Evaluating the Sustainability of a Development Plan - Assignment Example

?Evaluating the Sustainability of a Development Plan: Green Square Introduction The issue of sustainable development cannot be ignored in today’s business and social environment especially considering the warning by experts from different fields of the fast depletion of certain natural resources. Sustainable development is defined by environmental experts basically as the prudent use of resources in such a manner as to meet current human needs while at the same time preserving for future generations the environment (Hasna 2007). In establishing the applicability of sustainable development to a place or region, key concerns include the natural system’s carrying capacity and the need to overcome social challenges that humankind face (Hasna 2007). Several modern towns, cities and parks today are designed with the concept of sustainable development in mind. One such place that has enjoyed the application of sustainable development concepts is Green Square, Sydney. This paper focuses on analyzing the development plan of Green Square in light of sustainable development. The Green Square Town Centre has been designed with sustainability as one of its core themes, others being interaction and community. The town is planned to be a centre for commerce, residence and cultural activities. The town, according to the sustainable development plan comprises about 41, 000 square meters to be used as floor space (Green Square Town Centre 2011). This area is expected to accommodate about 5500 residents and 7000 workers according to Green Square Town Centre (2011). The ambitious plan seeks to mix piazzas and plazas with green spaces so as to make the place favorable for entertainment, living and working. The city is also envisioned to be a place of interaction, villages forming the basic units for urban communion. According to the sustainable plan, the town will have a civic plaza that will act as a venue for community gatherings, markets and special occasions. On the other hand, piazzas will be places for relaxing, pausing for rest, and admiring the beautiful scenes and ambience of the place. Even as the place will be punctuated with modern architecture, the adjacent parklands will be used for outdoor activities, play and as picnic sites as noted by Green Square Town Centre (2011). The interconnectivity of the town is one factor that has been considered in the design considering the need for people to travel or move from various locations and accomplish their missions in the process. The Green Square Railway Station will be a major transport feature connecting various parts of the city and the outside world. Most important in the development of the sustainable development plan for Green Square is the features that have been put in place to conserve water and reduce the emission of green house gases (Green Square Town Centre 2011). One of the core objectives of the design is to achieve carbon neutrality among the communities. The Green Square area is located in a place that is desirable for community living. One of the main activities that will be involved in the development plan will be the cleaning and revitalization of the South Sydney Hospital site. Among the activities at this stage will be the removal of environmentally unfriendly substances such as asbestos, light fittings and lead-based paints by specialists and using the best conceivable processes City of Sydney (2011). Some of the features that will be installed in the hospital area include a purification plant. Storm water from the plant will be used to flush toilets and irrigate parks. An automatic waste collection system as well as a trigeneration energy system for the production of low carbon energy will form part of the package. In order to reduce emissions, cycling and walking paths will be provided according to City of Sydney (2011). Strategic and Regulatory Context The sustainable development plan debate in Australia is wide and ranges from environmental, social to economic issues and it has major implications on all businesses. As a result, the business council in Australia has recognized sustainable development as an issue of first priority. It argues that if the country’s aim is to influence policy directions in the future then the council should have a voice sustainable development plan. This can be achieved through commitment to sustaining development and clear results of such commitment practically. The Business Council of Australia has established two initiatives towards sustainability of development plan. The first strategy is the statement of strategies for sustaining development which has been the issue of public discussion. This statement offers an outline for business reaction to sustainable development identifying that the contribution of corporations to sustainable development can be achieved through excellent financial management, social and environmental activities. Thus the statements help realize that sustaining development is evolutionary and there are different ways of making it progress. The second initiative is currently taking place is the documentation of plans that leading corporations are applying to ensure their commitment in sustainable development. These strategies and regulations are applying to New South Wales and other states in Australia. The New South Wales Business Chamber Environment Committee recognized and also confirmed that sustainable development as strategic and practical that it needs to associate with. There are various sustainability objectives outlined in other planning frame works of NSW, for instance, the objectives guiding the design and construction of the UTS buildings. They include for instance the minimizing of green house emissions which affects the environment at large. There is also minimizing of the rate of consumption of natural resources. Another objective is to seek chances of improving and sustaining the environment. There is the maximization of amenity, well-being and peoples enjoyment. Finally there is ensuring a future proof for future sustainability constraints and occasions. There is also the sustainable objective of the master plan for Bomen’s future development plan in NSW. They include the capitalization of the area’s competitive benefits such location, infrastructure and land. Second is the establishment of prefer land use, road networks and infrastructure. Third is the enabling of SEAL (South-East Australian Logistic hub) to become a major strategic benefit for NSW and its metropolitan area. Fourth is to embrace and support future decisions as well as development upon doctrine of environmental sustainable development. Here is also the improving of NSW ability of attracting business adventures locally and globally. Sixth is being a conduit for government financing, planning, marketing and administrative support. There is also ensuring enhanced compatibility and connection of SEAL with the neighbors. Key Social, Environmental, and Economic Sustainability Issues or Challenges There are various social, environmental and economic sustainability issues faced in the development of Green Square. The social issues include the issue of public transport and how it can be easily accessed by the masses. There second is the issue of creating available metropolitan public area per capita. Thirdly is ensuring tolerable divergence in social and economic indicators. The issue of inadequate housing also faces the development of Green Square considering that the population of the area is bound to grow over time. Yet again, there is the issue of providing comparative living principles in the local communities. Despite the social issues there are also economic issues facing the sustainable development of Green Square. These include the issue of going to work in the urban areas by using public transport. Second is the issue of ensuring availability of top order expertise in key areas of work. Thirdly is the issue of ensuring growth in business services as well as in other highly charge exports. Finally, the rate at which new businesses are formed and how they participate in the workforce and training is another issue of concern. Moreover there are also environmental issues facing Green Square development. One of these issues is on the creation of sustainable urban residential. There is also the issue of enhancing key policies relevant to ecological sustainability. Finally is the issue of enhancing the resources available so as to maintain the environmental processes which individuals depend on. The Green Square developments sustainability outcomes can be widely categorized into social environmental and economic categories. The social outcomes may include a healthy and secure environment such as safe roads. Another outcome is the availability of safe and inclusive society. In addition, there is the provision of adequate safety of various infrastructures for saving human life. Provision of a wide range of community services which meet the needs of the residents. Another social outcome is the easy access to community services and the protection of the society from ill health. In the case of environmental outcomes of development there is the reduced environmental harm from human practices. There is also the safeguarding of biodiversity. A reduced environmental threat is another outcome as well as reinstatement of natural resources. Moreover management of significant environmental hazards is also attained. Finally there is achieved good sustainable use of reserves and other natural areas. In terms of economic outcomes of sustainability there is the increased economic growth in rural area. Second is the availability of a built environment that encourages economic growth and a healthy community. Third is the just evaluation and determination of development activities. There is also establishment of infrastructure for business and residential purposes. Achievement of the Objectives The development of Green Square is bound to achieve its outlined objectives to a high level. For instance in the case of environmental development there has been effective recycling of waste making the environment cleaner, this has led to less deposit in land fills. The state has also managed to control pollution to a greater percentage than before. Soil erosion has also been reduced thus making the land more fertile. Moreover in the case of economic development there has been proper resource management and development. The economic viability of the state has also improved and there is has been appropriate and economically liable land use. In terms of social development the state has maintained excellence is service delivery to he community. There have also been established safe roads and the community has been sensitized on safety issues. There is also he establishment of several; local, historical and cultural organizations which are well sustained. Issues Difficult to Address Some issues related to development in Green Square have been more difficult to address than others. This can be attributed to various factors, for instance, the poor distribution of resources in the area which has caused some areas to lag behind in development. There is also the inadequate funding and resources to ensure development and its sustainability. The reliance on donor countries has also caused these difficulties since to get these donors has been a difficult issue. The fact that the NSW state does not offer enough support, has also been hard to address since without this the corporation of the government officials it is difficult to achieve development issues. There is also the issue of expertise and skills required in development and this has been difficult to address due to fact that there are few experts in various levels of development. Recommendations Legislative amendments which involve long-term management planning of calculated benefits should be introduced in the state plans, policies and strategies for development purpose. Secondly, the NSW state should adopt planning system for management assets whose practices are consistent with countries frameworks of financial sustainability as well as with the international infrastructure management guidebook where it is necessary. For all development committees a core approach to development process and its sustainability should be the agreed upon minimum level. There is the need to introduced legislative amendments which require a certain period of time in financial planning for development activities and the sustainable of such development. There should be adopted a development sustenance management program whose work is to continuously assess development plans to a level appropriate to the region. There is the need for a capacity expertise building program which involves wide range of activities such as training, tools provision, guidelines as well as provision of templates. The state should consider enacting long-term strategies for development sustenance management and financial arrangements which need to be applied as the essential mechanisms of integrated planning and development framework across New South Wales. There is the need to develop a state environmental planning policy o ensure that there is healthy competition for resources which is relevant to developmental planning NSW development plans and strategies should consider means of enhancing opportunities for competition by allowing more business to develop in areas where they have not been established. Ways to Enhance the Implementation of Sustainability Programs The state development committees should consider preparing long-term strategic plans including financial information and also demonstrating the various ways of funding the outcomes of a sustainable development plans. There is the need to prepare an annual budget plan which is in line with the audited financial statements associated with the sustainability programs of the development plan. Te monitoring and evaluation management team of every development plan should develop a framework which contains the mechanism of measuring the effectiveness of the sustainability programs. For any development plan there should be an established framework for gathering of sustainability information. Each level of service should be defined in any sustainability program in order to establish who is supposed to provide what and at which level. Every sustainability program should have established governance and management team which ensures a development plan leads to service delivery. Those coordinating a sustainability management team should be offered guidance by the state on how to develop strategies which are designed to support their programs. Ways to Enhance the Monitoring of Outcomes Achieved The resource management Act in NSW advocates that the local Authority should ensure monitoring of policies, plans and strategies whether environmental, social or economic. Monitoring should be made continuously throughout the planning so as to ensure the development plan is running well. Any development plan team should think about monitoring at the start of implementing the policies for the development plan. A monitoring or evaluation program is necessary and should be developed at the same time with the provisions of he development plan, this way monitoring of outcomes will be made easier. In order to enhance monitoring of outcomes, it is also good to ensure monitoring of the implementation development plan policies. There is he need to establish he connection with monitoring the environmental status and the resources available in order to make monitoring of outcomes ore effective. The monitoring team should establish a clear purpose for monitoring outcomes and establish monitoring policies. During the monitoring process, one should be focused and ensure priority matters are monitored first, this helps to determine what has been achieved and what has not been achieved. There is also the need of being systematic and flexible; this requires one to consider what should come before what. It is also important to ensure that the method or approach of monitoring applied is relevant to the issue under development, that is, whether it is environmental, economic or social. There is the need to develop a system which generates reviews plans, policies and implementation details in relation to the outcomes achieved. It is important also for enhancing monitoring of outcomes is the corporate commitment in the development plan, those involved in the whole development process need to be dedicated to their activities. Forming a monitoring forum also enhances monitoring of outcomes as there is sharing of ideas and reviews. During monitoring it is important to establish cause and effect of the various outcomes and then report on the acknowledgment, what changes what and how his relates to the development plan and policies. It is advisable to maintain a record of all details during the monitoring process in order to make relevant recommendations. The monitoring team should initiate a proper way of monitoring permitted activities in every aspect whether social, economic or environment related. Reference List Green Square Town Centre (2011). Green Square: Vision. Viewed from http://www.gstc.com.au/vision.aspx [Accessed 7 November, 2011] City of Sydney (2011) Green Square Transformation. Viewed from http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/development/urbanrenewalprojects/greensquare/ [Accessed 7 November, 2011] Hasna, A. M. (2007). "Dimensions of sustainability". Journal of Engineering for Sustainable Development: Energy, Environment, and Health 2 (1): 47–57. Read More