UQ PLANNING RESEARCH JOURNAL
SCHOOL OF GEOGRAPHY, PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
uq.edu.au/gpem
2013 UQ PLANNING RESEARCH JOURNAL This booklet is a collection of selected research projects completed by members of the 2013 Bachelor of Regional and Town Planning graduating class. The Bachelor of Regional and Town Planning prepares students to be leaders in the planning field. It is accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia and many of South East Queenland’s planning firms are headed by graduates of the UQ program. Regional and town planning is about improving quality of life in cities and regions. The UQ program focusses on sustainability and helping communities, companies and governments to foster environmental, economic and social development.
Research within The School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management is focused on tackling the ‘Big Issues’ including: • Climate change and adaptation • Sustainable livelihoods • Marine and coastal processes and management • Sustainable cities • Conservation and natural resource management 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 Planning The creative Christchurch transition
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Empowering Queensland
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Land Use Planning and Governance Bushfires and land use planning in peri-urban South East Queensland
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Planning for coal seam gas in regional landscapes
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A systematic content analysis of main strategy maps in global strategic metropolitan plans
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Achieving visual appropriateness
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Governance structures in developing an innovative regeneration strategy: Newcastle CBD study
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The Dark Night Rises: Evaluation of Brisbane’s place-based approach in planning for the night-time economy
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Transport Understanding the geographical element of student commuter travel patterns
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Transport mode choice in Southeast Asia
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Will the bus ever come? An equity-based asssessment of transport planning and disadvantage on the Gold Coast
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Population and Migration Future accomodation of the elderly in Brisbane
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The population and household future of Ipswich
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Spatial mobility patterns of overseas graduates in Australia
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Australia’s literal sea change: Investigating the drivers and motivations for non-metropolitan migration
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UQ Bachelor of Regional and Town Planning
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UQ School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management
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THE CREATIVE CHRISTCHURCH TRANSITION: AN ANALYSIS OF CHRISTCHURCH’S COMMUNITY ACTION IN THE TRANSITIONAL PHASE OF DISASTER RECOVERY Gap Filler’s Pallet Pavilion. Credit: Glen Jansen.
PRUDENCE BLAKE
Supervisor: Dr Sébastien Darchen Contact the author: prudence.blake@uqconnect.edu.au Post numerous damaging earthquakes, the landscape of Christchurch’s Central City has changed dramatically. Much of the building stock in the inner city has collapsed, or been demolished and removed, leaving behind an over abundance of vacant spaces. It is from this devastation that community groups such as Gap Filler as well as other organized groups and individuals have seized the opportunity to re-activate these spaces with temporary creative projects – dubbed for this project as “creative community action”. There are numerous benefits of this process yet it remains unclear as to whether the “creative community action” process can be associated with the achievement of community empowerment within the phase of disaster recovery. This is a particularly significant contemporary issue as the risk of disaster events increases in association with global warming and so does the need to develop community resilience and sustainable responses to disaster events. The connections in the literature between disaster management, public participation and temporary, communityled uses are a newly emergent theme in the surrounding literature and provide for a number of gaps in the relevant research. Significant gaps are apparent in terms of case studies showing high levels of public participation as well as little evidence as to the benefits of including and empowering the community during the disaster recovery process. The unique case study of Christchurch’s Central City allows for the investigation into whether the creative community action process is achieving a level of community empowerment and the fostering and limiting factors of the process in achieving a high level of participation. To facilitate this investigation, two key projects were analyzed – the Pallet Pavilion and the Dance-O-Mat, both created by Gap Filler as well as an analysis of the general process surrounding other projects. In undertaking this analysis primary data primary data has been collected in Christchurch including personal observations, key informant
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AVAILABLE ONLINE
http://bit.ly/prudence4008 interviews with key players from Gap Filler, Life in Vacant Spaces and Christchurch City Council combined with information from a community survey. The analysis of projects was undertaken within a structured evaluation framework, grounded in the surrounding literature. This framework assessed the level of empowerment (1 indicating no presence of empowerment and 5 indicating a high level of community empowerment) utilizing both existing information on the key projects and the primary data collected to evaluate each of the identified criteria. The results of this framework assessment indicated that all creative community empowerment projects studied could be associated with a moderate to high level of community empowerment. This assessment was then followed by a frequency analysis of both key informant interviews and survey responses to determine and rank the fostering and limiting factors for achieving community empowerment. Results of this project indicated that the process of community empowerment witnessed post crisis event in Christchurch is associated with the achievement of community empowerment but is uniquely fostered through the context of disaster recovery. This paper identified a number of factors that fostered the achievement of high level community empowerment, under the themes of community spirit, good initial engagement, media use and people and projects. A significant number of factors limiting wider spread community empowerment were also identified (communication, planning barriers, disaster context and understanding), and lead directly into recommendations for the future of the creative community action process and the limitations of how these recommendations might be implemented. This project provides a unique case study of community organized action and evidence of achieving community empowerment and in turn contributing to community resilience in the disaster recovery process. Overall it presents a new direction for studies in the fields of both public participation and disaster recovery.
EMPOWERING QUEENSLAND: EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COMMUNITY CONSULTATION IN ADDRESSING THE IRRATIONAL COMMUNITY RESPONSE CAUSED BY THE PROVISION OF EMF-PRODUCING FACILITIES CHARLOTTE SWANSTON
Supervisor: Ms Laurel Johnson
Contact the author: charlotte.swanston@uqconnect.edu.au Community consultation is an integral part of contemporary planning practice. Through consultation, the community has the chance to put forward their ideas and opinions and to participate in visioning, plan making, project development and decision making processes. But what if the development is a locally unwanted land use (LULU)? What role can consultation play in these projects? Locally unwanted land uses epitomise the complexity of the community consultation paradigm. Although generally accepted by society as necessary, LULUs have the potential to elicit outrage and irrationality from directly affected individuals and communities. The scale of development currently underway in Queensland means that the siting of these uses has begun to cause contention in communities throughout the State. As a result, the provision of LULUs such as Coal Seam Gas infrastructure, waste disposal and electromagnetic field (EMF)-producing facilities have dominated Queensland’s planning sphere in recent years. This paper develops an evaluative framework which is used to analyse the effectiveness of contemporary consultation tools in addressing outrage and irrational community responses – specifically, those caused by the provision of EMF-producing facilities. Drawing upon three distinct literary elements – electromagnetic fields, community consultation and risk perception literature – the framework seeks to discern the strengths and weaknesses of contemporary
AVAILABLE ONLINE
http://bit.ly/charlotte4008 consultation in addressing such a complex subject. The framework itself forms part of a wider case study into two recent high voltage electrical infrastructure projects in South East Queensland – both of which encountered significant community outrage throughout the planning and approval stages. Both the Energex South Pine to Hays Inlet 110kV Duplication Project and the Powerlink Springdale to Blackwall 500kV Project provide unique insights into the type of community response a locally unwanted land use can elicit, as well as illustrating the lengths Queenslanders will go to protect their communities. At the core of this research is the underlying question: Can community consultation truly play a role in addressing the outrage displayed by irrational communities? The paper goes on to discuss the evolution of community consultation, the rise of the NIMBY phenomenon and how planners might navigate the two to ensure the successful provision of essential – yet unwanted – land uses. The framework developed in this research is also intended to form the basis for ongoing evaluation and review of the consultation tools used in similar projects. Not only will this support the provision of these locally unwanted land uses, but it will ultimately ensure that the concerns of Queensland communities are addressed both now and into the future.
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BUSHFIRES AND LAND USE PLANNING IN PERI-URBAN SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND EMILY BROWNE Supervisor: A/Prof John Minnery
AVAILABLE ONLINE
Contact the author: emily.browne@uqconnect.edu.au
http://bit.ly/emily4008
Bushfires pose a significant threat to Australia’s peri-urban development. They are likely to intensify in the coming decades, reflecting drier conditions and reduced rainfall (Russell-Smith et al. 2007). Continued development and expansion into these areas has implications for the level of risk to property and life (Low Choy et al. 2007). Peri-urban areas are defined as ‘land adjacent to the edge of an urban area into which it expands or influences’ (Low Choy et al. 2007). This thesis examines the extent to which bushfire planning legalisation and regulations in South East Queensland (SEQ) provide for the reduction of risk when developing in bushfire prone, peri-urban areas. The thesis topic was broken down into four parts with a methodology developed for each. A case study was utilised that centred on Gold Coast City Council, Ipswich City Council and Sunshine Coast Regional Council. Firstly, the appropriateness of land use planning techniques in State Planning Policy 1/03 Mitigating the Risk of Floods, Bushfire and Landslide (SPP 1/03) was determined through a comparison of bushfire planning policy documentation from other Australian states and territories. Secondly, the degree and approach to integration of SPP 1/03 into local planning schemes was ascertained through analysis of documentation as well as semi-structured interviews. Thirdly, documentation analysis and site visits for four development applications sites located in peri-urban bushfire prone areas in each local authority were carried out to ascertain if development in these areas showed outcomes that reflected assessment against bushfire land use planning legislation. Fourthly, opinions of the likely effect of the proposed single state planning policy on bushfire land use planning were gained through semi-structured interviews with local government planners. SPP 1/03 was found to provide for similarities between Council bushfire codes and it ensured incorporation of key bushfire planning elements into assessment outcomes, reducing the risk posed by bushfires. However, the proposed single planning policy relies on increased use of performance based measures, moving it away from best practice and raising questions over its ability to reduce risk. Interviewees considered the new policy to be an abrogation of State responsibility to Councils, potentially leading to greater differentiation and reduced effectiveness of approaches to bushfire land use planning, depending on Councils’ resources and capabilities.
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PLANNING FOR COAL SEAM GAS IN REGIONAL LANDSCAPES: AN EXAMINATION OF CURRENT AND FUTURE GOVERNANCE OPTIONS FOR THE WESTERN DOWNS ZENA FOALE-BANKS Supervisor: Dr Tiffany Morrison
AVAILABLE ONLINE
Contact the author: zena.foalebanks@uqconnect.edu.au The role of governments in the Western world has shifted in recent years as a result of changing social, economic and political circumstances. There are a growing number of participants in political decision making, representing the state, corporate interests and the community. The lines between the state and private enterprise are increasingly being blurred with private companies having a legitimate role in political decision making. ‘Metagovernance’ is the way in which governments seek to indirectly coordinate these multiple stakeholders toward effective decisions. Coal seam gas, or CSG, is an energy resource being extracted in large volumes in various parts of Australia. The epicentre is the Surat Basin in southern Queensland. The expansion of this industry has been tainted with controversy, due to the potentially negative impacts on local communities, the environment, and the regional landscape. In an attempt to combat negative media attention and public outcry, the Queensland State Government has set up a number of new mechanisms to manage the sustainable coexistence of regional communities, landholders and the gas industry in Queensland. These new governance mechanisms emerge outside of traditional arrangements, and provide important examples of metagovernance in action.
http://bit.ly/zena4008 This research concentrates on the metagovernance of the coal seam gas industry in one of Australia’s fastest growing resource regions. The thesis examines how the impacts of the coal seam gas industry on regional landscapes are being governed in Queensland, using the local government area of the Western Downs as a case study. It analyses how corporate stakeholders and community actors are involved in the governance of regional landscapes, and determines how metagovernance is attempting to promote more equitable outcomes for both the agriculture and the CSG industry. The research focussed on the six core functions of metagovernance: steering, effectiveness, resourcing, democracy, legitimacy and accountability. The findings demonstrate that some elements of metagovernance exist in the current governing system (such as the GasFields Commission Queensland), and have further potential to be enhanced to a full metagovernance arrangement. Positive outcomes can be achieved by further developing institutional stakeholder coordination mechanisms to: (i) increase lines of communication and information and data sharing, (ii) ensure stringent regulatory processes; and (iii) implement instruments to ensure companies comply with their development approval conditions.
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A SYSTEMATIC CONTENT ANALYSIS OF MAIN STRATEGY MAPS IN GLOBAL STRATEGIC METROPOLITAN PLANS ANTHONY MCCOSKER
Supervisor: A/Prof Glen Searle
Contact the author: anthony.mccosker@uqconnect.edu.au AVAILABLE ONLINE
http://bit.ly/anthony4008
Queensland Department of Infrastructure and Planning 2009
Strategic plans outline desired futures for metropolitan areas and are generally expressed both in written and visual form through a strategic planning document. There is a notable preference in the literature towards analysis of written aspects of these plans over visual components, however these visual features are also important as they set out the basic spatial framework within which all strategic policies must be placed. The majority of existing research focuses on Europe, with minimal analysis of visual content in strategic plans at an Australian or global scale. A portion of the little literature that is available proposes that visual content is becoming increasingly ‘relational’ or schematic instead of the traditional blueprint type commonly associated with the rational planning model. This research paper aims to address the variations in the visual representation of the main spatial plans in each strategy, and to account for these differences. Further, a typology is adapted from both planning and cartographic literature and adopted for analysis at a metropolitan scale. This is the first step in developing a globallyapplicable typology for analysis of visual aspects of strategic metropolitan plans. After the content, type and structure of ten case study plans are analysed against this typology, more detailed analysis of three plans – the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009-2031, Metro Vancouver 2040 and The London Plan – is conducted. This allows for links to be made between differences in their contextual development and differences between their visual content. Findings indicate that while some main strategy maps reflect the emerging ‘relational’ paradigm through more ‘artistic’ depictions of flows and relationships, others remain predominantly of the traditional blueprint type in their stricter and more spatially precise depiction of space. Also, metropolitan governance structures, the associated plan development process and the aims and level of influence of key stakeholders are identified as significant reasons for the differences identified in the key diagrams, and these and other factors are compared and contrasted further between the three case study plans.
ACHIEVING VISUAL APPROPRIATENESS: DEVELOPING AN EVALUATION SCHEMA FOR DESIGN CONTROL AND ITS APPLICATION TO SYDNEY LOCAL GOVERNMENT PLANNING SCHEMES AVAILABLE ONLINE
HUNTER GORE
http://bit.ly/hunter4008
Supervisor:Dr David Wadley
Contact the author: hunter.gore@uqconnect.edu.au
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There is no issue thornier in the governance of the built environment than the concept of design control. Design controls regulate the visual appearance of developments to ensure they are suitable within the context of the existing built environment. Considering the lay public generally base their judgements of the planning system on the visual appearance of the built environment, local governments should place a great importance on design controls if they desire to be perceived as an effective government. The manner in which governments around the world regulate the design of the built environment has received a great amount of attention in recent decades from academics, governments, practitioners and even His Royal Highness, Prince Charles. An aspect at the forefront of the issue is regulating the ‘visual appropriateness’ of developments. Visual appropriateness, coined by Ian Bentley, is a concept widely used by academics
when stipulating principles for quality urban design. Throughout Australia, the concept of visual appropriateness is fundamental to the many governments that are combating population growth through consolidation. The nation’s suburbs, which were once characterised by their low density lifestyle, are now being forced to accommodate greater density, much to the despair of local residents. Local governments use design controls within their planning schemes to mitigate the visual impact new developments have on the existing built environment. Sydney has a unique history in its control of design which has varied over the years. The Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge and CBD skyline all contribute to the city’s recognition as one of the most iconic metropolitan areas in the world. Prior to the 1990’s, behind these developments lay a built environment that was uninspiring and overwhelmed by large mediocre developments, lacking any
consideration for design quality. In the last two decades the State and Local governments have placed a great emphasis on quality design, driving some academics to describe it as an obsession. Despite the attention the issue attracts and the obvious importance of design controls, very little has been done to evaluate existing design controls within planning schemes. This paper intends to fill this knowledge gap by developing an evaluative schema based on academic literature and applying the criteria to existing planning scheme design controls. Sydney’s urban design history and its many local governments provide the optimal base to test the quality of the design controls. Using principles of urban design from the likes of Kevin Lynch, Ian Bentley, Francis Tibbalds and Prince Charles, the paper will be able to analyse the extensiveness and strength of design controls within Sydney local government planning schemes.
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GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES IN DEVELOPING AN INNOVATIVE REGENERATION STRATEGY: NEWCASTLE CBD STUDY RICHARD STELLER
Supervisor: Dr Sébastien Darchen
Contact the author:richard.steller@uqconnect.edu.au Urban regeneration of derelict or declining regional centres has become a paramount issue for many Australian cities with increasing policy interest in large-scale urban regeneration programmes utilising new and innovative area-based urban policy tools. An analysis of effective governance arrangements is required for developing innovative strategies, securing community involvement and exploring the conditions necessary for these approaches to succeed. While many Australian cities have attempted to achieve urban renewal through short term, ad-hoc and project based regeneration, there has been little success to date for achieving an overall strategic framework for citywide development. Newcastle has been selected as a case study as it is currently undergoing one of the largest urban regeneration projects in Australia and is said to be one of the most innovative and interesting strategies to emerge in the last decade, which can be ‘a shining example of how to make Australian cities work’ (Hill 2012). The aim of this paper is to identify how governance structures influence the outcomes of urban regeneration projects and how these outcomes were employed to deliver a successful urban renewal strategy in the case study of Newcastle, NSW. The study identifies all stakeholders involved in the formulation of the Urban Renewal Strategy and investigates the jurisdictional boundaries, interactions and collaboration between the various government and non-government institutions. The data collected conducting face-to-face interviews with informants will provide an insight into the shifting role in urban regeneration of ‘governance by government’ to ‘governance by network’. Through studying these stakeholder interactions a ‘best practice’ blueprint governance framework can be developed, incorporating recommendations made by informants, which can then be transferred to other regional Australian cities needing to undertake similar urban regeneration initiatives. The results of this research are intended to provide recommendations for initiating and implementing an overarching strategic framework for citywide regeneration and make significant contributions to the implementation of effective urban renewal principles.
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THE DARK NIGHT RISES: EVALUATION OF BRISBANE’S PLACE-BASED APPROACH IN PLANNING FOR THE NIGHT-TIME ECONOMY CALLAN LANGLANDS Supervisor: Dr Sébastien Darchen
Ms Laurel Johnson
Contact the author: s4258704@student.uq.edu.au A cultural shift towards an increasingly active and lively night-time environment of many major metropolitan cities around the world has sparked an interest in how we plan for, and manage these night time economies. This activation of the night time economy has been actively pursued by many cities as a means of city centre renewal and rejuvenation, fostering a 24hr urban environment and promoting greater variety and liveability. However, the increase in planning for the night time economy has conflicted with a policy drive for urban consolidation in many inner city areas, as night-time activity and residential uses battle for contested space. In 2004, Brisbane sought to actively address this issue through the implementation of a place-based regime of planning and management, with the night time economy being concentrated in the suburb of Fortitude Valley. The use of a place-based model was distinctively unique to planning within the Australian context and to date, the wider implications of this planning directive has gone largely unexplored. The aim of this thesis is therefore to analyse the planning objectives and real outcomes associated with Brisbane’s place-based model of planning for, and managing the night-time economy. Importantly, the scope of the research concentrates on the ability for planning to control and regulate the night time economy, as this is often perceived as the precondition that influences the application of other approaches to management. This research is expected to add to the breadth of knowledge in the field, in terms of analysing the broader consequences of the dense clustering of the night time economy associated with the place-based approach. Using Brisbane as a primary case study, the research examines venue density in space and time, firstly to determine whether or not the existing approach has led to a particular concentration in Fortitude Valley. This is then followed by an evaluation of the impacts commonly associated with the night time economy, through both qualitative and quantitative methodology, to determine whether the place-based approach may be consider to have reached saturation and therefore a point of overconcentration. The findings of the research indicate that while the place-based approach has reduced the perception of noise impacts within the area, a rise in external impacts including anti-social behaviour and social exclusion, among others, have emerged in Fortitude Valley. This has led the researcher to provide a critical review of alternate models of planning in the night time economy, using the case study of Melbourne with its diversity in approach and recognition for providing a vibrant and lively night time economy. The review of Melbourne’s differing approaches applied within an Australian context provides the researcher with a flexibility to explore recommendations to improve or adapt the place-based model to better account for the negative externalities evident from the research.
Credit: Harriet Tatham
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UNDERSTANDING THE GEOGRAPHICAL ELEMENT OF STUDENT COMMUTER TRAVEL PATTERNS TONIA CHATTERJEE Supervisor: Dr Yan Liu
Contact the author: tonia.chatterjee@uqconnect.edu.au Identifying and understanding commuter travel patterns forms an integral part of transport planning as the daily ritual of people travelling to and from work or place of study, has the ability to greatly influence the structure and processes of our urban environments. This research project analyses the travel patterns of our student commuters and as such aids in identifying the spatio-temporal and geographical relationships of student commuters using public transport. In doing so there is an ability to deliver improvements to transport planning for the vast numbers of community members who form the student commuter population. This study looks specifically at the largest student commuter population to any South East Queensland university; students travelling to the University of Queensland’s (UQ), St Lucia campus in Brisbane. There are two main components to the study. The first component looks at current travel patterns. To do so Translink travel transaction
go-card data for a selected weekday; 9th of November 2012 was analysed. The analysis highlighted the public transport (bus, train and ferry) options that were utilised by student commuters travelling from various State Suburbs of Brisbane. The second component helps identify strategies for improving our current public transport system. In analysing UQ’s online transport survey data from August 2013, factors which may deter UQ students from using public transport as their mode of travel to university were identified. Furthermore, the project looked at three key variables: average travel time, average distance travelled and average cost in order to decipher the impact on the utilisation of public transport. By analysing these three components, the study provides a strong evidence base for the development of transport policy initiatives for the student commuter population within the Brisbane area.
TRANSPORT MODE CHOICE IN SOUTH EAST ASIA: INVESTIGATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRANSPORT USERS’ PERCEPTION AND TRAVEL BEHAVIOUR IN JOHOR BAHRU, MALAYSIA LEANNE YONG LE LOO Supervisor: Dr Jonathan Corcoran
& Dr Derlie Mateo-Babiano
Contact the author: yong.loo@uqconnect.edu.au The 21st century has transformed urban transport patterns in many of South East Asia’s (SEA) industrialising economies. These transformations have included a marked rise in the ownership and use of private cars, which impose a set of significant environmental, economic and social sustainability challenges. As such there is a growing importance to generate a better understanding of the underlying dynamics of public and private transport use such that transport planning is better placed to address the current unsustainable patterns of travel. Despite this growing need, the majority of the existing research concerning transport mode choice has been predominantly focussed on Western-based case studies. The transposition of such studies into an Asian context is often unqualified as travel-related attitudes, expectations, and behaviours could be largely context-dependent and non-generalisable. As such this lack of an Asian-based focus underpins the value and significance of this research that examines the key drivers that explain users’ travel behaviour and mode choice within a SEA urban context. More specifically, this research seeks to investigate the relationship between transport users’ perception, travel behaviour, and mode choice in the SEA region, with a focus on social psychology and cultural explanation of travel behaviour from transport users’
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perspective. A theoretical model is first established to capture the various drivers of travel behaviour and mode choice within a SEA context, by correlating a set of theoretical components derived from a range of social psychology theories. Spatially stratified survey data are collected in a case study area, Johor Bahru in Malaysia, comprising users from different transport user groups as well as groups with differing socio-demographic characteristics (e.g. age, gender, ethnicity, and income level). Johor Bahru has a relatively high private car dependency compared to its SEA counterparts, and a highly unique, dynamic cross-border relationship with its neighbour Singapore, both of which impose various transport-related implications that make it a suitable study area for this research. Data collected through the survey will be analysed using a regression model, and the findings interpreted and used to test the theoretical model. This research will be the first to adapt the Western-based studies into a SEA context to explore the various dimensions of travelrelated attitude and behaviour from a socio-psychological and sociocultural perspective. It is hoped that the findings will stimulate further travel behaviour SEA-based research such that travel demand can be better understood following which prospective plans can be founded to progress towards more sustainable travel behaviour in SEA.
WILL THE BUS EVER COME? AN EQUITY-BASED ASSESSMENT OF TRANSPORT PLANNING AND DISADVANTAGE ON THE GOLD COAST DANIEL MARTIRI Supervisor: Ms Laurel Johnson
AVAILABLE ONLINE
Contact the author: daniel.martiri@uqconnect.edu.au
Social equity is a significant policy setting for Australian Governments. The pursuit of social equity motivates many policy, planning and program initiatives. Nevertheless, the quest for social equity in programs and plans is often posed as rivaling economic efficiency objectives, especially within the transport planning context. The paradigm of competition between social equity and economic efficiency objectives is undermining the capability of planning and policy to balance and integrate these sometimes conflicting interests (Falk et al. 1993) and it is argued that this results in various forms of disadvantage in Australian cities (Travers Morgan 1992; Denmark 1998; Currie et al. 2007). Through an analysis of transport disadvantage, a form of disadvantage where accessibility to transport (both public and private) is poor or mobility is a constraint, this thesis aims to answer the question: “Does social equity matter in the planning of public transport services on the Gold Coast?”
http://bit.ly/daniel4008
Utilising the Gold Coast City Council area as a case study, the thesis creates a Transport Equity Index to underpin a spatial analysis that identifies existing transport disadvantaged areas and their connection to transport service provision. A policy analysis then seeks to understand the relationship between the spatial analysis and the directions of the transport planning, policy and legislative framework that covers the Gold Coast. Finally, the research will investigate whether the proposed changes under the South East Queensland Bus Review will provide improved access to disadvantaged areas, asking the question of whether it was an efficiency or equity driven planning exercise. This research will provide planners with a spatial representation of the implications of public transport policy decisions on transport disadvantage, as well as highlight the significance of considering social equity in the transport planning context. Preliminary results suggest that:
This research affirms the literature review findings that:
• Areas of higher accessibility and service provision are located in the eastern side of the Gold Coast, a contrast to the higher concentration of disadvantaged areas on the western side of the city where minimal • Transport systems are a key driver for achieving social services exist; equity and accessibility to them is an indicator of socioeconomic wellbeing and reduces the risk of exacerbated • Future public transport provision and proposed disadvantage; changes under the bus network review are focused on continuing to serve eastern areas and major activity • Different forms of disadvantage have the ability to centres, and; exacerbate social problems such as exclusion and polarisation, and; • The associated policy framework appears to be far more concerned with the economic attributes • Various policy sets at the state, regional and local associated with effective cost spending and efficient levels control the planning of public transport services, network operations (that is, maximising commuter however these tend to be efficiency rather than equity services) than social equity in public transport planning driven. and provision. • In Australian cities, it is generally the fringe and periurban areas that are transport disadvantaged;
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FUTURE ACCOMMODATION OF THE ELDERLY IN BRISBANE VIVIENN PHUI CHIN LIM Supervisor: Professor Martin Bell
Contact the author: phui.lim@uqconnect.edu.au AVAILABLE ONLINE
http://bit.ly/vivienn4008
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Due largely to the effect of the ‘baby boom’, there will be a significant rise in the size of Brisbane’s elderly population by 2031. Population ageing has become a major concern for planning, creating significant challenges in the provision of appropriate housing, support and health care. In addition to their changing numbers and demographic composition, the future elderly have different housing needs and aspirations and the majority prefer to age in place. The desire of older people to age in their own home is also supported by federal, state and local governments, but even those who need to move prefer to remain within the same community. This thesis aims to contribute to the planning of aged
THE POPULATION AND HOUSEHOLD FUTURE OF IPSWICH HEIDI DUNCAN
AVAILABLE ONLINE
Supervisor: Dr Tom Wilson
http://bit.ly/heidi4008
Contact the author: heidi.duncan@uqconnect.edu.au The Ipswich Local Government Area (LGA) in South East Queensland is currently experiencing significant population growth. It is anticipated to be the fastest growing LGA in the state over the next decade. Urban planning is particularly vital in localities undergoing rapid transformation such as Ipswich, requiring that policies and plans be based on up-to-date information to best address impacts of growth on infrastructure, housing and lifestyle. Furthermore, recent studies regarding planning for dwelling provision have identified a mismatch between housing preferences and housing stock in a number of cities in Australia. The aim of the research was to determine how adequately current planning documents are addressing and preparing for the future population of the Ipswich LGA in terms of total size, household composition and dwelling demands. POPART Software and the Sequential Propensity Household Projection Model were used to develop population and household projections. POPART involved developing demographic assumptions and a series of calculations to produce a 30 year population projection, broken down by age, sex and place in 5 year intervals. The Sequential Propensity Household Projection Model produced living arrangement and household projections. A short, multiple-choice online survey was circulated to Ipswich residents to identify dwelling preference trends. In combination, the results of these methods were used to formulate dwelling scenarios. The population of Ipswich will continue to grow at a rapid rate over the coming thirty years, almost doubling in size between 2011 and 2041. The number of households in the LGA will also nearly double across the same period. Results of the investigation into dwelling preferences of the area have identified a need for a more mixed housing market, with low-rise apartments, high-rise apartments and semi-detached dwelling such as townhouses and duplexes all under provided for within the locality. Planning for future housing should reflect the mismatch between the LGA’s current housing stock and the dwelling preferences identified here, with a strong focus put on providing a more diverse housing market.
care facilities and retirement housing in Brisbane by establishing the extent of future demand for aged accommodation, determining where it is needed and identifying constraints to its provision. The research first determines the current and future spatial distribution of the elderly population and the current supply of aged care facilities and retirement housing across Brisbane. The analysis then uses ArcGIS to map the mismatch between demand and supply, expressed in terms of accessibility ratios by Statistical Local Areas (SLA). Location-allocation models are then applied to optimally allocate new aged care facilities and retirement housing to meet
the national target provision ratio for aged housing within suburbs. Interviews with local housing providers are undertaken to understand constraints imposed by the urban planning system in meeting aged housing demand, and their responsibilities, strategies and dilemmas in addressing population ageing and changing housing needs. The research reveals where the major shortfalls in aged accommodation in the future are likely to be concentrated. The outcomes of this research suggest measures and possible changes to planning influencing the approach of ‘ageing in place’, allowing more Brisbane seniors to remain in their preferred neighbourhood.
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SPATIAL MOBILITY PATTERNS OF OVERSEAS GRADUATES IN AUSTRALIA ANGELINA ZHI ROU TANG Supervisor: Dr Jonathan Corcoran
Dr Thomas Sigler Dr Francisco Rowe
Contact the author: zhi.tang@uqconnect.edu.au In light of low fertility rates and an ageing population, the Australian government has looked to migration policy to help maintain its local pool of human capital. Despite multiple complementary migration schemes, labour shortages remain unresolved and have in fact worsened as working-age population continues to shrink and more countries compete for overseas skilled migrants. In 2007, a graduate visa scheme with full working rights was introduced for the first time with the aim to retain overseas graduates with on-demand skills for up to an 18-month period following graduation. Recent studies have shown that more overseas graduates remained in Australia following the introduction of this visa with the tendency to concentrate in Sydney and Melbourne. Despite initial studies, little is still known about their longterm employment outcomes and mobility patterns, which are crucial in assessing the effectiveness of the visa programme and promoting more effective regional and economic planning. More importantly, previous research has overlooked one of the key determinants in immigrant migration behaviour – national background.
State-based university-employment flows of overseas and domestic graduates following graduation. Note: The percentages were calculated based on total movements for the specific graduate group within the defined period.
This research project aims to address these knowledge gaps by evaluating the employment outcomes and mobility patterns of overseas graduates at the national and regional scales over a 3-year time horizon. This research employs a bipartite methodology, which includes descriptive statistics and a multinomial logit regression analysis, using the data collected by Graduate Careers Australia. The first section examines location of employment and employment outcomes of overseas graduates at six months and three years following graduation. Regarding employment outcomes, this research compares their employment status, salary outcomes and potential misalignments between occupation and level of education. The section also describes the migration patterns of overseas graduates remained in Australia. The second section explores the influences of personal course, university and employment characteristics on the selection of an employment location. To recognise the importance of national background, the project analyses overseas graduates according to their continent of origin and economic development level in home country to examine the influence of national background on the likelihood of settling in a particular employment location. It is hoped that the outcomes from this project will provide a new evidence base with the capacity to enhance the provision of infrastructure and labour policy planning along with impetus for future research in this area.
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AUSTRALIA’S LITERAL SEA CHANGE: INVESTIGATING THE DRIVERS AND MOTIVATIONS FOR NON-METROPOLITAN MIGRATION. ROSALIND MEINEKE
Supervisor: Dr Thomas Sigler
Contact the author: rosalind.meineke@uqconnect.edu.au
AVAILABLE ONLINE
http://bit.ly/rosalind4008
Since the 1970s, migration into non-metropolitan regions has become as common as growth in metropolitan regions, unusually so when metropolitan primacy in Australia has meant economic opportunities are limited outside of the metropolitan. This study investigates the drivers and motivations for this shift of migration from metropolitan to non-metropolitan areas via local analysis of two case study areas where the trend has been most pervasive, the south-eastern coast of Australia; Gosford Local Government Area (LGA), an exurban area, and Ballina LGA, a counterurban area. Drawing upon data from 10 semi-structured interviews with key informants and recent migrants to the case study locations, individual motivations and drivers were established, and coupled with triangulation of socio-demographic data and information on the development of the locations, behavioural and structural drivers and motivations were identified. The findings present a complex picture. Not one factor prevailed as being the main driver in migration to Gosford LGA and Ballina LGA, and implicit factors also influenced the migration decisions. As an exurban area, Gosford LGA’s accessibility to Sydney meant the drivers for migration were much more closely linked to structural drivers such as affordability, and employment opportunities in Sydney, however because of the coastal location the area’s lifestyle and amenity was closely linked to these structural drivers. In Ballina, behavioural and personal motivations were at the forefront of motives for migration, though affordability implicitly allowed migrants to act on personal fulfilment. This study indicates that mobility in Australia is becoming highly complex and as we move towards a post-industrial society, boundaries to migration will continue to expand due to the decreased need to be locationally tied to employment. Increasing disposable incomes mean personal fulfilment and lifestyle desires have become highly important facets to internal migration in Australia and it has moved away from a process that is based solely on economic and structural facets.
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The School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management at The University of Queensland is at the forefront of cutting-edge research into the widely debated issues confronting us today. It is a vibrant and multidisciplinary School boasting world class facilities and staff.
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 graduates of the UQ program. 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 and 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. 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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THE SCHOOL OF GEOGRAPHY, PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 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 deeply 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
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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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