Planning 2013

2013 Final Year BPLAN Thesis and MPLAN Planning Project Never Stand Still

Built Environment

City Shapers

Bachelor of Planning 08 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52

Alex Beers Darren Caballero Timothy Chee Jason Choy Kristin Colenbrander Simon Derevnin Michael Doyle Felicity Eberhart Chris Ferreira Christopher Forrester Joseph Gillies Pia Ginn Christopher Gorton Patrice Grzelak Simon Gunasekara Brendan Hoskins Shoilee Sharmila Iqbal Brad James Kristina Kazerian Carmen Lau Nicholas Lawler Angela Lazaridis Nicole Lewis

54 56 58 60 62 64 66 68 70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 100 102

Peijing Lin Muriel Maher Kelly McKellar Tom Molloy Oliver Monthule-McIntosh Cameron Nixon Charlotte Norris Thomas Piovesan Ashleigh Ryan Boris Santana Jarrad Sheather Jade Shepherd Kelly Smith Dean Spanos Robert Sroczynski Nathan Stringer Maxine Szeto Chia Huay Tai Gustavo Takatori Denise Tse Darren Wan Liam Williamsz Yan Nan Zhang Shuai Zhu Jingxiong Zhuang

Master of Planning 106 108 110 112 114 116 118 120 122 124 126 128 130 132 134 136 138 140 142 144

Abdullah Alhamoudi Keeley Allen Caitlin Brookes Ed Dycueco Nathan English Rebecca Englund Ayeh Hajirasouliha Jennifer Hempton Bianca Hollo Tyng-Yuh Ku Emma McGirr Joy Ong Laura Perry Andre Szczepanski Lucas Waite Glenn Wheatley Heath Wilkinson Weiyuan Wu Laura Wynne Clint Yabuka

This year’s celebration of students’ work is dedicated to: Robert (Bob) Bolles Zehner, 1941-2013 This year’s exhibition catalogue is dedicated to Associate Professor Bob Zehner, who sadly passed away earlier this year after a long illness. Bob – a pivotal member of the Planning Program across three decades – was the spark and inspiration for generations of young planning researchers, and I am sure he would have relished the quality and commitment on show here.

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Message from the Dean

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Supporters

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Message from the Discipline Dean Director

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Message from Bachelor of Planning the Dean

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Message Master of from Planning the Dean

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Message Alumni Profile from the Dean

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Message from the Dean Acknowledgements

KEEP IN TOUCH @UNSWBuiltEnv facebook.com/UNSWBuiltEnvironment www.be.unsw.edu.au CRICOS Provider Code 00098G

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Message from the Dean Professor Alec Tzannes Dean UNSW Built Environment I congratulate all the students who have completed their degree at UNSW Built Environment and now become our alumni.

This catalogue conveys through selected study themes and projects from our final year studios something about the unique student experience at UNSW Built Environment along with the outstanding skills of our students and academic staff.

UNSW Built Environment is a knowledge leader in the design, delivery and management of the C21st city and its elements. Our research is directly relevant to the development of knowledge within built environment professions and underpins our curriculum. Embedded in the curriculum are core values centered on the thinking and practices required to deliver sustainable urban environments of deep cultural value. Design education in all of its forms, including evidence-based design processes is at the centre of our degrees. This is complemented by the development of discipline knowledge with interdisciplinary design and research orientated projects.

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These projects align with advanced contemporary practices in industry, ensuring that as graduating students you are at the forefront of the built environment professions as innovators and leaders.

This year celebrated the establishment of our new school structure comprising ASA+D, the Australian School of Architecture and Design, and AGSU, the Australian Graduate School of Urbanism. ASA+D is the most comprehensive built environment school in Australia with a complete range of undergraduate and postgraduate professional degrees.

ASA+D’s sister school, AGSU, is tailored to post-professional study.

AGSU is the research engine of the Faculty and was created to fill the gap in the number of leading thinkers on urban issues. This is an exciting time to be part of the UNSW Built Environment community.

I wish every graduate a successful and satisfying career. In many respects, our relationship is just beginning. As you travel the world through your work you will meet many alumni and make special bonds of lasting value.

We look forward to your ongoing participation in the life of our university and the mutual benefits this brings.

“ I WISH EVERY GRADUATE A SUCCESSFUL AND SATISFYING CAREER. IN MANY RESPECTS, OUR RELATIONSHIP IS JUST BEGINNING. AS YOU TRAVEL THE WORLD THROUGH YOUR WORK YOU WILL MEET MANY ALUMNI AND MAKE SPECIAL BONDS OF LASTING VALUE.”

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Supporters MAJOR SUPPORTER

SUPPORTERS

Built Environment Alumni

EVENT PARTNERS

PLANNING SPONSOR The City Futures Research Centre (CityFUTURES) is pleased to support City Shapers. CityFUTURES works closely with colleagues in the Planning Program and together we represent the leading group of urban planning research in Australia, having recently achieved the only 5 star rating in Urban & Regional Planning in the 2012 National Excellence in Research for Australia assessment.

The core activity for CityFUTURES is research. CityFUTURES offers a place where scholars can pursue research on aspects of urban development and change. It also focuses outwards, engaging with the wider audience beyond UNSW. Wherever possible, CityFUTURES works in partnership with the community, government and business to contribute to growing the evidencebase on the issues that impact on urban regions and how we can better manage their dynamic progress and support the wellbeing of their residents.

CityFUTURES strongly focuses on the training of the next generation of urban research scholars through an active postgraduate research program. We are committed to expanding the skills and capacity of young urban researchers and to communicating the value of good research to those involved in making policies that impact on the city.

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INTRODUCTION

City Shapers Simon Pinnegar Discipline Director Welcome to City Shapers, a celebration of the research undertaken by this year’s graduating planning students. The exhibition’s name echoes one of the key concepts introduced in this year’s draft new Metropolitan Strategy for Sydney. It also captures the central role this new generation of young planners will play in shaping planning debate and practice in the coming years.

This is the first year that the work of our graduating Master of Planning students has been brought together and celebrated alongside our undergraduates. Together, the work of 68 students is presented. This body of work is an impressive achievement, and one which is of tremendous credit to the students’ passion for, and commitment to, their chosen subject areas, as well as being a source of pride for all of us associated with the Planning Program. Research of the highest quality is one of the core defining components of the Planning Program here at UNSW, with Faculty staff – alongside our colleagues based in the City Futures Research Centre – identified as the foremost group for urban planning research in the country.

As Australia’s number one, UNSW planning research is deemed world class, and it is this commitment to building evidence and informing debate that can also be seen in the quality of student work on show here.

and colleagues in City Futures – to assist students in this major undertaking. As with every graduating class, the range of topics selected by the students embaces not only the breadth of issues facing our cities, regions and communities, but also that our students continue to identify and spearhead emerging interest in key debates and issues. For example, current NSW Planning Reforms have offered an interesting and challenging lens for a number of theses: appropriately so as our young planners will be at the heart of an evolving planning system in the years ahead.

As well as providing leading edge content, these theses collectively capture distinct UNSW planning student qualities – grounded, considered, passionate and professional.

I am sure you will agree with me that the students’ work makes an outstanding contribution to planning debate, and augers very well for the next generation of planners progressively contributing to productive, just, sustainable and healthy urban environments.

The result of their endeavour is evident to all.

For both undergraduate and postgraduate students, the research thesis represents the ‘capstone’ of their degrees. Supervision of students captures a further core strength of our degrees, drawing across our entire teaching family – Program staff, many Sessional staff

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COURSE STATEMENT

Bachelor of Planning Final Year Theses Robert Freestone Course Coordinator

There are two very distinctive elements of the Bachelor of Planning curriculum at UNSW. One is the requirement for students to secure a position with an employer over a 12 month period, a placement which ensures that they are ‘work ready’ upon graduation. The other element, in the students’ final year, is an undergraduate thesis in the form of a substantive individual research project of up to 20,000 words.

This affords a tremendous opportunity for students to explore a specific planning topic in considerable detail.

Inevitably, a remarkable diversity of topics is pursued. The class in 2013 – the largest in over forty years of the planning program – seized the opportunity to explore a remarkable spread of issues of contemporary policy relevance in areas such as planning legislation and reform, land use, transport, urban design, housing, greening cities, social justice, and community planning.

While metropolitan Sydney is always the major ‘laboratory’, both regional NSW topics and international studies were again a feature this year.

Officially, the thesis entails enrolment in just one 13 week session. But preparation actually commences several months earlier through a preparatory course which revisits the formalities and practicalities of research design, theory and methodology.

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Each student is assigned an adviser from either the full-time Planning staff or from the ranks of our part-time lecturers and other qualified BE faculty members.

This wider pool of expertise is also tapped for the examination process. The successful completion and examination of so many independent projects within a relatively short space of time would not be possible without the input of so many colleagues generously giving their time in advisory and assessment roles.

Another acknowledgment is mandatory.

This is to the many stakeholders who assist the students during the research process through giving interviews, providing information and advice, and in many other ways.

While the thesis remains very much an individual journey, it is not done in a vacuum. Without exception, every student has benefited from a wide range of contracts with both senior people active in the planning industry and members of the community.

Collectively, these theses convey well the intrinsic breadth of urban and environmental planning in practice along with some of the major urban challenges which the latest cohort of graduates are ready, able and keen to take up. They have studied intensively the forces which have shaped planning outcomes for better and worse in many different contexts and at different scales.

Now it is time for them to take their turn as ‘city shapers’ in their own right.

PICTURED Sixth Row (L-R): Liam Williamsz, Robert Sroczynski, Bradley James, Thomas Piovesan, Gustavo Takatori Fifth Row (L-R): Joseph Gillies, Thomas Molloy, Simon Gunansekara, Charlotte Norris, Kristin Colenbrander, Kristina Kazerian Fourth Row (L-R): Jing Xiong Zhuang, Denise Tse, Chia Huey Tai, Peijing Lin, Christopher Forrester, Nathan Stringer Third Row (L-R): Darren Caballero, Maxine Szeto, Christopher Ferreira, Simon Derevnin, Muriel Maher, Nicole Lewis, Kelly McKellar Second Row (L-R): Jason Choy, Brendan Hoskins, Jade Shepard, Ashleigh Ryan, Shoilee Iqbal, Patrice Grzelak, Angela Lazaridis Front Row (L-R): Timothy Chee, Darren Wan, Dean Spanos, Boris Santana, Pia Ginn, Kelly Smith, Felicity Eberhart, Michael Doyle

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Alex Beers The Recovery Project in Sri Lanka after the Indian Ocean Tsunami The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was one of the largest disasters in recent history with 35,000 people killed in Sri Lanka alone and two thirds of the Sri Lankan coastline obliterated. Almost ten years after the tsunami, it is important to understand how effective the recovery project in Sri Lanka was at rebuilding the coastline. A key consideration when examining this type of project is that affected areas are rebuilt in ways that reduce the risk of the area to future disasters and leave residents in a better situation than before the disaster. While it is generally agreed that the initial emergency phase of the relief program in 2004 was quite successful, the effectiveness of the medium to long term recovery programs has been more contentious in spite of generous international funding. This thesis finds that planning for the event of a disaster is crucial to a successful recovery program while a lack of coordination and expertise are the main hindering factors. General principles are taken from the case study that might be applied to similar recovery programs in the future. More specific measures are also analysed to understand their applicability to recovery programs in different contexts.

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Almost ten years after the tsunami, it is important to understand how effective the recovery project in Sri Lanka was at rebuilding the coastline.

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Darren Caballero Walking the fine line: Addressing Sydney’s imbalance between jobs and housing The inevitable growth of cities has increased awareness of the importance of a balance between the spatial distribution of jobs and housing.

In Australian cities, while outward growth has accommodated much new housing, employment has tended to remain concentrated in and near the central city. Sydney is experiencing such growth with approximately half the population residing in Greater Western Sydney but a much lesser proportion of the jobs. This will be exacerbated by a predicted influx due to the Growth Centres. Spatial mismatch studies worldwide provide evidence to support links between lack of employment opportunities within residential concentrations and increases in significant congestion on major roads and overcrowding on public transport. This trend has become evident in Sydney as residents living in the West have to travel to the job abundant East daily for work. This thesis adopts a mixed-methods approach to identify the current challenges that Sydney faces in regards to this imbalance. A detailed examination of a Western Sydney Local Government Area provides a microcosmic perspective of the impacts. The thesis identifies strategic approaches that urban planners can take to stimulate employment opportunities within Western Sydney, thereby supporting a better balance between jobs and housing.

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The inevitable growth of cities has increased awareness of the importance of a balance between the spatial distribution of jobs and housing.

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Timothy Chee A View to Kill: An investigation in to the value of views and how it shapes high-rise residential development Views are a major asset of any private high-rise housing development. The Australian housing market has been rapidly increasing in value despite the Global Financial Crisis with a significant disparity emerging between average incomes and affordable housing prices. Although views are not necessarily associated directly with dollar values, there is a large importance placed on views as an intangible commodity. But there is little guarantee that views will be permanent. The international study of views from high-rise developments has given glimpses into how various types of views in different countries and cultures can be valued in a quantitative manner.

With a growing demand for high-rise living, prices have sky-rocketed. While many factors are seen to affect the price of a residential unit, the view is often used as the initial marketing tool. Landscape quality assessments are used to measure how desirable a view is. Through both quantitative and qualitative analysis, general desirable elements of views can be seen. This thesis focuses on what parts of the landscape create desirable views and then how these values influence high-rise residential markets.

The thesis concludes by identifying how urban planning can better address the issue of housing affordability through the examination of views.

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Views are a major asset of any private high-rise housing development.

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Jason Choy Media Portrayal of Planning in New South Wales In our everyday life we are submerged in various printed media. The content of these media makes an important contribution to shaping perceptions of individuals, organisations and professions and their public image. Planning in New South Wales is a contentious matter and attracts frequent media coverage. Given that decisions by the planning profession are ultimately justified in the public interest, it is crucial to study how the media portrays planning. The Liberal-National Coalition won the New South Wales state election in March 2011 after sixteen years of the Australian Labor Party in government whose planning policies drew increasingly negative press. Throughout the election campaign the Coalition maintained that it would remove negative perceptions of the planning process by returning planning powers to local communities and removing red tape to kick start development.

This thesis explores the portrayal of planning in New South Wales in newspapers and whether this has changed since the 2011 state election and the announcement of major planning reforms by the Coalition government. A content analysis of national, metropolitan and local newspapers determines how newspapers have portrayed planning in New South Wales, along with an analysis of how the planning profession has promoted itself.

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Given that decisions by the planning profession are ultimately justified in the public interest, it is crucial to study how the media portrays planning.

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Kristin Colenbrander ‘Community’ and the Master Planned Estate: A study of social networks in The Ponds Modern society has experienced a change from agrarian-based communities of place in which local relationships define everyday social life to spatially dispersed social networks enabled by mass communication and transportation technologies.

Despite this shift, planning practice continues to have a strong focus on building and supporting ‘community’ in local areas. A prime example of this is the master planned estate (MPE) in which planners and developers attempt to develop a local community through neighbourhood design and the implementation of community development programs. While the community development aims of MPEs tend to be well received by residents, critics have questioned their effects on social networks as well as the social fabric of the wider region. In this study, online surveys of residents and discussions with industry professionals are used to explore the community development aims and practices of developers as well as the effect of these practices on local social networks through a case study of The Ponds, a new suburb in Sydney’s north-west. The results demonstrate that, while residents do experience a sense of community identity, their participation in local events tends to be irregular and local relationships form only a small part of their wider social networks.

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While the community development aims of master planned estates tend to be well received by residents, critics have questioned their effects on social networks as well as the social fabric of the wider region.

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Simon Derevnin Planning for Home Industries Modern concepts of home industries are a ‘reinvention’ or ‘resurgence’ and not a new phenomenon. Particularly prior to the 19th century, working at home was the economic norm. In the wake of the industrial revolution, measures were undertaken to separate residential and industrial uses for health, wealth and efficiency reasons. Modern land use zoning was invented to resolve the conflicts of this mixed use and statutory planning systems traditionally policed single use functional zones. Nevertheless, the very first residential zones did permit various forms of light industrial activities. However, despite new trends blurring urban land use specialisation, an increasing number of Western Sydney councils have recently decided to prohibit home industries in their residential zones. The inability to break free from the conventions of separate industrial and residential uses has made state and local governments revert to traditional, conservative development controls. This thesis argues that residential and industrial activities can co-exist in suburban settings. It investigates current practices in the NSW Planning System, identifies flaws and provides recommendations to encourage appropriate home industries. This analysis is set within a wider examination of interstate and international planning schemes that successfully accommodate residential-industrial mixed-use zones.

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The inability to break free from the conventions of separate industrial and residential uses has made state and local governments revert to traditional, conservative development controls.

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Michael Doyle Strata termination: A renewed look at the age-old question Many residential flat buildings in Sydney are now nearing 100 years of age, presenting a challenge for residents, communities and planners in the redevelopment process. Lack of maintenance or mere ageing have caused buildings to deteriorate, reducing the living standards for residents and reducing neighbourhood amenity for the wider community. At the same time, the need to house a growing population is increasing pressure to redevelop, consolidate and renew older buildings.

However, buildings divided between multiple owners stifles redevelopment. Individuals are able to holdout against their neighbours and refuse to sell their unit.

Recent proposals to address this problem include allowing a majority of owners to terminate their strata scheme and sell the building. This thesis evaluates these proposals with due regard to owners’ rights and interests as well as the potential impacts on communities with and without redevelopment.

It draws on literature and in-depth interviews in making special reference to the paper subdivision process whereby a majority of landowners may facilitate works to a whole estate. It also makes comparisons with Singapore and Hong Kong who have embraced similar proposals. Ultimately, the research finds that there is some potential to emulate international systems of majority rule in strata termination so as to facilitate redevelopment.

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Many residential flat buildings in Sydney are now nearing 100 years of age, presenting a challenge for residents, communities and planners in the redevelopment process.

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Felicity Eberhart Living with your Granny Young adults are living at home for a longer period of time and seniors are deciding to live with their children. The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate the use of secondary dwellings that have been made permissible in New South Wales by the Affordable Rental Housing State Environmental Planning Policy (AHSEPP) as an alternative in providing affordable housing for multigenerational and co-residency families. The thesis draws upon a range of literature that demonstrates why multigenerational and coresidency families are forming. It evaluates the AHSEPP and various local governments’ development control plans to determine if the regulations allows residents the ability to develop secondary dwellings.

In addition, the thesis identifies development patterns of secondary dwellings in Sydney and why they are occurring as well as multigenerational and coresidency families and how secondary dwellings have impacted on family dynamics. The research finds that secondary dwellings provide an affordable alternative housing option for multigenerational and co-residency families. However, modifications need to be made to ensure this legislation is better able to facilitate accessibility to secondary residences for families that do not strictly meet present requirements.

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Young adults are living at home for a longer period of time and seniors are deciding to live with their children.

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Chris Ferreira Planning for Industrial Land and Employment Growth in Deindustrialised and Decentralised Cities: A study of Sydney’s employment lands Metropolitan strategic planning is one of several ways governments exercise their influence on the spatial distribution of industrial land and employment growth.

However, the effectiveness of metropolitan strategies in planning for industrial land in a deindustrialising world and generating employment opportunities within increasingly decentralised markets is now up for debate. This thesis examines this issue in the Sydney metropolitan region, where the processes of deindustrialisation and decentralisation typical of a global city are particularly pervasive. Sydney’s centrifugal spatial structure has been the driver of unprecedented market pressure on the State Government to release high-amenity land for residential purposes despite the need to retain industrial land and maintain a balance of employment by sector and quantum in appropriate locations.

Tensions are unearthed between the notion of ‘market redundancy’ of industrial land and pressures for highest and best use development. These are being intensified by the decline of manufacturing industry, speculative purchasing of industrial land, and the demand for higher employment densities. Diverse findings from case studies from the Canada Bay and Penrith Local Government Areas disinter the need for a more ‘strategic’ approach to planning for industrial land and employment growth and the need for Sydney to carefully adapt its metropolitan planning paradigm to cope with diverse market forces.

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The effectiveness of metropolitan strategies in planning for industrial land in a deindustrialising world and generating employment opportunities within increasingly decentralised markets is now up for debate.

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Christopher Forrester Culture Change and Major Planning Reform: Implications for NSW local government The direction of planning policy is continuously evolving to align with the political influences of the government of the day. The New South Wales (NSW) Government is currently in the process of making some of the most significant changes to the planning system since the introduction of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979. These involve a complete overhaul to the way in which development applications are assessed and how key stakeholders interact within the planning system. As observed in past cases of planning reform, both locally and overseas, the culture of planning at the frontline will play a crucial role in determining the success or failure of the proposed new system for NSW. This thesis explores the culture of planning at the local government level through a mix of quantitative and qualitative research methods to determine the degree of readiness for reform. Behavioural attitudes of and interactions between stakeholders are equally as important as any legislative change. The overhaul of the NSW planning system will need to be closely coupled with substantial efforts towards culture change to ensure the effective implementation and ongoing success of the proposed reforms.

The results of this research offer recommendations on how to better facilitate this essential cultural transition within the planning community.

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The culture of planning at the frontline will play a crucial role in determining the success or failure of the proposed new planning system for NSW.

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Joseph Gillies A Line in the Sand: Government integration for best practice coastal zone planning A multitude of population growth driven pressures, as well as certitude on the effects of climate change, is placing increasing pressure on government authorities to conduct planning and management of the New South Wales coastal zone in a more integrated manner. Classic planning problems are magnified amid the highly contested values of the coastal zone. Balancing ever changing environmental conditions, heritage values and development opportunities presents a complicated situation for planners, especially local government professionals at the forefront of coastal zone management. Over the last two decades, the importance of effective governance has become a major policy issue.

However, responses remain largely fragmented. In 2011, a change of State government in NSW sparked a number of reforms to major environmental planning instruments and systems of administration. At the epicentre of these reforms is a review of the NSW planning system. Along with State government-led coastal reforms and a Local Government Review, this research provides a prime platform for improving intra-governmental coastal zone collaboration.

Opportunities for improving the ways collaborating State agencies provide advice for local councils and how these councils collectively respond to common needs are simultaneously present. Highlighting these opportunities to produce a whole-of-government response and realise best practice coastal zone management is the principal intention of this thesis.

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Classic planning problems are magnified amid the highly contested values of the coastal zone.

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Pia Ginn The Place of Art in Urban Strategy: The case of Chippendale Creative people attract other creatives - collectively classified as the ‘creative class’ - through creative policy that creatively creates creative spaces and careers in creative clusters in creative cities. This script continues to be performed verbatim in urban areas worldwide. This thesis responds to this inundation of rhetoric by critically unpacking the forces stimulating the global appetite for ‘creativity’ in urban policies and how spaces for the arts in particular are metabolised within this trend. Neoliberal policies instrumentalise the arts to achieve goals such as urban regeneration, economic growth, and enhanced urban competitiveness. Chippendale has been envisioned as the next ‘arts mecca’ of Sydney. Using this locality as a case study, the thesis analyses the art-based strategies employed by the commerciallydriven stakeholders involved in its transformation.

On the one hand, it is an example of conventional arts-led gentrification and arts-centric place marketing, but on the other it also represents a new model for the city in terms of collaboration between developers and artists, and other entrepreneurial partnerships. The case study raises questions of the ‘authenticity’ of designated ‘arts precincts’ and the tensions between arts-based and commerce-based ventures. Chippendale’s revitalisation provides a platform for speculation about the future role of art spaces in an Australian context and beyond.

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Chippendale’s revitalisation provides a platform for speculation about the future role of art spaces in an Australian context and beyond.

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Christopher Gorton All Aboard Sydney’s Light Rail Future: The feasibility of the proposed south-east light rail line as the future of inner city transport With Sydney’s population projected to grow exponentially, increasing pressure is being placed on an already congested road network and overcrowded public transport system. Global cities such as Strasbourg, Porto and Dublin have turned to Light Rail as a solution to ease inner city road congestion and to provide an efficient and sustainable public transport system for the future. Light rail is considered by many transport planners as a transport mode which can fundamentally change the quality and connectivity of a city. Light Rail is a once-in-a-generation project to revitalise central Sydney by reducing congestion and offering a fast, attractive public transport option.

This thesis looks at Sydney’s light rail transport future and in particular the proposed South-East light rail line running from Circular Quay to Randwick via Central Station. It considers the current proposal as well as future expansion options. This thesis dissects the feasibility of the project, the impacts on existing infrastructure and modes of transport, the integration within the existing streetscape, and the potential for growth and development around proposed light rail stations. The South-East light rail line will provide Sydney with an efficient, accessible and sustainable transport option which will help alleviate the increasingly congested transport spine running from Circular Quay to Randwick.

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Light Rail is a once-in-ageneration project to revitalise central Sydney by reducing congestion and offering a fast, attractive public transport option.

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Patrice Grzelak Seniors Living: Planning for the ageing Australian Like many other developed countries in the early 21st century, Australia’s ageing population is predicted to expand dramatically within the next three decades. The major catalyst for this population shift has been the transition of baby boomers into retirement. The proportion of people aged 65 years and over within Australia’s population is projected to increase from the current 13% of the total population to between 23% and 25% in 2056 and between 25% and 28% by 2101. As the elderly cohort of the Australian population increases, so will the demand for quality seniors living environments. Accordingly, legislation and design guidelines will need to adapt and modify standards to satisfy the ever-increasing needs and demand of this age cohort. This thesis investigates the social implications that will result from an ageing Australian population and how this will impact on planning practice. The research focuses on design principles that support health and well-being for the ageing population. A critical review of State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing for Seniors and People with a Disability) 2004 is presented, together with an evaluation of existing seniors housing accommodation. From this analysis, the thesis presents recommendations to improve the SEPP so that it better supports built environments which encourage well-being for seniors.

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As the elderly cohort of the Australian population increases, so will the demand for quality seniors living environments.

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Simon Gunasekara Embedding Legacy in Mega Event Planning: A study of the Sydney Olympic Games The legacy of an urban mega event does not happen by chance; it is a result of past, present and future planning processes. Increasingly, cities are using mega events as a catalyst for urban improvements and to ensure positive and sustainable legacies.

Once thought of as a bonus for hosting a mega event, legacy planning is now integral to maximising the return on investments made. The most common aspects include sporting, economic, environmental, urban and social infrastructure. However this list is many and varied, and further complicated by more intangible benefits. In this study, an evaluation of the legacy of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games draws from an original conceptual framework involving five major dimensions and dualities: time, space, positivenegative, planned-unplanned, and tangible-intangible.

This evaluation is further developed through examining specific categories of legacy and analysing the key factors which influence the efficacy of planning processes. Recent mega events, such as the London 2012 Olympic Games, have activated legacy in major pre-event planning processes and this practice should be developed and furthered by future mega events.

The study finds that aspirations of legacy are beset by complex tensions between short term goals and longer term agendas; local, national and international priorities; and cities’ readiness for change.

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The legacy of an urban mega event does not happen by chance; it is a result of past, present and future planning processes.

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Brendan Hoskins Achieving Design Excellence: An analysis of competitive design processes in Sydney The globalization process places Sydney in fierce competition with other cities to secure flows of monetary and human capital. A significant attribute in maintaining global city status is the provision of a high quality built environment. The City of Sydney Council has recognised this need and since the year 2000 has mandated design excellence for new developments in the Sydney Central Business District. This concept of design excellence is embodied in the competitive design processes currently required under the Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2012 and prescribed within the Sydney Development Control Plan 2012 and City of Sydney Competitive Design Policy 2012. This thesis provides an analysis and critique of the current competitive design framework, identifying current benefits and potential areas for improvement. A set of recommendations based on various stakeholder perspectives of the design excellence framework and key elements of competitive design processes from around Australia are intended to contribute to the refinement and enhancement of the current competitive design framework. Ultimately, the enhancement of competitive design processes in Sydney will ensure that the best possible framework is developed to facilitate design excellence and maintain Sydney’s status as a global city.

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Ultimately, the enhancement of competitive design processes in Sydney will ensure that the best possible framework is developed to facilitate design excellence and maintain Sydney’s status as a global city.

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Shoilee Sharmila Iqbal Safety First: Can fear of safety affect active living in the built environment?

Health and wellbeing are important assets in the twenty-first century. This thesis establishes how people’s health and wellbeing can be affected by fear of personal safety in the built environment.

Safety is an important right. If people do not feel safe in the places they live in, it can restrict the way they use the environment around them. A rise in chronic health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity as well as poor mental wellbeing has increased the need for healthy planning. People can reduce their risk of chronic diseases and improve their health by living more actively. Active living can be achieved by incorporating physical activity into people’s daily routines, for example, by walking to the shops or cycling to work and school. Active living can also be convenient and affordable for people with busy schedules. Designing spaces which promote active living can help improve people’s health. However, qualitative research in this thesis reveals that individuals can feel discouraged to use such spaces if they experience physical and social discomfort like seeing illegal graffiti, blank facades and suspicious behaviour. Planners need to understand that fear for personal safety can influence the way people use the built environment.

This thesis investigates ways in which planning can accommodate concerns related to safety.

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If people do not feel safe in the places they live in, it can restrict the way they use the environment around them.

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Brad James Addressing the Visual Impacts of Telecommunications Infrastructure Mobile communications is essential in modern society and it is critical that supporting infrastructure is designed and sited responsibly to preserve the aesthetic values of the urban and rural environment.

In the past decade mobile communications has become the dominant form of telecommunications technology. The extensive use of mobile devices has had a significant impact on our lifestyle, productivity and communications patterns. The demand from both consumers and businesses for wireless services and innovative technologies is fuelling growth within the telecommunications industry, despite global economic uncertainty. To cater for the increasing demand and to ensure the provision of mobile network services, new mobile base stations are installed by carriers throughout urban and rural landscapes.

However, their highly visible nature and proliferation throughout the landscape is a contentious topic and often a source of local conflict. How these opposing agendas are and can be managed is therefore of increasing importance and the focus of this thesis.

This thesis investigates to what extent planning policy and practice may assist in reconciling the conflict between the telecommunications industry and the visual values of the landscape in achieving a positive outcome with minimal environmental impact.

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Mobile communications is essential in modern society and it is critical that supporting infrastructure is designed and sited responsibly to preserve the aesthetic values of the urban and rural environment.

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Kristina Kazerian Opportunities and Barriers to High Density Development in New South Wales Many developed countries are responding to population growth with policies promoting urban consolidation. Australia is no exception. In NSW, the state government’s response has been to promote urban intensification through development of apartments and townhouses on land close to the city or major transport hubs. There is a strong demand for high density housing close to the city, but local resident backlash can be a major challenge to the viability of proposed developments. This thesis investigates the opportunities and barriers to higher density developments in Sydney, focusing on the three most active stakeholders: residents, councils and developers. The research focuses on the Mowbray Road Precinct in Northern Sydney through a resident survey and in-depth interviews with a Council officer and a property developer.

Appropriate controls are in place when assessing development applications but developers’ noncompliance, resident action groups and specific building controls set by the state government pose challenges. Most residents believe more apartments are needed, yet feel new developments are having negative impacts, particularly on local traffic conditions. The findings suggest that new apartment developments should be located in areas that have undergone more detailed analysis for their suitability, including proximity to public transport.

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There is a strong demand for high-density housing close to the city, but local resident backlash can be a major challenge to the viability of proposed developments.

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Carmen Lau Regional Planning and High Speed Rail: Can High Speed Rail achieve a polycentric Sydney Region?

Since the pioneering introduction of the Japanese ‘bullet train’ in 1964, countries around Europe, Asia and North America have developed systems of High Speed Rail (HSR) for efficient, comfortable and competitive business and leisure travel between cities and regions. Overseas HSR systems provide lessons about their value in critically reshaping the spatial structure of regions. HSR has shown how to build economic opportunity, disperse activity and alter patterns of growth towards a polycentric model in ways that could underpin strategic regional planning.

This thesis explores whether a HSR system could help to achieve a more sustainable and genuinely polycentric greater Sydney Region. A critical literature review provides the theoretical foundation about the regional impacts of HSR systems to highlight their role in shaping spatial structures in other countries.

In-depth interviews with built environment academics and professionals inform the discussion about the considerations and challenges of implementing a HSR system that could be applied to the planning for Sydney’s connections to the Central Coast and Southern Highlands. This thesis contributes to the research on HSR for Australia and offers recommendations for the regional planning of a HSR system in the future to encourage polycentric growth.

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High Speed Rail has shown how to build economic opportunity, disperse activity and alter patterns of growth towards a polycentric model in ways that could underpin strategic regional planning.

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Nicholas Lawler Bridging The Gap: Connecting local government planners and the NSW community In 2013 the New South Wales planning system is in a state of flux due to legislative review and proposed planning reforms. This affords the researcher an opportunity to review current approaches and practices to public participation. The relevance of public participation is growing within modern society as people strive to be involved in the changing nature of their local communities. The proposed NSW reforms are intended to link community consultation with strategic planning. This has created a new challenge for local government planners in terms of the definition and implementation of best practice.

This thesis examines the role of the local government strategic planner as the catalyst for introducing best practice public participation processes across the NSW planning system. Quantitative and qualitative investigations are carried out through in-depth interviews, case studies, and a review of submissions to the July 2012 Green Paper to offer findings relevant to determining the future of public participation within the NSW planning system. The undertaking of this research revealed that local government strategic planners possess the desired attributes and credible relationships to assist their local communities through a continually evolving and challenging statutory planning context.

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The relevance of public participation is growing within modern society as people strive to be involved in the changing nature of their local communities.

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Angela Lazaridis Planning for the Dead: Addressing critical shortage of burial space in NSW cemeteries In a growing but ageing urban society the land use consequences of death have to be confronted.

As the population of New South Wales increases, existing cemeteries come under great pressure to provide additional burial space. Estimations indicate that available burial space will be exhausted within the next 30-40 years and much sooner for older cemeteries closer to central Sydney. Despite the increasing inclination towards cremation, the demand for ground interments is likely to remain reasonably high for the conceivable future, particularly in a city such as Sydney with its diverse multicultural society.

The State Government’s ability to address the critical shortage of burial space in the past has been characterised by short-term fixes and reactive policy.

The thesis investigates challenges and opportunities presented by recent historic cemetery reforms in managing NSW’s interment industry. A mixed-method approach has been adopted involving literature and policy review, in-depth interviews, surveys and field observation. A case study was undertaken of Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park Cemetery and Crematorium. The thesis makes recommendations for future policy makers in planning for the disposal of the deceased. Strong linkages need to be built between government and stakeholders to ensure that the burial needs for all communities are met.

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Despite the increasing inclination towards cremation, the demand for ground interments is likely to remain reasonably high for the conceivable future, particularly in a city such as Sydney with its diverse multicultural society.

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Nicole Lewis The Right to the City: Social/Spatial Justice in the NSW planning system Inequity and injustice are pervasive in our cities. But cities are also sites of hope and sites of constant transformation. The concepts of justice and equality are the foundation of Henri Lefebvre’s theory of the right to the city and intersect with utopian planning theories and practice. By utilising the right to the city as a framework, planning can facilitate more just and equitable outcomes for all, particularly for those least well off. In the current political climate, planners must balance dominant neoliberal political philosophies, the expectations of the public and the objective of achieving good spatial outcomes. It is within this triangle of tension that the right to the city can be utilised to contribute more equitable outcomes. This thesis explores the NSW planning system, specifically the White Paper: A New Planning System for NSW and the Draft Metropolitan Strategy for Sydney to 2031, through the lens of the right to the city to determine to what extent the principles of justice and equity are present. How the issue of justice, spatial and otherwise, is viewed and discussed has ramifications for how policies are conceived and implemented. By determining its accommodation within the current planning system, future directions for planning policy can be considered and debated.

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By utilising the right to the city as a framework, planning can facilitate more just and equitable outcomes for all, particularly for those least well off.

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Peijing Lin Expecting the unexpected: Planning for disaster Natural disasters cause widespread damage, but provide unprecedented opportunities for planners to rethink, revitalize and renew cities. The past few years have brought more frequent natural disasters to world cities, such as floods, earthquakes, storm surges and tsunami. These natural events continue to cause deaths, injuries, economic loses and damage to the physical infrastructure and the environment each year around the world. This thesis discusses disaster planning with special reference to Christchurch, New Zealand, examining how planning contributed to the recovery of the city after the 2010 Canterbury Earthquake and the 2011 Aftershock. The thesis seeks to answer two key research questions. Firstly, how does disaster planning contribute to rebuilding the city? Secondly, what is the relationship between recovery and preparedness in disaster planning?

The Recovery Strategy for Greater Christchurch and Christchurch Central Recovery Plan are described and critiqued. The research presents implications for planning theory and practice, in its discussion of the importance of disaster planning and its ability to reduce the disaster risk. Better natural disaster planning will save countless lives, reduce economic loss, and more effectively assist people who are likely to be affected by disasters in the future. The sustainable development of economy, social and environment at a global scale can be enhanced.

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Natural disasters cause widespread damage, but provide unprecedented opportunities for planners to rethink, revitalize and renew cities.

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Muriel Maher Small Urban Open Spaces A small open urban space that is perceived as being physically open and accessible to people can help promote a better relationship between the city and space. This thesis considers the standards of small open spaces within urban areas. Movement within small open spaces reveals that there is a science connected to it. How people navigate through a space in general is determined by its design. An open space that is part of its surrounds is genuinely used space and the relationship to the street is vital. Accessible open spaces in urban areas are valued as community resources and a movement for widening that level of engagement is growing even though enhancing civic engagement and civic space has not typically been at the forefront of planning agendas. The focus of this research is to further understand the design management of small open urban spaces drawing on fieldwork in both Sydney and New York. The thesis presents an account of the original development, providing a socio-historical context for understanding the more recent revitalisation. The need for new designs and fresh approaches to small open space designs is advanced. The findings reveal an understanding of how small open space can be revitalised, creating quality and accessible small open spaces.

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How people navigate through a space in general is determined by its design.

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Kelly McKellar The Modern-day Great Australian Dream: Exploring space, lived experiences and aspirations of residents of large suburban Australian homes The Australian home is now, on average, the largest in the world. Large houses, commonly referred to as ‘McMansions’, are the focus of aspirations, debate and heavy criticism in Australia. New master-planned suburbs are producing houses that are double the size of the typical ‘Great Australian Dream’ home 50 years ago at a time when there has been little growth in family household size. This thesis focuses on the lived experiences of residents of McMansions in an outer-western Sydney suburb. The intention is to explore the relationship which people have with space in their larger-than-average homes and the lifestyles which these homes facilitate for residents. The thesis further explores the perceptions, motivations and aspirations held by residents in relation to home, lifestyle, how their home meets their needs, and how all of this has changed for them over time. In a market-based society like Australia the perception and choices of residents, as consumers of houses, cities and ‘community’, have significant implications for planning. In particular, resident views and behaviours can inform and frame planning’s dialogue with the people for whom it plans places. The findings carry implications in articulating the societal values and priorities to be taken on board in government policies directed at achieving good human environments for everyone.

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The Australian home is now, on average, the largest in the world.

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Tom Molloy Young Minds in the City: Can the built environment be used to prevent mental health decline amongst adolescents?

Mental disorders are the most pervasive modern disease, having infiltrated virtually all levels of society worldwide, regardless of economic prosperity or general standard of living. The effects of mental disorders are a significant burden to health care services, corrective systems, and general economic productivity. The adolescent experience of mental decline is particularly alarming, as individuals face a number of significant life changes in urban environments that offer limited protection. The result is that adolescents are presenting with mental disorders at higher rates than any other demographic cohort, and are typically carrying these disorders into adult life. The current solution is to treat mental disorders once they have reached a diagnosable state, attracting high costs and delivering inadequate rates of recovery. It is within this setting that the opportunity for positive change exists. The built environment is both a source of mental strain and a potential tool to promote positive mental health in adolescents. This thesis argues the importance of pro-active intervention in preventing mental decline in adolescents as opposed to treating its later symptoms within the adult population. It explores the potential for the built environment to play a strategic role in this process by alleviating mental strain and providing spaces supportive of adolescent mental health in a practical way.

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The built environment is both a source of mental strain and a potential tool to promote positive mental health in adolescents.

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Olivier Monthule-McIntosh Riding in the Margins! Discourse analysis and cycling identity in Australian transport policy Governments around the globe are facing an ever growing burden of issues relating to increasingly sedentary lifestyles and mass motorisation.

Environmental pollution, social exclusion, transport congestion and epidemics of disease related to physical inactivity, including obesity, are all serious concerns. Increasingly, cycling is being recognised as a contributing solution to these problems.

Australian governments at all levels have been focusing on policy and promotion campaigns in an effort to increase cycling’s transport mode share.

The private motor vehicle remains the dominant choice of transport, even for short trips. A significant literature exists on the benefits and promotion of cycling but there is little understanding of the continuing marginalisation of cycling. This thesis addresses this issue utilising discourse analysis to explore how Australian cycling policies themselves construct cycling as a marginal transport mode.

The findings reveal that cycling’s transport identity is constructed through a complex interplay of discourses. Even discourses supportive of cycling can unintentionally contribute to its marginalisation and thus preserve the hegemony of the private motor vehicle. This thesis concludes that better recognition and understanding of how language and discourse affect the social construction of cycling can lead to more effective policy and promotion.

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Better recognition and understanding of how language and discourse affect the social construction of cycling can lead to more effective policy and promotion.

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Cameron Nixon Betting on Barangaroo The Barangaroo development is one of the largest projects undertaken in the history of Sydney. The most controversial element of the development is the $1.5 billion hotel and casino resort proposed

by Crown Limited which has generated significant headlines in the media. This thesis looks at the existing casino developments in Australia and abroad and their transformative effects both socially and economically on surrounding communities. It considers how design has facilitated and supported wider urban impacts. Four site specific case studies are undertaken at The Star Casino, Pyrmont; Crown Casino, Melbourne; Jupiter’s Casino, Broadbeach; and Treasury Casino, Brisbane. Through the study of existing casinos an evaluation can be made as to their overall environmental impact as well as what design features should be considered when developing any proposed casino in Sydney with particular reference to the Barangaroo Casino. In addition, the existing NSW legislative planning framework and strategic planning documents released by the New South Wales Department of Planning and Infrastructure have framed an analysis of the development assessment process to better determine what role a second casino will play in realising the strategic aims and objectives for Sydney and New South Wales.

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Through the study of existing casinos an evaluation can be made as to their overall environmental impact as well as what design features should be considered when developing any proposed casino in Sydney.

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Charlotte Norris Placemaking in Practice: A critical analysis of the adoption of placemaking principles in property development The practice of placemaking has gained currency as processes of globalisation increase the standardisation of and increase competition between places. Placemaking principles have become a central dimension of property development as developers have also responded to financial bottom lines through utilizing design practices encompassing good urban form, operation, amenity and the creation of a sense-of-place. Developers have adopted these placemaking practices to improve and differentiate developments and also capitalize on a growing community desire to live in ‘real’ places. The thesis scrutinises the authenticity of new places created by developers. A differentiation between placemaking and place-marketing practices is established to facilitate the identification and examination of authentic placemaking. The major redevelopment of the former Carlton United Breweries site, ‘Central Park’ on the fringe of Sydney’s CBD, exemplifies the exceptional adoption of placemaking principles.

Through an in depth analysis of the development process of the Central Park case study, this thesis asks whether the correct application of placemaking can have considerate authentic impacts on place. The research concludes that the appropriate adoption of placemaking principles by developers can improve the attractiveness and success of a physical place even though developers have limited influence over the creation of a social sense-of-place.

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Thomas Piovesan A Taxing Problem: Paying for urban growth infrastructure Development contributions are one method amongst many to recover the cost of the provision of urban growth infrastructure. However, they are a contentious tool in the planning sphere in terms of equity, transparency, consistency and outcomes. Clear objectives must be set and followed to communicate their role to stakeholders so as not to present an obstacle to development. Of various alternative funding models, value capture has been used to great effect internationally and briefly in New South Wales in the 1970s. Can it be implemented again?

The current NSW planning reforms propose ambitions ‘root-and-branch’ changes to the way development contributions are used. Current state infrastructure contributions are set to undergo extensive changes including rebranding to regional infrastructure contributions and incorporation into a hierarchy of strategic plans informed by proposed Growth Infrastructure Plans across Sydney’s subregions.

This thesis overviews the theory and practice of development contributions in funding infrastructure to service new urban growth. Value capture is revisited as a means for redistributing the unearned increment from planning decisions. The thesis asks the question whether currently proposed reforms have the potential to establish a development contributions system which can effectively provide regional infrastructure for Sydney’s growth or whether the alternative approach of value capture deserves more serious consideration.

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Development contributions‌ are a contentious tool in the planning sphere in terms of equity, transparency, consistency and outcomes.

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Ashleigh Ryan Regional Governance: The future of the Newcastle rail line since 1991 The debate over the future of the Newcastle rail line terminus has gone on for more than 20 years, with various proposals adopted and reversed. In 1992 the NSW State Government was committed to truncating the rail line into Newcastle CBD at Civic Station. Yet the rail line to Watt Street is still functioning – just. In December 2012 the NSW State Government announced that the Newcastle rail line was to be truncated at Wickham Station, 2.5 kilometres west of the current terminus. The ongoing debate has had an impact on both developer confidence in the City and Novocastrian trust in the State Government; and arguably has also had an impact on the urban renewal potential of Newcastle. This thesis establishes a chronology of rail line decisions and explores the causes and consequences of these key announcements. The research places the debate within the context of waterfront revitalization trends as well as within the wider literature on non-capital city planning, regional competitiveness, governance and planning policy.

In addition to a comprehensive literature review, the thesis is informed by several in-depth interviews with stakeholder participants. Reforms to the governance structures of regional infrastructure, particularly in the context of urban renewal projects, are advocated.

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In 1992 the NSW State Government was committed to truncating the rail line into Newcastle CBD at Civic Station.

Yet the rail line to Watt Street is still functioning – just.

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Boris Santana Planning for Cycling Interventions: A study of the Inner Sydney Public Bicycle Scheme In recent years, the role of cycling has gained attention as an alternative mode of transport. A growing research literature suggests the need to encourage the growth of bicycle use through an appropriate suite of supportive measures. In an effort to capitalise on benefits of increased cycling, bike-share schemes offer an innovative form of sustainable transport through the use of a public fleet of bicycles. Numerous schemes have now been developed and continue to spread throughout both North America and Europe with over 375 schemes worldwide. Research shows that the success of bike-share programs is related very closely to a city’s population and culture. In light of the spread of bike-sharing, recent public interest in a bike-share scheme has emerged within Sydney’s inner suburbs.

In order to better improve the effectiveness of a potential future program, a survey of citizen attitudes, behaviours and perspectives relating to bicycle use was conducted through the use of both quantitative and qualitative methods. The goal was to identify the challenges and opportunities associated with bike-share development in inner Sydney. Issues relating to the existing cycling conditions were raised, in particular, the concern that unfavourable cycling conditions would diminish bike-share participation.

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In an effort to capitalise on benefits of increased cycling, bike-share programs offer an innovative form of sustainable through the shared use of a public bicycle fleet.

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Jarrad Sheather Better Connected: An analysis of wireless telecommunications infrastructure development in NSW Wireless mobile telecommunications service has become a critical service for persons living in modern cities across the globe. In Australia, demand for wireless telecommunications services have grown exponentially since the advent of the mobile phone, and with recent demand for mobile data on smartphones, there has been another boom in demand. This growth in demand has had challenging implications for the development of wireless infrastructure, with the rapid deployment of mobile base stations around the country by mobile service providers, namely Optus, Telstra and Vodafone, continuously met with disdain from residents for their perceived impacts on human health, visual amenity and the lowering of property values. This thesis analyses the current legislative planning environment surrounding the development of mobile base stations in metropolitan NSW and evaluates the effectiveness of planning legislation to quell concerns with development of these vital infrastructures. An analysis of a number of mobile base stations around metropolitan NSW is undertaken, examining the effectiveness of legislation to deliver outcomes that do not detract from the amenity of surrounding lands and are compatible with their context. This argument is balanced against the difficulty and implications that environmental planning law poses for mobile service providers and how legislation can limit the provision of services

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Growth in demand [for wireless mobile telecommunications service] has had challenging implications for the development of wireless infrastructure, with the rapid deployment of mobile base stations around the country.

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Jade Shepherd Merge Safely: The amalgamation of councils in metropolitan Sydney and the impact on planning functions Approximately half of Sydney’s councils are currently experiencing economic hardship and substantial infrastructure backlogs. The amalgamation of local councils has been a popular structural reform instrument employed to produce cost savings and to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of local government operations. However, the effectiveness of amalgamations is unproven in New South Wales, with limited empirical research conducted to verify the promised benefits. Minimal consideration has been given to the impact of amalgamation on the development assessment and strategic land use planning functions of councils. This thesis critically analyses the literature on the amalgamation process, including relevant government legislation and policies and local government reform reviews. Interviews with planning staff who have experienced amalgamations and other key stakeholders have been further used to identify the benefits, disadvantages, incentives and barriers of amalgamation as a local government structural reform process and, more specifically, the potential impacts on planning processes.

The research culminates in recommendations to both the State Government and metropolitan councils to streamline the amalgamation process, to limit uncertainty amongst council staff and the community affected by amalgamations, and to advance the operation of planning functions to better accommodate future amalgamations.

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The amalgamation of local councils has been a popular structural reform instrument employed to produce cost savings as well as improve the efficiency and effectiveness of local government operations.

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Kelly Smith Fortifying the home: Which systems are preferred and are these preferences realistic?

There is a strong and consistent correlation between higher relative income inequality in a society and declining levels of social cohesion and trust, resulting in greater fear and insecurity. The pervasiveness of fear and accompanying feelings of uncertainty has fuelled a desire to create physical buffers between the individual and society. Recent crime data and criminological studies have shown that there is a disparity between recent rates of victimisation and the personal perception of crime in Sydney. Despite the decline in reported crime rates over the past decade, insecure households are increasingly investing in security and preventative measures. In this endeavor for safety and security, a trend towards ‘fortifying’ has emerged. The focus of this study is the residential strategy of fortification implemented by a sample of residents in Sydney. The analysis is separated into three parts: examining the broader social and theoretical explanations of fortification, identifying the security devices and barriers most commonly used in fortified buildings, and considering the extent to which these measures are perceived to be effective.

The troubling trend to a certain extent divorced from reality is how the creation of a landscape of fear is sending an implicit message of social distrust.

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The pervasiveness of fear and accompanying feelings of uncertainty has fuelled a desire to create physical buffers between the individual and society.

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Dean Spanos Planning for Liverpool’s Night-time Economy The concept of the night-time economy has been recognised as having the potential to contribute to the economic and cultural fabric of town centres.

Effective planning of a night-time economy can offer an environment which promotes diversity, safety, entertainment and sociability while also contributing to the economic growth of local communities. However, a night-time economy raises contentious issues which need to be addressed by policy makers and regulatory bodies. The Draft Metropolitan Plan for Sydney towards 2031 has identified Liverpool as a major regional centre in south-west Sydney. One of the priorities for Liverpool is to enhance its role as the sub-region’s main centre for commerce, retailing, services and entertainment. Yet within these priorities there is no reference to Liverpool’s night-time activities or night-time economy. This thesis investigates whether Liverpool City Centre can support a viable night-time economy utilising mixed research methods such as observation, community surveys and focus groups. The findings from this research aim to inform the local council’s future night-time management policies by presenting statistical trends and community perceptions of a night-time economy in a regional city context. This study also contributes to the growing body of literature on night-time economies in New South Wales and Australia by presenting the major issues arising in a regional city centre context.

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The concept of the night-time economy has been recognised as having the potential to contribute to the economic and cultural fabric of town centres.

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Robert Sroczynski The Economic and Social Implications of Coal Mining on the Mid-Western Region of NSW The Mid-Western region of New South Wales, which has been traditionally known for agriculture, viticulture and tourism has seen substantial increases in coal mining investment, resulting in a total of four coal mines, two in the last ten years, with another four proposed. This thesis investigates the economic and social implications of the construction and operation of these coal mines on Mudgee and surrounding settlements. Through an analysis of the existing literature, as well as statistical data and interviews with industry and academic professionals, it becomes clear that the Mid-Western region is experiencing a mix of positive and negative impacts caused by coal mining.

The greatest impacts have been on the economy, employment, infrastructure, housing, community wellbeing and safety as well as non-resident workers and their families. Overall, the evidence suggests that on balance the Mid-Western region has benefited from the coal mining industry. However, more time is needed to fully monitor and better ascertain the full implications of a range of impacts in the long term and whether the positives always outweigh the negatives. In the meantime there needs to be changes to the existing assessment framework for coal mines in NSW so as to further mitigate the negative impacts and strengthen the positive impacts.

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Overall, the evidence suggests that on balance the MidWestern region has benefited from the coal mining industry.

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Nathan Stringer From Shab to Chic: The adaptive reuse of industrial buildings Australia’s economy is continually evolving, transitioning from a manufacturing based economy to one based on mining and services. Increasingly since the latter half of the twentieth century, former industrial sites across Australian cities have become areas of urban decay. Many of these sit on important tracts of land, occupying sites of strategic importance within close proximity to waterways and commercial business centres. Consequently, planners, developers and architects have turned to the process of adaptive reuse to transform these buildings into functional and productive spaces. The often highly specialised nature of older industrial buildings with vast spaces originally housing massive machinery can limit the potential for successful and functional redevelopment.

In Sydney’s case, the derelict and historic White Bay Power Station has been the topic of public debate for a number of years as to how it can be reused and for what purposes. This thesis explores the process of adaptive reuse, how it has been applied to industrial buildings across Australia and the world, and identifies the opportunities presented by reuse of the White Bay Power Station. With the successful adaptation of the power station, Sydneysiders will have a new place to live, work and play entrenched deep within the maritime industrial heritage of the city.

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The often highly specialised nature of older industrial buildings with vast spaces originally housing massive machinery can limit the potential for successful and functional redevelopment.

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Maxine Szeto Planning for food security: Do farmers’ markets contribute to food security?

Food is a necessity of life, embedded in our daily routine and culture. With an increasing population and competing conflicts between agricultural land and urban development, research into planning for food systems is of vital importance. The role that farmers’ markets can have as an alternative food source at a local level is acknowledged. This thesis goes further in investigating whether farmers’ markets can also contribute towards local food security with a wider consideration of the role of local councils in this planning process. The focus is on the role of farmers’ markets as a recognised component of local food systems. The study examines the situation in the Sydney Metropolitan Area by utilizing several methodologies. These include a literature review, a desktop-based internet survey of local councils, in-depth interviews with food security experts and a policy review. A total of 38 local councils in the Sydney Metropolitan Area were surveyed. Interviews with experts ranged from planners, researchers, government and health professionals. The findings indicate that while farmers’ markets can contribute towards food security the dominant model of farmers’ markets currently in Sydney does not cater for those at most risk. This thesis makes recommendations for planning policy and local food strategies in New South Wales.

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The findings indicate that while farmers’ markets can contribute towards food security the dominant model of farmers’ markets currently in Sydney does not cater for those at most risk.

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Chia Huay Tai Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED): A study in Sydney The seemingly high rate of assault and robbery committed in the City of Sydney Local Government Area has reached a crisis point. In 2012 the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) pinpointed that the Sydney LGA had high recorded crime rates compared with other areas in Sydney and New South Wales. Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles constitute a meaningful response to these numbers. When appropriately applied, CPTED can help address the problem of escalating crime rates without becoming a financial or maintenance burden. Although widely recognized by a range of professions, many existing built areas are not designed with CPTED in mind and retrofitted modifications can be expensive and politically difficult. It is the purpose of this study to demonstrate that proper design and effective use of the built environment are equally important in creating a safe and sustainable environment for users. This problem presently necessitates greater attention by planners. This thesis acknowledges a broader context of CPTED, termed ‘second generation CPTED’, identified through a series of in-depth interviews and literature review. This thesis specifically considers improvements to the built environment of the City of Sydney’s late night economy districts to ensure that it effectively enhances community safety.

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Inviting and Enjoyable

High Crime Rates

When appropriately applied, CPTED can help address the problem of escalating crime rates without becoming a financial or maintenance burden.

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Gustavo Takatori The Housing Crisis in São Paulo: Homeless families, empty buildings and urban policy Housing access problems and socio-economic segregation are two issues commonly found in contemporary urban environments, especially those in fast developing countries. The city of São Paulo in Brazil presents a case study of the stark disparities between rich and poor and commensurate inequities in terms of access to urban infrastructure and housing. Gentrification lies at the heart of those tensions – both as a driver but also in its outcomes.

This research explores the context, policy response and resulting housing outcomes that manifest in the city. It considers the parallel presence of large numbers of homeless families with the existence of empty and vacant property (abandoned awaiting valuation) through the lens of the urban social movements seeking to address the inequities.

A series of interviews with representatives from ‘occupation movements’ was held in order to allow a deeper understanding of their role in resolving this housing crisis. The concept of the ‘Right to the City’ offers a framework around which the interests and practices of these movements can be considered.

The findings from the research highlight the need for policy and legal levers to mitigate and counter the purely speculative drivers of real estate leading to the re-habitation of empty buildings through social housing program adaptation initiatives.

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Housing access problems and socio-economic segregation are two issues commonly found in contemporary urban environments, especially those in fast developing countries.

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Denise Tse Lost and Found: Revitalisation of Sydney laneways Laneways in the Sydney city centre have great characteristics yet are often overlooked and underutilised. Historic origins and topographic constraints have given Sydney a layout different to more comprehensively planned cities. The numerous laneways developed over the years are mainly used for vehicle access and as alternate routes for pedestrians in quieter sections of the city. However, many laneways were eliminated as old buildings and precincts have been redeveloped. In 2008 the City of Sydney Council introduced the Laneway Revitalisation Strategy to activate selected laneways in recognition of their historical and cultural significance.

The Strategy aims to promote laneways, explore opportunities for small businesses, and ultimately inject a more vital street life into the built environment.

This thesis examines what City of Sydney has done in revitalising laneways with case studies of the first three laneways targeted by the revitalisation process in the City Centre, namely Albion Place, Angel Place and Kimber Lane. The re-adaptive use of three laneways was explored through observations, surveys with laneways users, as well as interviews with Council employees and small business owners.

Recommendations are made for future projects and how they can learn from the first revitalised laneways.

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Laneways in the Sydney city centre have great characteristics yet are often overlooked and underutilised.

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Darren Wan Resisting the Golden Arches: Mass media and its role in the fight against McDonald’s Land-use disputes are a common occurrence in planning and often arise when dealing with the allocation and re-use of limited resources. The siting of new McDonald’s fast food restaurants have been caught up in many disputes because of conflicts with local community values and planning regulations. A rising number of these problem cases are being documented and publicised through ‘mass media’. The term mass media encompasses any communication methods which are designed to reach a large audience. A previous study by Emilsen (2004) demonstrated that mass media was used effectively to influence a dispute over a McDonald’s development in the Blue Mountains. This thesis expands upon that study and applies the research to a similar and current land-use dispute in Tecoma, a suburb of Melbourne. The purpose of the thesis is to compare the two situations and investigate how the use of mass media to express views on McDonald’s developments has evolved over the last ten years. This thesis employs discourse and content analysis to study the portrayal of the Tecoma dispute through news media outlets along with surveys and in-depth interviews with residents. The results of this research were used to ascertain current opinions concerning McDonald’s in the Blue Mountains as well as reflect upon resolution of the Tecoma dispute.

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Land-use disputes are a common occurrence in planning and often arise when dealing with the allocation and reuse of limited resources.

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Liam Williamsz Terrace Housing: Past, present and future of the urban form The historic terraced neighbourhoods of Sydney are exceptionally vibrant and perennially popular but the terrace form is neglected as a model for denser housing at the metropolitan edge or even within the existing urban footprint. Built speculatively, decried as unsanitary, terrace housing from the past contains lessons for today’s unsustainable suburbia.

At the disciplinary junction of planning and urban design, this thesis is driven theoretically by the benefits of urban density, the success of pre-modern urban forms, and the empirical typomorphological approach. It combines historic maps and literature, figure ground plans, density analysis and interviews with practitioners to investigate the contemporary relevance of the terrace. Case studies of the three classic terrace suburbs are contrasted with four modern developments from the inner city and metropolitan periphery. Findings show the typology is functionally outstanding although it is restricted by regulation and difficult to build economically in much of Sydney. Taking into account market demands and planning regulations, several recommendations are made to foster the wider reintroduction of the terrace in suitable locations. Instead of passive admiration of existing inner city terrace streets, the thesis uncovers the lessons and ingredients of past success in order to build adaptable, affordable and sustainable cities for posterity.

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Built speculatively, decried as unsanitary, terrace housing from the past contains lessons for today’s unsustainable suburbia.

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Yan Nan Zhang Conservation of Early-Modern Historical Architecture of Chinese Cities: A case study of Wuhan The recent urbanisation of Chinese cities has occurred at an unprecedented pace and emergence of the notion of promoting urban conservation has also accelerated. The protection of early-modern heritage sites in Chinese cities has historically been a ‘blind spot’ in Chinese heritage conservation program, with various responses and strategies reflecting particular political, economic, social and cultural contexts.

In this thesis, different approaches to planning the preservation of early-modern historic sites in Chinese cities are analysed. There are a number of challenges faced by Chinese urban planning in an era of economic reform and newly emerging land markets. The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the achievements and problems of the current heritage conservation process in one Chinese city: Wuhan. It argues that the conflict between urban development and heritage conservation in Wuhan is extenuated.

The research is based on qualitative data comprising information collected by means of a literature review, fieldwork and individual interviews through a case study of Wuhantiandi, an early-modern historic conservation area in the inner city area of Wuhan.

The thesis concludes that in order to succeed in conservation, the function and process of planning in China and the importance of public involvement of heritage conservation process must be reconsidered.

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The function and process of planning in China and the importance of public involvement of heritage conservation process must be reconsidered.

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Shuai Zhu Protecting Agricultural Land on Sydney’s Urban Fringe: A study of land use conflict in the fringe Agricultural land degradation near major urban areas is a world phenomenon usually because of a lack of planning control. In Australia, agricultural land is a finite resource and only small portions of land are suitable for agricultural use. Sydney’s fringe rural land supplies a large proportion of food for local residents and protecting this scarce, finite agricultural land is a critical planning issue.

The rural leisure lifestyle attracts more and more residents and farmland comes under pressure for conversion to residential use. Serious conflicts can arise between agricultural and residential uses in urban fringe locations. Currently, New South Wales does not have agricultural legislation to resolve these conflicts. Most planning instruments stand on the residents’ side rather than with the agricultural resource. This thesis argues for the importance of agriculture by examining land use conflict between rural agricultural use and residential use in a case study in Liverpool in outer south-west Sydney. The aim of this thesis is to explore how government could manage rural land in a more sustainable way by avoiding land use conflict through better metropolitan strategic planning and local government planning.

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Sydney’s fringe rural land supplies a large proportion of food for local residents and protecting this scarce, finite agricultural land is a critical planning issue.

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Jingxiong Zhuang Sustainable Design: The social value of green roofs and walls in Sydney Green roofs and walls as greening infrastructures and design tools to respond to climatic conditions and improve urban environmental quality have been adopted globally for centuries. But more dramatic changes in population densities and the urban environment have had immensely damaging impacts on climate change resulting in globally increasing temperatures. Green roofs and walls are among the most effective design solutions for inserting green open space in highly urbanised settings. They provide multiple benefits to the community such as mitigation of urban heat island effects, increased biodiversity, and improved air quality. This thesis is inspired by the ‘triple bottom line’ of sustainability embracing environmental, economic and social considerations.

The research aims to explore the social value and identify embedded in the implementation of green roofs and walls in Sydney. A literature review informs a critical evaluation of the performance of green roofs and walls in sustainable design terms. Eight case studies were conducted and analysed adapting David Seamon’s phenomenological approach to examine the effectiveness of social performance.

Several in-depth interviews with local government planners and architects were also undertaken. The research findings contribute to our understanding of the wider environmental contribution of green roofs and walls development in Sydney.

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Green roofs and walls are among the most effective design solutions to include green open space in highly urbanised centres.

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COURSE STATEMENT

Master of Planning Planning Project Simon Pinnegar Planning Project Coordinator

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The Master of Planning (MPLAN) at UNSW is somewhat younger than its undergraduate sibling, having commenced in 2007. However, its popularity and success is perhaps reflective of wider trends being seen in tertiary planning education, and indeed enrolments this year – at around 70 students –exceed those commencing the BPLAN degree for the first time.

Our Masters students encapsulate a tremendous diversity which in itself provides a defining characteristic and quality of the degree. Students join us from a breadth of undergraduate disciplines – architects, geographers, engineers, social scientists to name a few – and come with a myriad life, professional and practical experiences to apply to the planning context. Our international students offer perspectives which rightly ensure that our focus is not only rigorously engaged in our local context – Sydney – but informed by global debate and implications.

undertaking. In the space of 13 weeks, students identify their subject, develop a proposal, apply for ethics approval from the university, arrange and conduct their research, analyse the results, present to class and write a 10-12,000 word thesis.

In their final semester, students typically undertake a major Planning Project: a substantive piece of work grounded in primary research on a topic of their choosing. Since inception, the course has been delivered in conjunction with the City Futures Research Centre, with our supervision team drawing upon the skills of some of Australia’s leading young urban planning researchers.

For the students, it is a tremendous

I am delighted to present to you the work of 20 of this year’s completing MPLAN students, and wish them the very best in their future planning careers.

Every semester we see students start their research journeys with some trepidation and fear; they complete it – albeit exhausted – with a tremendous sense of achievement and pride. And rightly so: we never fail to be impressed with the quality of what they produce in the time available. The topics selected reflect the breadth of our discipline, and also tend to capture and offer innovative insight into issues of contemporary debate and pressing concern. Every year, dozens of in-depth interviews are held, hundreds of surveys conducted, and reams of data analysed. In enabling this engagement with the world around them, I extend our students’ thanks to the many stakeholders who have assisted them in this task.

“ I AM DELIGHTED TO PRESENT TO YOU THE WORK OF 20 OF THIS YEAR’S COMPLETING MPLAN STUDENTS, AND WISH THEM THE VERY BEST IN THEIR FUTURE PLANNING CAREERS.”

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Abdullah Alhamoudi Why do people choose to live in apartments in Sydney?

The metropolitan plans of Australia’s major cities all promote urban consolidation policy as a way to solve the housing issue by allowing for higher density and mixed-use development in certain areas, while taking into account the aims of economic, environmental and social sustainability. This research considers whether the benefits of urban consolidation, as stated in government policy, are reflected in the main factors that influence people’s choices to live in apartments. The research focused on the factors that influence people’s preference to live in apartments in two specific areas in Sydney – Crown Square in Waterloo and Pacific Square in Maroubra – and compared the reasons that residents in these two areas gave for living in an apartment. The research used two methods: a literature review and a survey questionnaire of residents. The results show that several factors influenced participants’ housing choices, some of which were compatible with the aims and/or assumptions of urban consolidation policy, while others were incompatible. There were some common factors that influence the participants’ housing choice decisions across both case study sites, such as the need for more privacy. At the same time, the relative importance of other factors, such as accessibility to the Central Business District for employment, was markedly different between participants from the two sites.

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The results show that several factors influenced participants’ housing choices, some of which were compatible with the aims and/or assumptions of urban consolidation policy, while others were incompatible.

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Keeley Allen The road less travelled: planning for carsharing in Australian cities Carsharing has become an increasingly popular form of transport in cities around the world and has been operating in Australian cities over the past decade. Carsharing divorces flexible mobility from private car ownership by enabling members to use cars parked on local streets for short periods of time. As part of a wider public and active transport network, carsharing has been found to reduce car ownership and contribute to more sustainable urban areas. The growth of carsharing has seen it become a global industry with the majority of carsharing schemes provided by private enterprises. This thesis investigates the role that local governments play in the success of carsharing operations in Australian cities. Through a series of in-depth interviews with carsharing operators and local government officers, it has become apparent that local governments play an instrumental role in the success of carsharing. The establishment of a carsharing policy and the allocation of parking spaces on-street provide valuable clarity and certainty for carsharing operators. Meanwhile, local governments benefit from carsharing operations through a decrease in traffic and parking congestion and improved environmental outcomes. The benefits for carsharing members and the wider community justify the utilisation of public road space for a private enterprise for local governments and vindicate their continued support of carsharing organisations.

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Carsharing divorces flexible mobility from private car ownership by enabling members to use cars parked on local streets for short periods of time.

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Caitlin Brookes To what extent do medium sized workplaces in inner Sydney enable cycling to work? An analysis of end ot trip facilities The growth in cycling in Sydney has resulted in an increased demand by employees for improved end of trip (EoT) facilities. Lack of such facilities in the workplace i.e. showers, change rooms, lockers, courtesy items and particularly bike parking availability are frequently listed as a key barrier for employees looking to start riding or increase their number of bike riding trips to and from work. In Inner Sydney, the businesses showcased as cycle friendly are predominantly larger sized workplaces, with over 200 employees. This study seeks to investigate why larger sized workplaces are more cycle friendly than medium sized workplaces with 20-200 employees. Through a series of interviews with employees, it assesses the capacity of EoT facilities in medium sized workplaces and examines the perceptions of employees in relation to the quality and accessibility of their workplace’s EoT facilities. It also enquires whether not having the desired capacity of EoT facilities is an inhibitor upon employees’ motivation to cycle regularly to work, or whether other factors shape employees’ decisions to cycle to work. The recommendations in this study will assist planners, government practitioners and decision makers within workplaces to improve the capacity and user-friendliness of their workplaces’ EoT facilities.

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The recommendations in this study will assist planners, government practitioners and decision makers within workplaces to improve the capacity and user-friendliness of their workplaces’ EoT facilities.

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Ed Dycueco The 1960s and 70s three-storey walkup: lessons learned from historical responses to housing needs The three-storey brick walk-up has emerged in the 21st Century as one of the reluctant icons of Sydney.

They have become a staple feature of residential areas, from the wealthy suburbs in the north to the middle and working class suburbs to the south and west of the CBD. Much criticism has been aimed toward ageing three storey units with no lifts (affectionately known as ‘walk-ups’). The post-war 1960s and 70s block, usually characterised by a plain red-brick finish, has been savaged by some for being ugly and lifeless. The most severe criticism proclaims that most of this housing stock has reached the end of its economic life and is ripe for knockdown and renewal. But whether by accident or by design, walkups are proving to be very robust structures indeed, and many will be with us for years to come. Drawing upon a survey with residents in walk-up blocks and expert stakeholder interviews, this thesis argues that not only planning policy has an impact on the built form of Sydney, but also land tenure law has played, and will continue to play, a significant role in shaping our urban environment. As strata title reform looms, this research serves as a timely reminder of the wants and needs of strata owners and their tenants.

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…whether by accident or by design, walk-ups are proving to be very robust structures indeed, and many will be with us for years to come.

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Nathan English Perceived barriers to local mobility in the compact city This thesis examines whether the disused Rozelle Rail Yards and CityWest Link expressway combine to create an urban barrier between residents of the Sydney inner west suburbs of Annandale and Rozelle. As the crow flies, these two communities are extremely close. Their combined amenities and transport options should all be within easy walking distance for the pedestrians of both areas. However, the combined effect of the rail yards and expressway significantly limits permeability between the two suburbs, offering no pedestrian or cycle access at all. This means that what would otherwise be a casual trip between suburbs (for most), becomes a substantial hike. Through surveying residents, making observations, conducting traffic counts and hosting in-depth interviews with stakeholders and community representatives, this thesis explores the impacts that this barrier creates on local transport choices and use of open space. It considers whether the severing of the two suburbs has caused a decrease in pedestrian mobility between the two.

More broadly, it explores the impacts this may have on community, inclusiveness, active living and transport accessibility. As planners, we wrestle with the provision of amenity for our fast densifying cities.

Understanding, and addressing, the physical barriers limiting the utilisation of existing local amenities is an important step in moving towards compact city living.

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Understanding, and addressing, the physical barriers limiting the utilisation of existing local amenities is an important step in moving towards compact city living.

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Rebecca Englund Can planners read plans?

Consideration of skills required for development assessment in NSW On a daily basis, planners in development assessment roles are required to analyse and review architectural drawings against relevant legislation, plans and policies. Whether the drawings are associated with a simple single storey addition or a multistorey mixed-use development, it is a planner’s job to read and understand the drawings before them, and provide a critique of each individual development. This may include calculating building height, gauging elements of amenity such as visual privacy and solar access, consideration of built form and aesthetics, and any resultant impacts upon the the context in which the development is proposed.

Through examination of current planning courses offered in NSW, detailed review of legislation, and interviews with relevant University Program Heads, recent graduates and practising planners, this research project considers whether current planning programs provide students with the appropriate level of plan-reading competency and/or design skills to undertake development assessment within the current and possible future legislative framework in NSW.

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On a daily basis, planners in development assessment roles are required to analyse and review architectural drawings against relevant legislation, plans and policies.

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Ayeh Hajirasouliha To what extent can social and physical planning contribute to the creation of sense of community in urban renewal projects? A case study of Green Square In recent decades, population growth has put pressure on infrastructure, community services, housing and land availability of Australian cities.

As a response, State Governments have promoted urban consolidation to make sure that all councils contribute to develop more space-efficient residential land-use practices, and introduced urban renewal in their Metropolitan Plans. While there are many concerns about the economic and environmental implications of renewal projects, the social dynamics of new redeveloped areas have often been undermined by the pressure of other aspects.

Planning strategies shaping renewal areas often do not have a comprehensive approach toward the concepts of community and sense of community.

Moreover, the relevant literature review shows that in the neighbourhood context, the role of physical and social planning and particularly their relationships in the creation of sense of community is not clear. This research studies the terms community and sense of community, and explores the relationships and contributions of social planning and physical planning in creating a sense of community in a renewal neighbourhood. The research findings indicate that social and physical planning can both individually contribute to the creation of different elements of sense of community. However, the best response from the planning system is to take advantage of cooperation between social and physical planning.

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Planning strategies shaping renewal areas often do not have a comprehensive approach toward the concepts of community and sense of community.

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Jennifer Hempton Heritage conservation and the NSW planning reform process: an analysis of the implications Heritage in NSW is currently managed under the EP&A Act 1979, which the NSW Government is proposing to replace with a new Planning Act later this year (2013). Under the planning reform process undertaken by the government over the last two years, questions arise as to how heritage concerns will be addressed under the new Act. During consultation, significant concerns have been raised given that the proposed changes fail to provide clear details as to how heritage issues will be incorporated. With over 27,000 registered heritage items across the State, this silence within the White Paper is surprising.

The relationship between heritage and planning has often been in conflict, yet clearly ongoing heritage protection relies on clear government controls and policies. Through a series of interviews with key stakeholders, including planning officials and representatives of heritage groups and organisations, this research explores the perceived reasons for, and concerns resulting from, limited engagement with heritage issues within the new strategic direction for the Planning System. Further insight was provided through attending a series of expert and community workshops held during the White Paper’s consultation period in the first half of 2013.

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With over 27,000 registered heritage items across the State, this silence within the White Paper is surprising.

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Bianca Hollo Analysing the change of character on Oxford Street and assessing potential revitalisation strategies In the early 1870s, the lower end of South Head Road was renamed ‘Oxford St’ after its London counterpart, signifying the role of one of Sydney’s oldest thoroughfares as an emerging marketplace (Faro, 2000)i. Since then, society has changed and so has the purpose and character of Oxford Street. From the 1960s onwards, Oxford Street has been known as the epicentre of gay and lesbian Australia and from the 1970s onwards, Oxford Street has been known as the centre for boutique shopping, the arts and a hub of up-and-coming young Australian designers.

Whilst Oxford Street may still be characterised as a High Street, the current high vacancy rates, recorded in a land use survey conducted as part of this thesis, could be seen to reflect the steady decline that has been occurring since the early to mid-1990s.

Research in this thesis is focused around what makes a High Street successful, the factors that have led to change on Oxford Street in recent years as well as current and potential revitalisation strategies. The purpose of this thesis is to highlight the experiences of business owners and key local government and community stakeholders as a case study within the broader context of changing city dynamics, retail planning and shopping street revitalisation. _________ i Faro, Clive. (2000). Street seen : a history of Oxford Street. Carlton South, Vic. : Melbourne University Press.

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Research in this thesis is focused around what makes a High Street successful, the factors that have led to change on Oxford Street in recent years as well as current and potential revitalisation strategies.

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Tyng Yuh Ku The capacity of planning instruments and policies to deliver affordable housing in Sydney LGA With many cities around the world experiencing high demand for housing in well-located areas, increasing attention is being directed to the capacity of planning instruments to overcome housing affordability problems. This research considers whether local factors affect the capacity of mandatory programs – those where affordable housing contributions are tied to development consent – to deliver. From this, it assesses the barriers to affordable housing provision in inner city Sydney. A multi-methods approach has been taken in this research, comprising a literature review, an international comparative analysis of mandatory programs, and in-depth interviews with policy officials, affordable housing organisations and a developer. The research found that areas best suited to mandatory affordable housing programs tend to be those with high demand and with strong housing markets, close to the CBD, and favourable to urban redevelopment or up-zoning. Affordable housing programs also need to be integrated into local statutory planning controls and to be consistent with the state government policy. Though mandatory programs are difficult, if local factors are met with strong political support, they can be a powerful tool. Crucially, they need to be operating in the right places.

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‌ areas best suited to mandatory affordable housing programs tend to be those with high demand and with strong housing markets, close to the CBD, and favourable to urban redevelopment or up-zoning.

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Emma McGirr New directions in the urban design aesthetic The urban design image has an increasingly important role to play in the city designing process. The activity of representing and imagining possible alternative futures often finds its initial expression in the form of the image, traditionally a concept sketch or draft and more recently a render and 3D visualisation.

These graphic outputs form a visual reminder that planning and urban design disciplines are concerned with what are in essence creative acts, which ‘cause to exist and bring into being’ city shaping currents and interventions with wide ranging implications.

However, an examination of the literature reveals a reticence towards discussing the increasingly aesthetic and stylised qualities of the urban design image. Public policy and planning literature rarely makes reference to the visioning or utopic qualities attributed to images. These qualities are perceived to belong in the domain of art or architecture. This discourse gap is exacerbated by rapidly accelerating technological change, which is transforming the form and function of the image in the planning and design process. Drawing upon interviews with a range of built environment professionals operating at this interface, this project examines what it might mean to talk of an urban design aesthetic in the current context of a ‘design intensive’ economy where urban designers, planners and communities utilise more visual mediums of communication every day.

_________ Image Credit: Orange Regional Museum, Crone Partners. Design Team: Niall Durney, Ashley Dennis, Tom Chan

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‌ planning literature rarely makes reference to the visioning or utopic qualities attributed to images. These qualities are perceived to belong in the domain of art or architecture.

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Joy Ong Urban pets: is there a place for pets in strata living?

Pets are a significant part of our lives with 63% of Australian households owning companion animals.

Whilst pet numbers have fluctuated in recent years, pet populations overall are declining. Research shows that pets contribute a multitude of health and social benefits to people of all ages – from children to the elderly. This project explores whether pets have a place in the high-density city. In recent years, there has been a shift in residential preferences with more and more people wanting to live closer to city centres.

As Australia’s population grows, the shift from the traditional home to apartment living has increased.

This higher density living is adversely affecting our ability to own pets. The issue of pet permissibility in apartment living is a major problem for pet ownership.

Drawing upon a survey with residents, the findings from this project indicate that pets do have a place in strata living provided the correct type of pet and breed are chosen to suit lifestyle and high-density living. The importance of socially responsible pet ownership is vital – both for pets and for those living close to each other in the denser city.

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This project explores whether pets have a place in the high-density city.

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Laura Perry An investigation into loneliness experienced by those living in high density versus low density public housing in the southeastern suburbs of sydney A growing body of research suggests that loneliness is an increasing trend and matter of concern in Australia. Housing, and how one feels in the context of their own home, is a key consideration in this regard. A lack of social interaction, social isolation and loneliness can have negative impacts on both social and overall wellbeing. This study seeks to compare the experience of tenants in high-density public housing with that of tenants in low-density public housing, focusing in particular on the issue of loneliness. Resident surveys were conducted at a number of locations in southeast Sydney. Key findings from the research suggest that the high density housing residents were less likely to have never or very rarely experienced loneliness. They also perceived loneliness to be more of a problem for their fellow residents, than did their low density counterparts. However it is less clear whether the relationship between loneliness and levels of housing density can be seen as causal: those living in such dwellings were more likely to possess multiple indicators of loneliness. They were more likely to be living alone; more likely to be socially isolated; experience lower levels of residential satisfaction; and were more likely to feel unsafe.

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A lack of social interaction, social isolation and loneliness can have negative impacts on both social and overall wellbeing.

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Andre Szczepanski Between the lines: how the media presents planning reform in NSW This study examines how the new planning system has been presented by print media outlets in NSW. Newspapers are key agents in informing the public about major policy changes and influence public opinion through what is published – and what is not.

The significant media attention that has been given to the new planning system in recent months suggests that newspapers may have shaped public opinion on the reforms. In this research, issues around reporting on and controlling coverage of the new planning system are explored. Articles on the new planning system from the last two years published in NSW and national newspapers were examined using descriptive statistics and discourse analysis. Interviews were also conducted with key government and media stakeholders. The majority of articles were published by local newspapers. Coverage mainly focused on development assessment and the community’s right to comment on development applications, with more in-depth coverage being limited to the major Sydney and national newspapers. Most articles were published in the months immediately preceding the release of the Green Paper and White Papers. The findings show that coverage on the new planning system has been heavily constrained by news values, such as timeliness or perceived relevance. This suggests newspaper coverage has served to focus public attention on a limited number of issues.

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‌ findings show that coverage on the new planning system has been heavily constrained by news values, such as timeliness or perceived relevance

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Lucas Waite The impact of new shopping centres on existing neighbourhood business in Manly Warringah International trends document the decline of High Street Shopping. In Manly Warringah, the emergence of new large shopping centres has affected existing neighbourhood retailers. The new shopping complex offers many benefits to the consumer, such as off street car parking, and is able to provide ‘one stop’ shopping which provides added convenience to the customer. On the other hand, the shopping complex often provides a bland experience with little concern for local retailers or the contribution of local produce. Poorly designed shopping centres and the removal of linkages to the ‘High Street’ cause permanent damage to the established retail hierarchy. This research considers the impact of recent mid- to large- scale retail development in the lower northern beaches on existing High Streets and traditional neighbourhood shopping strips including Balgowlah, Fairlight, Manly Vale and Freshwater.

Interviews were held with local business owners and planning officials in order to gain further insight into the changing dynamics of retail provision and how this is impacting upon both urban form and consumer habits. Findings highlight the tensions at play, in particular the ability of local strategic planning activity to balance pressures for new development while protecting the interests of established retailers and recognising the importance of the local High Street.

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Findings highlight the tensions at play, in particular the ability of local strategic planning activity to balance pressures for new development while protecting the interests of established retailers 135

Glenn Wheatley Residential acoustic amenity in ‘vibrant’ mixed-use areas The ‘compact city’ has become a significant focus of many sustainable urban development models around the world. However, with a central element of the model being higher density mixed-use development, a primary issue is that developments that were previously separated to reduce potential conflict (such as from noise) are now being brought closer together.

This research investigates noise impacts between commercial and residential uses, in the context of New South Wales and City of Sydney planning policy, where fine-grain and vibrant mixed-use development is promoted. A single site case study, which included surveys with residents and business operators, was used to gather information on expectations and experiences with regard to noise impact. The results of the research suggest that planning policy does not adequately address the expectations of residents and business operators in mixed-use areas with regard to noise impacts, or the objectives of their strategic planning policies regarding the creation of vibrant mixed-use sites. It is concluded that strategic planning objectives for the promotion of active mixed-use areas, particularly those with late night trading premises, should only be set if suitable design responses are available, as the unplanned development of incompatible uses may ultimately restrict uses or reduce the quality of life for inhabitants in urban areas.

Image credit: Little Hay Street retail and residential. Copyright Lend Lease

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…strategic planning objectives for the promotion of active mixed-use areas, particularly those with late night trading premises, should only be set if suitable design responses are available 137

Heath Wilkinson The impact of the decision by the University of Newcastle to expand its presence in Newcastle CBD Since the 1970s, urban decline due to multiple factors has resulted in the lost prominence of Newcastle’s CBD within the city. The University of Newcastle is planning to relocate its Faculty of Business and Law from its current site at Callaghan on the urban fringe of Newcastle, to the CBD. The site that has been put forward for the project is situated in the Civic district of Newcastle occupying the corner of Hunter and Auckland streets. This thesis considers the impacts that the University’s decision might have on the surrounding precinct, and the CBD in general, as a case study of the role of investment by universities in the process of urban regeneration.

Research was undertaken through correspondence with university officials and interviews with planners, business and real estate professionals. Drawing upon these insights, key issues shaping the decision to relocate are identified, including the clustering of legal and professional business clusters in the inner city and the availability of a site which enabled strong connectivity with the University’s main suburban campus. In terms of the potential impact of the University expanding its presence in the CBD, it adds to a range of different urban renewal activities aimed at revitalising the city’s core, and its potential will be determined by the effective interconnectedness of these major projects as they progress.

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The University of Newcastle is planning to relocate its Faculty of Business and Law from its current site at Callaghan on the urban fringe of Newcastle, to the CBD. 139

Weiyuan Wu The effectiveness of environmental impact assessment tools in the redevelopment of Green Square Green Square is one of the largest urban renewal projects in Sydney, and will make a significant contribution in terms of new housing and employment provision to the south of the CBD in coming years.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an effective tool used to predict and address possible impacts arising from development. Through considering the impacts brought by the construction activities associated with redevelopment in Green Square, this research explored the effectiveness of EIA of the urban renewal in relation to the experiences of those residents living in earlier stages in the redevelopment process and now living in the middle of a nearcontinual construction site. Research found that EIA as well as Social Impact Assessment (SIA) did not take the negative impacts of the actual construction process into account, as they were not considered long-term issues. However, it was found that the residents living in this area were experiencing the negative impacts of the construction, and that mechanisms to express concerns regarding this were limited. The research points towards the need for further consideration of options to mitigate the impacts of construction in large-scale high density developments, and for EIA and SIA to better take into account the effects of construction.

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‌it was found that the residents living in this area were experiencing the negative impacts of the construction, and that mechanisms to express concerns regarding this were limited.

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Laura Wynne Integrating transport and landuse outcomes: a case study of travel planning in Sydney Recent interest in the integration of land-use and transport outcomes has led to the inclusion of a number of transport planning mechanisms in land-use planning policy. This research examined the effectiveness of travel plans required through NSW local government development control plans (DCPs), to understand whether DCPs are the appropriate place for travel planning requirements, and whether these requirements were likely to result in sustainable transport outcomes. Travel plans are strategies developed by companies to reduce reliance on private-vehicle commuting by staff or residents of a particular site or precinct and are a voluntary corporate-sustainability undertaking, rather than a legal mechanism. The research focused on the effectiveness of the regulation in bringing about successful travel plans, as well as local authorities’ ability to assess, enforce and monitor these travel plans once created. Findings suggest that significant problems exist due to developers and occupants generally being separate entities. Without the ability to control the day-to-day activities of occupants, developers were generally unable to control key elements necessary to successfully implement their travel plans. This research found that DCPs are not the appropriate place for travel planning requirements, as they place the responsibility for travel planning upon the wrong party. Opportunities for the removal of policy and institutional barriers are identified, and include clearer guidelines, and stronger monitoring and reporting expectations.

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Without the ability to control the day-to-day activities of occupants, developers were generally unable to control key elements necessary to successfully implement their travel plans.

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Clint Yabuka Rating residential strata The Residential Building Mandatory Disclosure (RBMD) Consultation Regulation Impact Statement was released in 2011 as the central document in the public consultation period. The document explains the intent of the legislation is to ‘improve the environmental performance of residential property by addressing market failure’. Whilst this is certainly within the scope of the proposed options for single residential dwellings, the proposal gives insufficient consideration to the legal and operational environment of strata titled residential property. This thesis is an investigation of the potential application of the proposed Residential Building Mandatory Disclosure Legislation and its application in the residential strata titled property sector. It is shaped by the hypothesis that the fundamental intent of the legislation to incentivise appropriate energy efficiency improvement and address a market information failure cannot be met by the proposed legislation for residential strata titled dwellings. The implications for strata titled property will occur through a focus upon issues of shared property ownership. A series of interviews with key stakeholders were conducted addressing issues of, and around, the application of the RBMD to strata titled property. The findings are discussed with particular consideration of the effect of energy and water efficiency improvements upon common property and seek to understand how a sustainability rating scheme may be better applied in this context.

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This thesis is an investigation of the potential application of the proposed Residential Building Mandatory Disclosure Legislation and its application in the residential strata titled property sector.

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ALUMNI PROFILE

Laura Goh BPlan 2010 PHD student at UNSW BE and Lecturer in Planning at UNSW BE At high school I really enjoyed geography and was especially interested in learning about cities and the way urban dwellers interact with each other. I was also interested in heritage and the conservation of old buildings and sites around Sydney. I wasn’t really sure that a degree existed that would allow me to develop my interests into a career, but I came across the Bachelor of Planning degree at UNSW and it seemed like a perfect fit. The degree really appealed to me as there was a good balance of core subjects as well as electives that I could take. The fact the degree is accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) was important to

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me as I want to work overseas in the future and will need qualifications that are recognised internationally.

I was fortunate enough to undertake my work experience at the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust and had the opportunity to assess development applications for some really exciting and unique projects, such as the conservation of convict structures on Cockatoo Island, the adaptive reuse of old hospital buildings into offices at Georges Heights and television shows at North Head.

I stayed working as a planner with the Trust after I graduated but have since returned to UNSW to complete a PhD in the Faculty of the Built Environment. In 2010 I started teaching in the BPlan degree and I am now the course-coordinator and lecturer for two first year planning subjects. I enjoy teaching immensely and love having the opportunity to work with so many young planners right at the beginning of their careers. This year my first year students were involved in the Better Block Project which saw Clovelly Road transformed into a green oasis on the last Sunday of October. I can’t wait to see what my students will create when they graduate in a few years!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Planning and Urban Development Program Team

Other Built Environment staff and industry professionals

- Associate Professor Simon Pinnegar, Discipline Director - Professor Robert Freestone - Associate Professor Susan Thompson - Dr Peter Williams - Dr Nancy Marshall - Dr Hoon Han - Dr Christine Steinmetz - Dr Gethin Davison

- Kevin Alker - Torin Allen - Bob Bow - Ian Burnley - Murray Cleaver - Jim Colman - Tracy Davey - Barbara Doran - Hazel Easthope - Sameh Girgis - Laura Goh - Sue Holliday - Matthew Hurst - Rodney Jensen - Jennifer Kent - Crystal Legacy - Edgar Liu - Jan McCredie - Stephen McMahon - Michael Neuman - Paul Osmond - Hal Pawson - Peter Rickwood - David Rollinson - Mike Ryan - Garth Seneque - Ian Sinclair - Rosemary Smart - Andrew Tice - Christina Totsis - Sharon Veale - Ilan Vizel - Danny Wiggins - Alison Ziller

Exhibition Designers - Colin Rowan - Tonic Connective BPLAN Thesis Project Coordinator and Abstracts Editor - Robert Freestone MPLAN Planning Project Coordinator and Abstracts Editor - Simon Pinnegar Sponsored by City Futures Research Centre

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Faculty of Built Environment The University of New South Wales Online be.unsw.edu.au Phone +61 2 9385 4799 Email fbe@unsw.edu.au