UQ Planning Research Journal 2014

SCHOOL OF GEOGRAPHY, PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

UQ PLANNING RESEARCH journal

gpem.uq.edu.au

2014 UQ PLANNING RESEARCH JOURNAL This journal provides a synopsis of research projects conducted by the 2014 graduating class of UQ’s Bachelor of Regional and Town Planning degree.

The Bachelor of Regional and Town Planning, accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia, prepares students to be critical thinkers. These research projects provide an important opportunity for students to show what they have learned in their degree.

Regional and town planning is about improving quality of life in cities and regions. The UQ program covers a range of sustainability dimensions, demonstrated by the research projects described here. Graduates of the program lead many of South East Queensland’s planning firms and help communities, companies and governments to improve environmental, economic and social outcomes.

I would like to thank the editors, Bachelor of Regional and Town Planning students Chloe Forsyth and Courtney MaizeyBaker, for their efforts in bringing this journal together.

Professor Neil Sipe, Planning Program Director Please contact the School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management or the research staff directly to discuss any issues of interest.

Ph: +61 7 3365 6455 Fax: +61 7 3365 6899 Email: gpem@uq.edu.au

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The School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management Contents Community and Social Planning Gendered Spaces: An Exploration of Violence Against Women in Delhi’s Public Spaces 4 An Investigation into the Role of Social Sustainability in Planning Strategies for Low Socio-Economic Areas: 5 A Case Study of Beenleigh, Queensland Social Effects of Disaster Waste Management: A Case Study of Brisbane Suburbs Post 2011 January Floods 6 Elevator Dogs: The Importance of Planning for Dogs Within Densifying Urban Environments 7 The Dynamics of Neighbourhood Change: A Case Study of Population, Housing and Household 8 Change in Brisbane’s Middle Ring Suburbs Policy and Governance An Unpredictable Road: Evaluating the Applicability of Adaptive Environmental Management to 9 Regional Planning in the Uncertain Community of Gladstone The Queensland Local Government Amalgamation Process: A Noosa Case Study 10 Castles Made of Sand: Empowering Local Government to Address Coastal Hazards With the 11 State Planning Policy How Has the Concept of Libertarian Planning and Libertarian Precepts Affected the Town 12 Planning Environment: A Brief Insight to Brisbane City Plan 2014 Planning for Prosperity: The Effectiveness of Planning Approaches in Addressing Regional Economic Sub-centres 13

Urban Design and Public Realm Planning Tactical Urbanism in Brisbane: Bringing Innovation to Place-Making Practices

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Understanding the Users, Usage and Form of Public Spaces with Public Wi-Fi Provisions

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Quintessentially Brisbane: The Creative City Project 16 Active Transport Planning Cycling to Work and the Gender Gap in Brisbane: A study of the Environmental, Socio-cultural and Individual Determinants 17 of Gender Disparity in Commuter Cycling in Inner-Brisbane Where the Rubber meets the Road(map): Cognitive Mapping of Cyclists’ Perceptions of Legibility 18 UQ Bachelor of Regional and Town Planning 19 UQ School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management

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GENDERED SPACES: AN EXPLORATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN DELHI’S PUBLIC SPACES Chloe Forsyth

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Supervisor: Laurel Johnson

Contact the author: chloe.forsyth@uqconnect.edu.au

Fear of harassment and assault in public spaces controls women’s lives and has significant impacts on women’s use of the public realm. This leads to behavioural changes and self-imposed restrictions to personal freedom, mobility, civic engagement and quality of life. Patriarchal control and women’s dependence on men is maintained through this spatial manifestation of fear.

Delhi has been described as the epicentre of violence against women in India and the city has become the focus of significant media attention, civilian protest and non-governmental activism in recent years. Sexual violence against women in Delhi’s public spaces is a consequence of a multitude of contingent factors including: a patriarchal society; institutionalised misogyny; corruption; religious and cultural influences; inadequate education; poor governance; and limited political participation for citizens.

A variety of strategies, initiatives and policy actions are needed from civil society, the private sector and the state to address the issue; however, urban planning and design, or lack thereof, is a critical factor in enabling violence against women in Delhi’s public spaces.

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Available online

bit.ly/chloe4003

Poor urban infrastructure, limited street lighting, gaps in transport infrastructure, overcrowding and a lack of consideration for women’s needs in the built environment highlight the importance of viewing violence against women as an urban planning problem in Delhi. In a city where only 37 per cent of the urban fabric has been formally planned and women are increasingly stepping out of traditional roles to gain an education and earn a living, a shared sense of urgency across all sectors of governance and greater consideration for urban planning and design are needed in Delhi.

This research considers sexual violence against women through the lens of feminist urban analysis and urban planning, and examines the role that civil society and the state have in perpetuating and addressing the issue. Primary research and a range of secondary data sources including academic literature, statistical data, media reports, non-government and government initiatives and reports, planning documents, the findings of the Justice Verma Committee and grey literature were analysed to examine the current situation in Delhi and to make recommendations for the future.

AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ROLE OF SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY IN PLANNING STRATEGIES FOR LOW SOCIO-ECONOMIC AREAS: A CASE STUDY OF BEENLEIGH, QUEENSLAND Lisa Heanue Supervisor: Dr SĂŠbastien Darchen

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Contact the author: lisa.heanue@uqconnect.edu.au

Social sustainability has been an element of the sustainable development framework that has remained relatively neglected in literature until more recent times. In particular, very little research into the use of social sustainability when planning on the local scale for low-socio economic areas has been conducted.

Furthermore, research is particularly lacking in an Australian context. The provision of public spaces is of importance across all urban areas but must consider more significant social issues when developing strategies to guide place-making in a low socioeconomic context.

This thesis seeks to investigate how social sustainability should be addressed, particularly taking into consideration grassroots projects and how they are best integrated into the overall process in terms of strategy development and the implementation of

master plans. A case study approach was taken for this thesis, with Beenleigh identified as a suitable archetype for a typical low socio-economic area. This project conducted research in reference to the Beenleigh Town Centre Master Plan and a local grassroots project, seeking to evaluate the implementation of both.

Through a series of interviews with politicians, planners and community stakeholders, the research sought to first identify whether a bottom-up or top-down process would be more effective in the case of Beenleigh. Secondly, whether a grassroots project would be better implemented in the urban fabric before or after the introduction of a master plan was explored. And finally, the ability of social sustainability, through policy and place-making, to overcome social issues was also investigated.

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SOCIAL EFFECTS OF DISASTER WASTE MANAGEMENT: A CASE STUDY OF BRISBANE SUBURBS POST 2011 JANUARY FLOODS Penny Milton

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Supervisor: Dr Derlie Mateo-Babiano

Contact the author: penny.milton@uqconnect.edu.au

Succeeding disasters is the elongated process of removing the debris and waste left behind. Disaster waste management is an essential step which needs to be undertaken for the process of recovery. A key aspect to a successful disaster waste removal process is an involved community with a strong understanding of how the process is to be undertaken. The speed, nature and impact of disaster waste management needs to be carefully considered, as it can have profound social impacts which can adversely affect the recovery of the community.

This research investigates how the speed and nature of a disaster waste management process can impact upon residents with different socio-economic backgrounds. A case study of the 2011 January floods in Brisbane, Queensland, was conducted by surveying flood affected residents from different socio-economic

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Available online

bit.ly/penny4008 backgrounds to measure the community’s perception and understanding of how the speed and nature of the removal of flood waste influenced recovery.

It is envisaged that this paper will provide an insight into how residents understand and perceive the disaster waste removal process. It was found that in some cases residents from different socio-economic backgrounds had different perceptions about the removal of flood waste and that communication to residents regarding the removal of flood waste assisted residents in their recovery. These findings are significant as they can guide policy makers when preparing disaster waste management plans to ensure fast and efficient recovery without adversely impacting on an already fragile community.

ELEVATOR DOGS: THE IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING FOR DOGS WITHIN DENSIFYING URBAN ENVIRONMENTS Maxwell Peel

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Supervisor: Laurel Johnson

Contact the author: maxwell.peel@uqconnect.edu.au

With 19 dogs for every 100 Australians, pet dogs are the most prevalent companion animal and are a valuable asset within the full spectrum of family dynamics within Australian cities.

Uncertainty and tension arises from high rates of dog ownership accompanied by the trend for people to choose higher density living options and competition for public open space. An analysis of relevant literature revealed a knowledge gap exists in relation to planning policy and design of urban areas to incorporate pet dogs. It is also uncertain as to the current acceptability of dogs within mid to high-density dwellings within inner city suburbs of Australian cities.

ownership in Australian cities and examined the acceptability of dogs with a given study area specific to an urban context. The research design included a mixed method approach ensuring triangulated data sources met the intended research objectives of the thesis. A single case study was undertaken focusing on the inner city Brisbane suburb of New Farm, as a bench mark for mid- to high-density dwelling types within the capital. The results of this research aim to provide new and unexplored insights into how dogs can be better incorporated into city planning.

At the core of this research lies the research question - how can planners create dog friendly cities in increasingly densifying urban areas? The research synthesized current and past literature with new data to suggest future pathways for urban planners faced with the challenges of high rates of dog ownership and trends toward higher density living. The research will ensure that both local government and urban planning policy better responds to dog ownership policy and dog friendly design in densifying urban environments.

The research explored the drivers, benefits and patterns of dog

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THE DYNAMICS OF NEIGHBOURHOOD CHANGE: A CASE STUDY OF POPULATION, HOUSING AND HOUSEHOLD CHANGE IN BRISBANE’S MIDDLE RING SUBURBS Available online

Emily Melville Supervisor: Dr Elin Charles-Edwards

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Contact the author: emily.melville@uqconnect.edu.au

As the population of Australian cities continue to grow, processes of urban consolidation, enforced through urban policy and planning controls, are being increasingly supported by state and local institutions. Suburbs located in the middle-ring are particularly susceptible to change brought upon by contemporary policy due to their existing low-density housing stock, historically low rates of household turnover and significant ageing in place.

The aim of this study is to examine shifts in the population, housing and household composition of these suburbs, and identify the local and regional level processes driving neighbourhood change.

This study developed a conceptual framework which drew upon existing literature to identify two sets of forces - regional level (macro) processes and household level (micro) processes. Following this framework, data from historical Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) censuses, coupled with interviews with local residents was used to trace the dynamics of neighbourhood change in three Brisbane middle-ring suburbs: Ashgrove, Bulimba and Cannon Hill.

The housing and population composition was found to have changed significantly over the last few decades, as housing is rejuvenated and consolidated, and elderly residents are replaced with young couples and families. This change can be explained by a distinctive set of forces operating at both the regional and local level. These include economic and employment restructuring, long term demographic change, and the effect of regional and local planning schemes.

This study provides a framework for urban researchers and planners to investigate the nature of local-level change. The research further highlights to council policy makers, the importance of neighbourhood plans as tools which support the delivery of metropolitan planning objectives at the locallevel.

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bit.ly/emilym4008

AN UNPREDICTABLE ROAD: EVALUATING THE APPLICABILITY OF ADAPTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TO REGIONAL PLANNING IN THE UNCERTAIN COMMUNITY OF GLADSTONE Jackie Hunter

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Supervisor: Dr Tiffany Morrison

Contact the author: jackie.hunter@uqconnect.edu.au

The effectiveness of local planning instruments and policies in Australian resource regions have been widely critiqued and questioned in recent years. With the emergence and rapid development of traditional and new mining sectors, it is imperative that planning in these communities effectively manages the impacts associated with natural resource development. The impacts of rapid development have proven beyond the scope of traditional urban planning methods and resulted in environments of uncertainty for government agencies, the private sector and the community. Adaptive – rather than static – planning is required.

However, little is known about how adaptive environmental management techniques can be retro-fitted to cope with uncertain environments in mining communities.

This thesis explores the applicability of Adaptive Environmental Management (AEM) to regional planning, with a case study of housing and land use in the fast growing Liquefied Natural Gas community of Gladstone, central Queensland. The construction

Available online

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and operation of this industry within Gladstone has been contentious since its inception, with negative impacts for the local community, its social fabric and the Gladstone harbour environment. In efforts to mitigate these issues, key stakeholders have collaborated on numerous projects, like the formation of the Gladstone Foundation. This project examined the current adaptive avenues within Gladstone’s existing plans and policies, and triangulated this data with participant-observation and interviews with key stakeholders from local government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the community. The project assessed the applicability of four AEM techniques (Kato and Ahern 2008): (1) conceiving management actions as experiments; (2) conducting several smaller plans/experiments at once to stimulate fast learning; (3) realising that monitoring is the key; and (4) fostering a ‘learning by doing’ mentality. This assessment determined the viability of AEM techniques for both the Gladstone community and urban and regional planning in general.

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THE QUEENSLAND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AMALGAMATION PROCESS: A NOOSA CASE STUDY Martin Lam

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Supervisor: Dr Tiffany Morrison

Contact the author: martin.lam@uqconnect.edu.au

The Australian local government landscape has shifted since Federation in 1901. Over the last few decades, local government has been thrust into the spotlight with increasing responsibilities and expectations. Constitutionally, however, local governments fundamentally remain creatures of the state. This notion of conflicting interests and tensions between ‘local governments as important and visible actors in their own right’ and ‘local governments as ordained to exist only if the state allows’, was exemplified in 2008 during the forced local government amalgamations in Queensland.

This research explores these contradictions through the critical case of the Noosa local government. Across the state, Noosa demonstrated the strongest position in resisting the amalgamations, and in questioning the amalgamations as a means of achieving a more efficient, effective model of

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Available online

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governance. This thesis examines the Noosa case in terms of the ‘local state’ concept, the democratic process, and the implications of changing local-state relations. The findings indicate that the process of amalgamation was inherently less democratic than that of de-amalgamation, involving a less inclusive approach and with little dialogue. There was intense local animosity in Noosa towards the state government for ‘undemocratically’ imposing the amalgamations. The lack of deliberation was evidenced by an absence of dialogue and inclusiveness in the decision making process. The idea of a ‘local state’ was invoked successfully, cementing the perception that local government is the more legitimate form of government and upholder, or ‘guardian’, of local interests. The thesis ultimately demonstrates that the call for constitutional recognition of local governments is mounting, with the need for greater autonomy and self-funding to ensure a more robust and relevant model of governance in Australia.

Castles Made of Sand: Empowering Local Government to address coastal hazards with the State Planning Policy Russell Laing

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Supervisor: Dr Iraphne Childs

Contact the author: russell.laing@uqconnect.edu.au

The single State Planning Policy (SPP), established by the Queensland Government in December 2013, stipulates how Queensland’s land use policies are to strategically address state interests. As an integral part of the state’s restructured planning framework, the policy has been hailed by the Property Council of Australia as the ‘Holy Grail’ of planning reform as it effectively cuts regulation and red tape.

However, the state government’s decision to remove Sea Level Rise from its state-mapping instrument has been met with a significant amount of criticism and concern for the future. The Queensland Government considers local government is in the best position to determine appropriate considerations for climate change. The intention of the SPP is to empower local governments with the ability to implement place-based solutions for their communities. However, current literature highlights that local governments experience a multitude of barriers when implementing adaptation policies. Therefore, it is currently not understood how local and regional land use policies will manifest following the introduction of the SPP or whether proactive adaptation options are possible due to the multitude of barriers.

Available online

bit.ly/russell4008 This research focuses on the land use designations of two major land use planning schemes within the Sunshine Coast region - the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2014 and the Maroochydore Priority Development Area. The region was chosen as a suitable case study because: the schemes were the first to incorporate the SPP into their land use designations; the area is highly susceptible to coastal hazards; and the schemes represent both local and regional considerations.

The case study highlighted that while the SPP has authorised local governments to employ effective adaptation policies, the Queensland Government has failed to reallocate additional resources to assist local governments to address the additional responsibilities the policy has produced. While the Sunshine Coast Regional Council (SCRC) appears to have sufficient resources to enable change, the current planning and legislative frameworks appear to have prevented the SCRC achieving a planned retreat policy. This is despite the SPP suggesting the option to be considered and the SCRC outlining the need for retreat to protect the community and the coastal ecosystems for which the Sunshine Coast is famous.

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HOW HAS THE CONCEPT OF LIBERTARIAN PLANNING AND LIBERTARIAN PRECEPTS AFFECTED THE TOWN PLANNING ENVIRONMENT: A BRIEF INSIGHT TO BRISBANE CITY PLAN 2014 Nathanael Elcock

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Supervisor: Associate Professor John Minnery

Contact the author: nathanael_elcock@hotmail.com

This project intended to understand the role of libertarianism and the effect of libertarian precepts on the town planning environment. As a result of a critical review of the piece Libertarian Planning (1981) by Anthony D. Sorensen and Richard A. Day, five overarching libertarian precepts regarding the realm of town planning were identified. These precepts included: respect for the Rule of Law; use of performance codes (opposed to minimum standards and maximum restrictions); localisation of plans; infrastructure costs resting with beneficiaries; and planners not acting as commercial entities.

These precepts where used to assess 42 pieces of literature with regards to explicit or implicit agreement or disagreement

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with said precept. This was used to gauge the level of impact libertarianism has had on the town planning environment. Overall, broad agreement was identified with four of the precepts being: Rule of Law; localisation of plans; infrastructure costs resting with beneficiaries and planners not acting as commercial entities; and a divided stance towards performance codes.

To illustrate the theory-practice jump, Brisbane City Plan 2014, along with the South East Regional Plan, were also assessed using the precepts. The result was similar to the review of the articles. These results intended to give an understanding of how ‘libertarian’ the planning field has become, enabling future town planners to prepare for what may well be the future of planning.

PLANNING FOR PROSPERITY: THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PLANNING APPROACHES IN ADDRESSING REGIONAL ECONOMIC SUB-CENTRES Samuel Evans

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Supervisor: Dr Thomas Sigler

Contact the author: samuel.evans1@uqconnect.edu.au

An understanding of the structural order of economic activity of cities is fundamental in urban planning policy development. The location of economic activity influences urban form and function, and has specific implications for land use designation as well as infrastructural and service provision. Significantly, the decanting of certain economic activities away from central business districts (CBDs) is of increasing interest, particularly as policies targeting peri-urban development have been marginalised for greater investment within CBDs. This thesis focuses on the distribution of economic activity outside of the Brisbane CBD and the economic hierarchy of suburban sub-centres. By forming a model to measure the strength of economic activity at a local scale, sub-centres of economic importance are identified. Framed against a critical analysis

Available online

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of the urban planning policy relative to these economic sub centres, the gap between the existing actual urban economy and corresponding policy is addressed.

This research is intended to direct the development of urban planning policy at the local and regional level, specifically towards the facilitation of regional economic sub-centres outside of the CBD. It aims to improve outcomes for peri-urban economic development and establish guidelines for urban planning policy development in addressing such economic dispersal. This will be of increasing relevance in South East Queensland, as the population continues to grow and well-established sub-centres are necessary for an optimal distribution of intra-urban services and human resources.

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Tactical Urbanism in Brisbane: Bringing Innovation to Place-making Practices Charlotte Prout

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Supervisor: Dr SĂŠbastien Darchen Contact the author: charlotte.prout@uqconnect.edu.au

Tactical urbanism is a new topic within the planning discipline that is rapidly emerging on the international stage. Tactical urbanism projects create an opportunity for planners and the community as they act as a successful tool for effective community engagement and place-making. At present, tactical urbanism is of paramount importance in Brisbane following the recent introduction of City Plan 2014 and the City Centre Master Plan. These documents place a strong focus on utilising creativity and collaborative place-making techniques to achieve their desired outcomes.

Although being named as the top planning trend in 2012, minimal academic research exists on the topic, specifically from an Australian viewpoint.

This honours research thesis contributes to the academic discussion on tactical urbanism by performing a critical review of tactical urbanism in Brisbane. It evaluates the benefits and limitations of the movement to assess its value as a placemaking tool in formal planning practice. A comparative case study analysis was undertaken to gain inference on the different forms of tactical urbanism projects. The chosen case

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studies provided a contrast between community-led, publically funded and internationally recognised projects during 2014 in Brisbane. These include The Stephens Road Precinct Suburban Renaissance, the UR(BNE) Festival and PARK(ing) Day. Within these case studies, several key informants were interviewed to provide first hand data and understanding on the events. Overall, the data obtained from the case studies and key informant interviews combined with the literature review to answer the question - can tactical urbanism in Brisbane bring innovation to place-making practices?

The outcomes of the study are in the form of recommendations that capitalise on the benefits of the movement and overcome the current challenges within the field. These aim to enhance the value and effectiveness of future tactical urbanism projects in Brisbane, leading to more innovative place-making strategies.

Overall the recommendations revolve around the general themes of enhanced collaboration between stakeholders, increased awareness and coordination of the projects and further integration into planning policy.

Understanding the Users, Usage and Form of Outdoor Public Spaces with Public Wi-Fi Provisions Courtney Maizey-Baker Supervisor: Dr Sonia Roitman

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Contact the author: courtney.maizeybaker@uqconnect.edu.au

Over the last twenty years, technology has emerged as a highly complex factor affecting the use and design of public spaces. From mobile phones to public screens, technology is increasingly prevalent within public spaces and understanding its impact is of great interest to practitioners and academics. One subject yet to be fully understood is the relationship between public wireless internet (Wi-Fi) and public spaces. There is a significant research gap with regard to the types of outdoor public space where public Wi-Fi is provided; the characteristics of users; how they use the space; and the form these spaces currently and should consequently take.

This research has addressed this gap by investigating the user, usage and form trends of public spaces that provide public Wi-Fi, using Brisbane as a case study. Brisbane is regarded as having one of the most expansive and rapidly increasing public Wi-Fi networks of all Australian cities (Gliddon 2012) and consequently, was chosen as an ideal location to carry out this research.

The results of this project indicate that Brisbane has five types of outdoor public spaces where public W-Fi is provided, ranging from small suburban parks to significant tourist attraction sites within the city centre. The research also revealed there are six different types of users found in public Wi-Fi provided public spaces, each with unique characteristics, usage patterns and requirements. As a result of better understanding current trends in the users, usage and form of these spaces, design recommendations highlighting six key features that should be considered when designing and redesigning these spaces in the future are presented.

The research is of great value to urban planning theory and professional practice as it provides a preliminary understanding of current trends and a practical set of guidelines that will allow outdoor public spaces to better facilitate public Wi-Fi and its users into the future.

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QUINTESSENTIALLY BRISBANE: THE CREATIVE CITY PROJECT MADELEINE JOHN

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Supervisor: Dr Sébastien Darchen

Contact the author: madeleine.john@uqconnect.edu.au

Throughout the 21st century, cities have engaged in more integrated and holistic approaches, rethinking the past urban engineering paradigm of city making and evolving with increased imagination towards a ‘Creative City’. Inspired by the recent ‘Creative City’ planning initiatives introduced by Brisbane, this thesis formulates one paradigm for assessment (Creative City Index) in determining whether Brisbane is a true representation of a ‘Creative City’, and how the concept can be used to inform better design practice. Ultimately, two chief recommendations of ‘better design’ are provided to address Brisbane’s priority areas of improvement and strengthen the creative form of Brisbane to bring it to the status of a ‘New World City’.

The methodology of the thesis followed a sequence whereby each stage was influenced by, and built upon, each previous stage. A background into the literature provided an insight into the origins of the ‘Creative City’ concept through the theoretical perspectives of Charles Landry, Richard Florida, and Jane Jacobs, and the modernist application of international ‘Creative Cities’ including New York, Barcelona, London, San Francisco and Toronto. By merging the ideals of the two perspectives, a set of defining principles were formed which provided the foundation for the ‘Creative City Index’. From here, an empirical investigation directed the project, focused on the application of Brisbane as a ‘Creative City’. Underpinned by qualitative data sources, both industry and community level perspectives were revealed. Data interpretation involved utilizing the program NVivo to distinguish viewpoints and Adobe InDesign to illustrate spatial trends of creative functions.

On the basis of the results, it was concluded that Brisbane does not represent a ‘Creative City’ due to the shortcomings revealed in the city’s Creative Workforce, Connective Infrastructure, Creative Clusters of Space/Place and Visionary Leadership. To respond to these identified shortcomings, recommended visions were divided into two catalysts of ‘The Green River City’ and ‘Queens Wharf Creative Incubator’. The visions are not intended to serve as solutions for Brisbane becoming a ‘Creative City’, but rather, to act as a platform from which immediate change can begin. Creativity is viewed as a means of acquiring a global city status and a key driver in building Brisbane’s creative muscle so that creativity flows as a natural connector. This thesis highlights the importance of conducting studies through an experimental manner to seize the opportunities and gaps created in research and to shed light not only on the creative process per se, but also enhancing the quality of planning outcomes to make a great city.

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CYCLING TO WORK AND THE GENDER GAP IN BRISBANE: A STUDY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIOCULTURAL AND INDIVIDUAL DETERMINANTS OF GENDER DISPARITY IN COMMUTER CYCLING IN INNER-BRISBANE Jayden Forbes-Mitchell

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Supervisor: Dr Derlie Mateo-Babiano

Contact the author: jayden.forbesmitchell@uqconnect.edu.au

Bicycling as a mode of transport is increasingly recognised by planners and policy-makers around the world for its health, environmental, social and community benefits. Despite this, cycling continues to represent a very small share of the journey to work modes in Australia’s major cities, falling between 1 and 2%, which is well below targets aspired to by local governments.

Furthermore, significant proportions of these riders are men, with males in Brisbane accounting for roughly 81% of bicycle commuters. Understanding this substantial gender imbalance is consequently important to both planners and policy-makers alike.

This research study aims to understand which individual, environmental and sociocultural factors most strongly influence a person’s decision to commute to work by bicycle in Brisbane, with a particular focus on how these factors differ by gender.

Recognising the variables which most significantly affect female cycling to work participation will allow for a more inclusive and effective approach to active transport planning in Brisbane.

For this study, adults from the inner-Brisbane suburbs of West End and Newstead were recruited via random letterbox drops and invited to complete a survey on perceived barriers and motivators to commuting by bicycle. Returned survey responses were analysed to understand which variables most strongly deter or encourage commuter cycling in the sample.

Findings from the survey indicate that most inner-Brisbane residents find cycling enjoyable and would consider cycling to work, however, safety concerns (fear of riding with motorised traffic) and a disjointed and indirect network of bicycle paths prevent them from doing so. Female respondents were more susceptible to avoiding certain roads or avoiding cycling altogether where perceived danger from riding on roads was high. These results indicate that the current cycling environment is the single largest barrier to increasing commuter cycling in Brisbane.

Findings from the study provide an evidence base to inform future transport strategies for increasing transport cycling participation in Brisbane, particularly amongst women.

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Where the Rubber meets the Road(map): Cognitive Mapping of Cyclists’ Perceptions of Legibility Jessica Drew

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Supervisor: Dr Derlie Mateo-Babiano

Contact the author: jessica.drew1@uqconnect.edu.au Available online

bit.ly/jessica4008 Transport infrastructure in Brisbane is reaching breaking point. Traffic delays, fewer parking spaces and frustrated commuters are commonplace, putting pressure on government to alleviate stress and provide alternative sustainable options for commuters. To improve current transport infrastructure, alternative modes of transport must be considered and promoted to users. By creating attractive and sustainable transport choices, commuters may be encouraged to shift from travelling in private vehicles to modes of active transport such as walking or cycling. To encourage the use of active transport methods, changes must be made to ensure a high level of legibility of pedestrian pathways and cycling networks.

Despite the personal and community benefits of active transport, current literature indicates that research relating to cyclists and way-finding is limited. The key gap identified throughout this literature is how to better understand how cyclists interpret their space and use way-finding cues to navigate their surroundings, independent from motorists and pedestrians.

A self-administered, three-part questionnaire survey was distributed to cyclists at targeted locations. The first part of the survey required participants to draw a sketch-map of the River Loop, a popular route for recreational cyclists in Brisbane, while the second part asked participants to evaluate five images based on their usefulness for navigation. The third part was a series of questions about demographics and cycling habits.

The sketch-mapping task was evaluated geographically and on the types of navigational elements that participants indicated on the sketches. Initial statistical analysis of the survey indicated that the sample reflects the cycling population of Brisbane, despite the sample size being limited to 50 participants.

This research could be used as the basis for further research to understand the differences in the needs of cyclist navigation compared to pedestrian navigation. The application of this information could improve the provision of navigational and way-finding information to cyclists in a greater context.

Further studies would be enhanced by the inclusion of GPS applications on bike computers and mobile phones, in conjunction with the cognitive mapping task. This would allow researchers to understand how cognitive maps translate to the actual route taken, as well as the accuracy of cognitive maps.

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SCHOOL OF GEOGRAPHY, PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT A growing population, urbanisation, loss of biodiversity, climate change and natural resource management are some of the biggest issues facing our world today and threatening our future. The School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management is at the forefront of tackling these issues through innovative research, worldclass teaching and our links with government and industry.

Multifaceted research projects are undertaken in the School which investigate a spectrum of issues, from managing the population boom in South East Queensland, to assisting poverty reduction in Southeast Asia. Governments, agencies and industry across the globe draw on the knowledge and practical skills of the School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management staff to help solve contemporary problems.

Students in the School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management are able to explore areas of research interest and work on projects of national and international significance in a unique interdisciplinary environment.

A strong research culture exists within the School and the sharing of ideas between staff and students across disciplines is encouraged. The School provides leadership and support to staff and students and ensures that students have access to high-quality supervisors, mentoring programs, excellent resources and professional development initiatives.

Scholarships

Research students can apply for a number of scholarships.

Please visit the UQ Scholarships website for details: www.uq.edu.au/grad-school/scholarships-and-fees Examples of current Research Higher Degree projects can be found at: www.gpem.uq.edu.au/student-projects

Contact

Please contact The School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management at postgrad.gpem@uq.edu. au if you are interested in undertaking a research higher degree or have any enquiries.

Alumni

Graduate profiles can be viewed at: www.gpem.uq.edu.au/profiles

BACHELOR OF REGIONAL AND TOWN PLANNING The Bachelor of Regional and Town Planning program at UQ prepares students to be leaders in the planning field and is accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia. Many of South East Queenland’s planning firms are headed by UQ graduates.

The UQ program focuses on sustainability with key planning elements centred around the topics of land-use planning, urban design, economic development, planning practice, infrastructure planning, resource management, transport planning and planning law. Lecturers have a strong understanding of planning theory in practice and work in conjunction with guest lecturers from industry to ensure students have access to real-life case studies straight from the professional sector.

Field experience

During each year of the program, students undertake a planning project, which allows them to work with industry, government or community partners on developments in South East Queensland.

International opportunities

UQ planning students also have the opportunity to participate in specialised courses in Vietnam and Hong Kong which focus on the development of cities and urban areas, and the key issues facing developing and developed regions globally.

Research projects

In the final year of the program, there is the opportunity for high achieving students to undertake an in-depth, supervised, individual research thesis to extend their expertise in a specialist area of planning. This booklet showcases some of these projects.

Find out more about studying in the School at gpem.uq.edu.au/future-students More information about UQ for International Students, including the study environment, links to estimated living costs, refund policies, support services, information for students with families, and legal rights for international students, can be found at: http://www.uq.edu.au/international-students Please contact the School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management or the supervisors directly to discuss any issues of interest.

Ph: +61 7 3365 6455 Fax: +61 7 3365 6899 Email: gpem@uq.edu.au

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General EnquirIes The School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management AUSTRALIA 4072 Phone +61 7 3365 6455 Fax +61 7 3365 6899 Email gpem@uq.edu.au Twitter @UQ_gpem Web www.gpem.uq.edu.au

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