democratically elected councillors and into the hands of technocratic experts. The reform was implemented across NSW metropolitan areas on 1 March 2018 with the primary objectives of ‘de-politicising’ the development approval pathway and minimising the potential for corruption. However, to date there has been little consideration of the urban governance ideologies underpinning this policy action. This thesis frames LPPs within the broader tension between participatory, political and professional planning, initially through a review of relevant academic,

government and practitioner literature. A series of in-depth interviews with professional experts then provides detailed primary perspectives on the effectiveness of the new policy. This is complimented by the quantitative findings of development application determinations in selected councils. Importantly, this review is undertaken while there is policy reform momentum and the issue is in the public spotlight. While LPPs appear to result in ‘better’ outcomes, adjustments to their structure and scope could improve their effectiveness. This thesis provides recommendations for the improvement of LPPs, including best practice and legislative amendments, which will benefit the development assessment process.

“While LPPs appear to result in ‘better’ outcomes, adjustments to their structure and scope could improve their effectiveness.”

William Brindle

The Greater Sydney Metropolitan area has experienced an unprecedented growth in apartments, with many being developed outside of the planned priority growth areas. This growth has been facilitated by the process of spotrezoning operating outside council led strategic rezoning. Although the current planning system allows for the freemarket development of land through spot-rezoning, the legislation pays little attention to the effects on surrounding residents. Through a community survey, this thesis will explore how spot-rezoning within the CanterburyBankstown LGA have affected the

residents’ perceptions of amenity and property in the area. Research suggests that spot-rezoning leads to a range of amenity and property impacts being both negative and positive and as a result, how residents perceive the area are altered in varying ways. Identifying the effects that spot-rezoning has on the surrounding residents could shape changes to be considered and introduced into legislation that enforce a more thorough and in-depth study on the effects on them to ensure their best interests are kept at the forefront of the process and the end result.

“The Greater Sydney Metropolitan area has experienced an unprecedented growth in apartments cropping up in seemingly random locations throughout.”

Zhijun Serena Li

Bachelor of City Planning

Image courtesy Christine Steinmetz 2018

Recent figures report that there are approximately 6000 bikes littered across Sydney. With the ongoing, and somewhat ‘disruptive’ trend of the sharing economy, bike share companies from China have flooded the Australian market and their product, has proliferated Sydney’s urban landscape. International headline news suggest that what was once considered a sustainable solution for transport, has now become a global environmental waste issue. This research investigates the challenge of bike sharing systems in Sydney and what lessons can be learnt from other cities. The research

design included a review of literature, policy documents and legislation, in-depth interviews with Waverly and Randwick council staff, and an analysis of those LGAs. The findings reveal several reasons why bike sharing schemes are not working in some areas of Sydney: topography, car culture/ car ownership, council regulation, and lack of infrastructure for sharing bikes. These findings will be valuable lessons for cities who are considering implementing the bike sharing scheme so that they may avoid unnecessary financial and economic cost.

“Recent figures report that there are approximately 6000 bikes littered across Sydney.”

Zi Miranda Mai

Bachelor of City Planning

With global economies getting stronger and immigration policies becoming more transparent, Chinese migration to Australia has increased dramatically since the 1990s. During this time, concentrated living areas of Chinese immigrants have formed through the Sydney metropolitan area. As foreign capital investment plays a critical role in the Australian economy, Chinese investors are inclined to focus on residential real estate and mixed-use development projects, those of which have a strong correlation with Chinese concentrated suburbs. The thesis investigates the development dynamics and opportunities and challenges of Chinese ethnic suburbs. The research

has been conducted firstly by using a wide range of literature canvassing theories of ethnic suburbs, and secondly through a GIS visualisation of Chinese geographic settlement patterns across Sydney. Semi-structured interviews with three Chinese developers in Burwood and Campsie have also been undertaken. Findings reveal major drivers that promote property development and potential opportunities and challenges in Chinese ethnic suburbs. This thesis concludes with further planning implications with regards to the policies of local government that are more suited in dealing with and understanding the dynamics of Chinese ethnic suburbs.

“Findings reveal major drivers that promote property development and potential opportunities and challenges in Chinese ethnic suburbs.”

Zihan Henry Liu

Planning an innovation precinct: The Torch

Bachelor of City Planning

Image Courtesy UNSW 2018

The 100-million-dollar budget demarcating the Torch partnership between UNSW Sydney and the Chinese Government was officially signed in 2016. By the end of 2022, it is envisaged that there will be 3.5 hectares solely dedicated to this world-class innovation precinct on the fringe of UNSW’s campus. It will not only generate enormous economic and scholastic benefits to the country, but also bring UNSW one step closer to becoming a top-ranked world university. This research projects investigates the Torch initiative that was put forward by the Chinese

Government which aims to work with research-intensive universities, worldwide, to establish strategic links to technology, industry, and innovation; UNSW is the first placement of a Torch precinct. Through archival research, a review of recent publicly available documents about Torch, and a series of in-depth interviews, the thesis aims to understand why UNSW was selected as the first international placement of a Torch Precinct. Investigating reasons for selection could be indicative of future Torch precincts or universityrelated collaborations that might be developed elsewhere.

“UNSW is the first placement of a Torch precinct.”

final year theses

master of city planning

course statement

final year thesis

master of city planning

The Planning Thesis is one of the final and most challenging courses that Master of City Planning students complete in their degree at UNSW. It represents the culmination of an intensive two-year program of study allowing them the opportunity to pursue independent investigation of a major planning issue or problem.

This thesis enables students to integrate many different types of skills acquired through study from critical thinking through various forms of data analysis to careful consideration of the application and implementation of their findings.

So every year, in both semesters, a great number of in-depth interviews and surveys

are completed, reams of quantitative data are collected and analyzed, and huge numbers of academic articles, books, policy documents and websites are scoured for relevant information.

On behalf of the students I extend sincere thanks to the numerous people who contributed to the Planning Thesis course this year: notably, the individual supervisors and examiners from the Planning Program and City Futures Research Centre, and the many people who participated in interviews and surveys. We are most grateful to all of you for your support and expertise.

This year a total of thirteen students completed

the postgraduate thesis course. The 2018 exhibition theme of ‘Planning Our Tomorrow’ captures well the aspirations embedded in their work. Coming from a wide range of backgrounds and academic pathways, it is not surprising that their topics are similarly diverse in nature. They range across many subjects: from phenomena like urban food markets, autonomous vehicles, craft breweries, and e-bikes to policy processes in urban design, gender conscious decision-making and strategic planning. Collectively, the theses tell us much about the backgrounds and interests of our students, as well as the challenges and opportunities that cities face both in Australia and off-shore.

While most students understandably begin the Planning Thesis course with some trepidation, they finish it with a tremendous sense of achievement and a highly sophisticated understanding of their topic. The whole experience from devising a project to carrying it out and writing it up, with all the difficulties that inevitably surface along the way, undoubtedly enhances their expertise and resilience for the professional careers that now await them. They have themselves transitioned seamlessly into the Planners of Tomorrow.

Professor Robert Freestone

MCP Course Convenor (PLAN7149)

Joseph Arnott

Sports stadia are a unique form of city-shaping infrastructure in Australian cities. Over the last three decades substantial investment in outdoor sport stadium infrastructure has occurred around Australia. This has coincided with the rise of neoliberalism, the shaping of cities through market led policies, and the growth of the commercial sports economy. Increasingly, the redevelopment of stadium infrastructure has been justified in order to stimulate economic growth and inter-state competition through hosting major sporting events. Many of these projects have been entirely funded by the public sector,

largely subsidising private interests. This is most recently seen in the proposed redevelopment of Allianz Stadium, Sydney. This project has been entangled in political controversy and media criticism, dividing public opinion. The main purpose of this thesis is to explore the redevelopment of major stadiums in Australia and the contribution of strategic spatial planning in their delivery. This thesis provides a specific case study of Allianz Stadium. I argue that stadium infrastructure should be aligned with the strategic spatial goals of the city while also being better integrated into the immediate locality, requiring a shift in government focus.

“Stadium infrastructure should be aligned with the strategic spatial goals of the city while also being better integrated into the immediate locality.”

Arsham Bassiri Abyaneh

An Analysis of Tourist Walkability in Sydney CBD

Master of City Planning

Image courtesy Author 2018

Tourism includes significant flows of people, services and goods, and hence, it is one of the most visible manifestations of globalisation. Walking nonetheless remains an important part of the tourist experience and a significant element of sustainable mobility. Although the concept of walkability has substantial health, social, economic and environmental dimensions for permanent residents, little attention has been given to the concept of walkability from a tourist perspective. Urban places have always been considered as tourist destinations for visitors, particularly in global cities such as Sydney. Sydney CBD with iconic sights, landmarks and cultural institutions plays a key role in Australia’s tourism industry.

Acknowledging the potential economic and environmental opportunities for the tourism industry, this thesis analyses walkability as a multi-dimensional concept by focusing on tourists’ behaviours and experiences in Sydney CBD. It develops a Tourist Walkability Index based on AURIN Walkability Tools factoring in both tourists’ walking experiences as well as the locations of attractions and accommodations. The thesis argues that walkability for permanent residents is likely to be different from the notion of walkability for tourists, in terms of the purpose of travel and safety. Therefore, encouraging tourists to engage in more sustainable forms of mobility is something that needs to be investigated further.

“Although the concept of walkability has substantial health, social, economic and environmental dimensions for permanent residents, little attention has been given to the concept of walkability from a tourist perspective.”

Mitchel Chin

Third places and social capital in high density

neighbourhoods: A study of Rhodes, Sydney

Master of City Planning

As cities around the globe experience unprecedented rates of population growth, higher density living is becoming an increasingly integral component of the urban experience. Denser housing developments mean more walkable neighbourhoods and residing in closer proximity to others, which are widely regarded as contributing to physical and social wellbeing. Neighbouring is essential in promoting social sustainability, and research has highlighted how elements of the built environment including density encourage greater social connections among residents. This study examines the role of public and community spaces – or as Ray Oldenburg describes in The Great Good Place (1989) as ‘third places’ – in

enhancing social capital in high density communities in Australian cities. Using the Rhodes urban renewal precinct as a case study, the thesis investigates how residents interact with the built environment for social purposes and to what extent this relationship is considered in the planning process. It draws on field observations, an online survey, and interviews with key stakeholders. Findings suggest that different groups of the community use third places in varied ways according to their needs for social connection. To adapt to the emerging demographic changes transforming Australian cities today, greater awareness is needed among planners of high-density neighbourhoods of the diverse mix of needs unique to each community.

“As cities around the globe experience unprecedented rates of population growth, higher density living is becoming an increasingly integral component of the urban experience.”

Lucy Fokkema

Gender and local government planning: A case study of the City of Parramatta Council

Master of City Planning

Image courtesy Gerrit Fokkema

Feminist geographers, planners and researchers have long argued that paying attention to gender differences at all stages of spatial decision-making would lead to a more equitable built environment for all people. However, these insights have been translated into local government planning practice in a limited and uneven way. Through a case study of the City of Parramatta Council, this thesis explores the question of how planners take account of gender when developing plans and making planning decisions in a NSW local government context. Interviews and discourse analysis reveal that while planners are deeply concerned with developing an accessible and inclusive built environment, they

employ a ‘gender blind’ approach to advancing equity, and rarely consider the gendered impacts of their planning decisions. Council planners generally assume that consideration of gender is only relevant to limited policy areas (e.g. safety and childcare), or to ‘fine grain’ planning activities, rather than strategic planning. When considering the needs of women, planners are also reluctant to essentialise the experience of individuals, due to the diversity of the Parramatta community. The thesis concludes that a gender mainstreaming approach to planning policy could have significant value in encouraging planners to consider the gendered impacts of their decision-making processes.

“While planners are deeply concerned with developing an accessible and inclusive built environment, they employ a ‘gender blind’ approach to advancing equity, and rarely consider the gendered impacts of their planning decisions.”

Lara Fusco

Cultural and economic implications of the relocation of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences to the Parramatta CBD

Master of City Planning

Image courtesy Author 2018

The relocation of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS) from inner city Ultimo to the suburban Parramatta CBD is set to commence in 2019. The contentious planning proposal is best understood within a broader strategic framework defined by the NSW’s State Government vision for Parramatta as a global city. The aim of this thesis is to analyse the Government’s rationale to the proposed riverside development within the dynamic political, social and economic climate that constitutes the backdrop for the Museum’s physical arrival, construction, and future use. Interviews with community members and City of Parramatta Council officers were held to investigate initial

expectations and responses to the proposed cultural institution. Issues raised include the demolition of state listed heritage items to facilitate site redevelopment, the economic feasibility of the business case, and the sociopolitical implications of redressing inter-regional inequity through stateled redevelopment. The research suggests that the arrival of MAAS is a synecdoche of dramatic physical changes to the urban landscape and the rapid injection of economic interest and development into place-making. The importance of this research is to reflect the mix of voices and views capturing the challenges of meeting increasingly diverse community expectations.

“The research suggests that the arrival of MAAS is a synecdoche of dramatic physical changes to the urban landscape and the rapid injection of economic interest and development into place-making.”

Bolormaa Jamsranjav

Healthy planning: Evaluation of the 2030 Master plan of Ulaanbaatar 2030, Mongolia

Master of City Planning

Image courtesy Author 2018

If we are planning for people, health and wellbeing must be prioritised. Research indicates that there is fundamental relationship between people’s health and their surroundings. Recent developments in global health planning have highlighted the need to make cities healthy, equitable and sustainable. Developing countries face particular problems in delivering healthy cities due to rapid urbanization, economic insecurity, environmental degradation and lack of urban planning capacity. This research aims to evaluate the Master Plan to 2030 for Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in relation to healthy objectives. A literature review explores background knowledge on

how health and planning relate to each other leading to globally agreed agendas relating to healthy city planning. Taking into account WHO Healthy Cities Program objectives and the NSW Health Healthy Urban Development Checklist, pertinent criteria relevant to Mongolia and developing countries are developed. These are also informed by the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda. Evaluation of the Ulaanbaatar Master Plan indicates that a more comprehensive, proactive, collaborative and evidence-based policy framework is required to adequately position health at the forefront of metropolitan strategic planning.

“Developing countries face particular problems in delivering healthy cities due to rapid urbanization, economic insecurity, environmental degradation and lack of urban planning capacity.”

Paul Judge

Where everybody knows your name: Discovering local identity in a global age: a case study of craft breweries in Sydney’s Inner West

Image courtesy Author 2018

In an age where connectivity and accessibility to global markets and networks is a part of everyday life, communities and individuals are actively pursuing a ‘return to local’ way of thinking and living. The popularity and spread of farmers markets, artisan producers, small-scale creative industries and manufacturing, distillers and craft breweries are examples of people favouring a more unique local experience. The Inner West Local Government Area in Sydney has built a reputation as a hub of ‘creative makers’, particularly in the industrial lands of Marrickville, home to designers, artists, food and coffee producers and an increasing number of craft breweries. Support of this industry enjoys both

consumer and government support with the Inner West Council initiating projects and policy to support these industries, and the NSW Department of Planning and Environment proposing land use changes to facilitate a growing artisan producer industry. Using the craft brewery industry as a case study, this thesis will explore the themes of neolocalism and creative makers, the resurgence of the local experience and how the NSW planning system facilitates these new business models. It will also explore the impacts of these new industries and whether the popularity and political support comes at a cost to traditional industrial and manufacturing industries.

“In an age where connectivity and accessibility to global markets and networks is a part of everyday life, communities and individuals are actively pursuing a ‘return to local’ way of thinking and living.”

Ayse Kiziltekin

Autonomous Vehicles: Are planners ready for the impact on the city?

Master of City Planning

Image courtesy Author 2018

Planners need to be ready for future transport and technology that will impact our cities, and currently they are not. This thesis examines the autonomous vehicle, with special consideration for its role in the smart city, and as a realistic proposition for future transport. While autonomous vehicles will be transformative for the city overall, this research looks at the issue from a planner’s perspective through a critical review of the broader phenomenon and a case study of metropolitan Sydney. It aims to inform the planning discipline about autonomous vehicles, while determining the extent to which the

profession is prepared for their arrival. The technology, function, and impact of the autonomous vehicle is explored through a discourse analysis and semi-structured interviews with key respondents involved in transport planning. Information on autonomous vehicles for planners is growing by the day. My findings make clear that international and case study evidence of autonomous vehicles will provide planners with considerable challenges in the future planning of the city. In order to be ready for their impact, there needs to be a collaboration between regulation, industry and technology.

“Planners need to be ready for future transport and technology that will impact our cities, and currently they are not.”

Sally Macdonald

Planning for Sea Level Rise: A Sydney Case Study

Image courtesy Author 2018

Climate change is one of the most challenging issues facing governments today, with coastal planning at the forefront of adaptation policy. Coastal cities are at risk from many new concerns from climate change, but sea level rise and the resulting inundation is one of the most pressing. Planners must start integrating adaptation strategies into all levels of government policy, to reduce the long-term risks and increase the resilience of communities. This thesis looks at central Sydney, which is particularly vulnerable due to built-up coastal areas with high cultural and tourism value. If these areas become inundated, it could cause many

permanent economic, social, cultural and environmental impacts. Drawing on spatial analysis and interviews, as well as international examples of best practise, my research makes recommendations on how coastal planning policy may need to change in the near and long-term future. The findings may have relevance to other coastal cities around the world that are facing similar inundation levels. By focusing on consistent monitoring, and the application of the latest scientific knowledge, coastal city resilience can be increased and future impacts minimised.

“Planners must start integrating adaptation strategies into all levels of government policy to reduce the long-term risks and increase the resilience of communities.”

Pristine Ong

Right to the renewing city:

The inclusivity of food markets in Sydney's gentrifying inner west

Master of City Planning

In Sydney, food markets are often located in areas of high advantage and/ or areas undergoing gentrification. This thesis examines the inclusivity of food markets in Sydney's gentrifying inner west based on face-to-face surveys with visitors and participant observation, and interviews with market vendors, managers and policy experts. It uses case studies of two markets in areas undergoing urban renewal: Marrickville, part of the Sydenham to Bankstown corridor; and Carriageworks, along the Central to Eveleigh area. The thesis asks what role food markets play in creating a viable local food system in the inner city, and whether they break down the segregated social spaces of modernist planning to counteract

the fragmentation of neighbourhoods undergoing renewal. This thesis finds that food markets often locate mixed uses among walkable urban forms to enhance social interaction. Compared to the industrial food system, they represent an alternative food network promoting quality, producer-consumer relationships and community building. Informed by discussions relating to the right to the city and the just city, this thesis identifies that food markets straddle the intersection between food justice, public life and urban renewal. While arguing that food markets have some exclusionary aspects, this thesis proposes recommendations for how they can further improve local food systems.

“Compared to the industrial food system, food markets represent an alternative food network promoting quality, producer-consumer relationships and community building.”

Melissa Tranquille

Millennials Living with Parents: A Sydney Case Study

Image courtesy Author 2018

Master of City Planning

A growing number of adult children are deferring moving out of the family home and living longer with their parents. In Sydney, almost one in five young adults lives with their parents. This is the highest incidence amongst all Australian capital cities and represents an upward shift over the last 10 years. There are many assumptions surrounding the drivers of this major social trend. Existing research points towards cultural attitudes and economic conditions influencing the postponement of household formation amongst young adults. Economic factors are assumed to be highly pertinent to Sydney, in light of high house prices and rental costs relative

to wages - giving rise to housing affordability issues over recent years. As a result, first home buyers currently represent only 18 per cent of all new mortgagees, compared to 31 per cent a decade ago. My research highlights the drivers behind the increasing share of young adults postponing household formation, including demographic shifts and housing economics. This study unpacks how these factors vary across different demographic groups and spatially within Sydney. The thesis confirms the significance of Sydney’s high housing costs on young adults choosing to live longer in the parental home.

“In Sydney, almost one in five young adults lives with their parents. This is the highest incidence amongst all Australian capital cities and represents an upward shift over the last 10 years.”

Weikang Wang

Evaluating the impact of electric bicycle boom on urban mobility, urban traffic safety and urban environment in China

Master of City Planning

Image courtesy Author 2018

With the density of urban development, and demand for short trip lengths in the public daily life of Chinese cities, attention has been focused on the electric bicycle (e-bike) in promoting sustainable urban transport. This thesis focuses on four main aspects of this phenonemon: an analysis of e-bike conversion at a national and city level (concentrating on Beijing and Fuzhou); an explanation of the significant surge and popularity of e-bikes; evaluation of their environmental and safety impacts

relative to conventional transport modes; and an online questionnaire survey in Zhengzhou to analyse current travel behavior. The thesis suggests that e-bikes are well integrated into the current transportation system and are widely used in people's daily lives especially for young generations in China. As a sustainable transport mode, the e-bike can improve the urban environment and urban mobility with proper management.

“E-bikes can be an ideal transport mode to improve urban environment and urban mobility in China.”

Wei Wei

A Critical Review of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) Opportunities for Community Engagement: A case study of Victoria Park, Green Square, Sydney

of City Planning

Image courtesy Author 2018

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) is a recent planning and design philosophy in Australia primarily used to minimise the hydrological impacts of urban development on the environment. Since WSUD was first established over twenty years ago, it has been promoted as a sustainable, resilient, productive, and liveable environmental design methodology. As governments at different levels and local communities adopt green infrastructure principles, they are key participants in the planning and implementation of WSUD. However, there is still a lack of community ownership of policy objectives and engagement in water-

related design and management issues, and appreciation of standards that can be applied at different planning scales to satisfy a range of stakeholders. This thesis argues for reform of WSUD policy to enable broader individual and community participation by linking WSUD to greater public awareness and engagement through planning and interventions. A case study analysis of the urban redevelopment precinct of Victoria Park in Sydney demonstrates that increasing public interaction with water-sensitive infrastructure will foster local coordination and has consequences for the future WSUD framework.

“There is still a lack of community ownership of policy objectives and engagement in water-related design and management issues.”

City Planning Academic Staff

Associate Professor Hoon

Associate Professor

Senior Lecturer

City Planning Program

Associate Professor

Lecturer

Dr Nancy Marshall

Dr Laura Crommelin

Senior Lecturer

Dr Christine Steinmetz

Lecturer

Dr Laurence Troy

Dr Gethin Davison

Han Discipline Director

Simon Pinnegar Professor

Susan Thompson Professor

Robert Freestone

Acknowledgements

City Planning Program Director

Associate Professor Hoon Han

BPlan and BCP Thesis Project

Coordinator, Abstract and Image

Editor and Catalogue Editor

Dr Christine Steinmetz

MPlan Thesis Project Coordinator and Abstract Editor

Professor Robert Freestone

Catalogue Designer

Homa Rahmat

Other Built Environment Staff and Industry Professionals Contributing to the UNSW Planning Program in 2018:

Carlos Bartesaghi Koc

Michael Bishop

Amit Choudhury

Lucy Cole-Edelstein

Jim Colman

Hazel Easthope

Di Griffiths

Matt Hurst

Matt Kelly

Scott Perugini Kelly

Chris Martin

Sarath Mataraarachchi

Steve McMahon

Graham Nelmes

Ryan van den Nouwelant

Bill Randolph

Michael Rowe

Richard Shepherd

Ian Sinclair

Alison Taylor

Sian Thompson

Danny Wiggins

Peter Williams

Sharon Veale

Sherry Xiong

Alison Ziller

UNSW Built Environment

UNSW Sydney

Sydney NSW 2052 Australia

T: +61 (2) 9385 4799

E: fbe@unsw.edu.au be.unsw.edu.au