The Key Elements of the Urban and Regional Planning System in Australia Including Emerging Issues - Article Example

The Key Elements of the Urban and Regional Planning System in Australia Including Emerging Issues and Challenges Name: University: Date: The Key Elements of the Urban and Regional Planning System in Australia Including Emerging Issues and Challenges Introduction Planning, according to LeGates and Abercrombie (2004), happens when people make conscious and definite attempt to mould or model their environment. All through Australia, planning systems are facing enormous challenges in managing different complex environmental, economic and social issues in an environment that is increasingly global and technological. Even though sustainable, equitable as well as efficient infrastructure provision and land use planning underline all metropolitan regions and states’ planning goals, developing such plans and implementing them varies far and wide between territories and states. In Australia, urban planning plays a crucial role in ensuring that the Australian cities are sustainable in the future. Basically, Australia is considered to be one of the world’s extremely urbanised societies. The increasing rate of population growth across various cities in Australia is putting much pressure on the country’s infrastructure, like roadways and public transport, water systems, air and energy, in the urban areas. Urban and regional planning is carried out at every governmental level in Australia. Still, the national government plays a crucial part in implementing the planning policy while the local government collaborates with the community to make designs decisions regarding urban planning that would help encourage cohesion amongst the residents. The objective of this article is to outline the key elements of the Australian urban and regional planning system in addition to the emerging challenges and issues.     Discussion As mentioned by LeGates and Abercrombie (2004), country and town planning intends to offer a guiding tool to the natural evolution trend, on account of cautious analysis of the place and its external connection. In Australia, local governments are tasked with planning development of their local area. Robb (2014) posits that local governments administer community centres, sporting fields, local parks, and also control building permissions. Still, the existing governance frameworks for metropolitan planning are not adequate. State governments have failed to fill the void related to the governance frameworks, which consequently, has led to suboptimal urban planning. Although majority of Australians are presently enjoying access to services and infrastructure that are generally high-quality, there is room for further improvement. As indicated by Australian Infrastructure Plan (2016), the present capacity and reach of infrastructure in Australia is unreliable, with constraints and network gaps across the transport as well as telecommunications sectors. To reduce costs associated with these issues, Australia have to start upgrading urban transport networks to ensure they become more integrated and can meet the service levels expectations and demands for the increasing population. The ACT government has been advancing different policies that seek to improve population density with the objective of introducing low-density, less expansive suburban development which focuses on population consolidation within a six miles radius of the central business district. The residents of Canberra have varying lifestyle and housing options, and they have been diversified further with the increasing low density developments on the transport sector (RDA ACT, 2013). Between 1970s and 1980s, Australia was characterised by significant community and economic restructuring (Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development, 2010). The country was considered a global economy after the national government became active in the Australia’s cities. Basically, the majority of the cities had simple plans for guiding the development of urban and suburban, but lacked strategic integrated development planning. The national government was only involved in incentive schemes for roads as well as home ownership. Still, suburban development rapidity led to a major infrastructure backlog. The majority of new suburbs lacked basic amenity such as footpaths or sealed roads and sewerage systems; therefore, issues in the city took the centre stage during the policy discussion. The national government in 1972 created the National Urban and Regional Development Authority, which was mandated to offer the government advice on issues of regional and urban development. In the same year, the government created Department of Urban and Regional Development with the purpose of developing as well as putting urban policy initiatives and the strategy of national urban and regional development into practice (Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development, 2010). The urban planning system for Canberra city is known as Canberra plan, and its main objective is making Canberra a dynamic heart of the Australian Capital Territory. In this case the key element of planning is making the urban area a vibrant and pre-eminent regional centre which is crucial for the region’s competitiveness. Urban planning facilitates investment, attraction of diverse and skilled workforce, and also encourages cultural enrichment. The key elements of Canberra plan include economic efficiency, efficient public transport services, and cultural facilities. As mentioned by Department of Land &​ Property Services (2010), efficiencies in Canberra’s space and time promote ‘public life’, offer various activities searched by the visitor and locals, and sustain the enhanced municipal services provision. The national government in Australia has shown some commitment in improving the advantages associated with cities across the country and taking actions against the emerging social, infrastructure and environmental challenges. When the government released its first national urban policy, it provided an all-inclusive framework of principles, objectives and goals that it will utilise to determine its future actions in the major cities across Australia, particularly those having a population of more than 100,000 persons. The government has formulated some initiatives with the aim of ensuring that that the national urban policy realise its goals and objectives; for instance, the government integrated the planning of investments and activities that complement those already happening (Department of Infrastructure and Transport, 2011). Many years ago, the Better Cities Program as cited by Howe (2001) was administered in a way that demonstrated that the government was pursuing cooperative federalism. The national government was under pressure to offer an improved efficiency level in the services delivery in various fields like communication and transport, energy production and transmission, as well as human services delivery. For this reason, the Commonwealth started promoting environmentally sustainable development themes. The Better Cities Program, offered valuable lessons for urban and regional planners. As mentioned by Howe (2001), the program was an effort by national government to collaborate with the States in implementing States’ planning strategies, particularly because the affected areas selected for strategic reasons. The key elements of planning instruments, as mentioned by DPTI (2015), include design standards, planning and design code, policies of State planning, the regional plans. These instruments could be prepared by a Joint Planning Board, State Planning Commission or the Minister for Planning. No amendments can be made to the instruments without the approval of the Minister. According to Kinnear and Ogden (2014), regional planning in pursues a well-acknowledged sequence, which includes consultation at community level, gathering evidence, and a process through which priorities and issues at regional level could be identified as well as auctioned. In the early 21st century, pressures associated with population growth resulted in emphasis on new communities planning as well as providing social services and infrastructure to the planned and existing communities at local, regional and national levels. Simultaneously, evolving or emerging issues, which include housing affordability, energy security, climate change, and traffic congestion, pose serious challenges to the planning systems in Australia. In the past, scores of issues associated with planning systems were local in character, but have recently assumed national dimensions; for instance, waste management and water supply have become major issues at regional and national levels. In addition, the existing policy frameworks for planning are struggling to take action against these emerging issues. As Australia’s economy continues becoming more seamless and fluid, the need for improved planning systems harmonisation will increase. Regional planning main role as the connection between local resources utilisation and state strategies, is offering constitutional guidance for economic development and land use. According to Campbell and Fainstein (1996), planning normally face the issue of whether the urban planners acknowledge and serve public interest. Most incremental planners argue that public interest and the associated complexity prevents the planner from directly serving it, but the advocate planners claim that the depiction of public interest is merely the privileged interests. Australia’s infrastructure sustainability can be improved by efficiently using networks considering that a well-planned infrastructure reduces the resources needed by businesses and people. Planning also helps reduce costs, waste and emissions. More importantly, integrated urban planning enhances the sustainability and efficiency Australian’s cities; thus, delivering both economic as well as environmental (Australian Infrastructure Plan, 2016). As mentioned by Dodson (2009), the recent emergence of metropolitan spatial plans have not helped in solving the emerging problems associated with Australia’s planning systems since they are somewhat weak documents. Conclusion In conclusion, this article has outlined the key elements of the Australian urban and regional planning system in addition to the emerging challenges and issues. As evidenced in the article, the existing planning systems in Australia requires long-term plan for infrastructure investment and reform. The need for a national planning system has become more important considering that the urban population is still growing rapidly. Evidently, planning systems could considerably influence the wellbeing, expectations and rights of people and communities. Australia needs an appropriate and clear accountability lines for key decisions in planning, which includes clear organisational structures, legislative provisions, as well as planning instruments. References Australian Infrastructure Plan. (2016). Australian Infrastructure Plan: Priorities and reforms for our nation’s future. Sydney NSW: Infrastructure Australia. Campbell, S., & Fainstein, S. S. (1996). Introduction: The Structure and Debates of Planning Theory. In Readings in Planning Theory (pp. 1-16). Cambridge, MA : Blackwell. Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development. (2010). Chapter 2: Our cities in transition. Canberra, ACT: Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development. Department of Infrastructure and Transport. (2011). Chapter 7: Summary Action Plan. Canberra, ACT: Department of Infrastructure and Transport ,. Department of Land &​ Property Services. (2010). Canberra City Area Action Plan 2010 - 2016 (Haig Park to Lake Burley Griffin). Canberra : Department of Land &​ Property Services. Dodson, J. (2009). The ‘Infrastructure Turn’ in Australian Metropolitan Spatial Planning. International Planning Studies , 14(2), 109-123. DPTI. (2015). Planning System Overview. Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure,. Howe, B. (2001). Reflecting on Better Cities. Australian Planner, 38(1), 38-44. Kinnear, S., & Ogden, I. (2014). Planning the innovation agenda for sustainable development in resource regions: A central Queensland case study. Resources Policy, 39, 42–53. LeGates, R. T., & Abercrombie, P. (2004). Early Urban Planning (Vol. VIII). Abingdon: Taylor & Francis. RDA ACT. (2013). Regional Development Australia - Australian Capital Territory. Strategic Regional Plan, Regional Development Australia, Canberra . Robb, A. (2014). The Role of Government in Australia. Educational Resource, Parliamentary Education Office. Read More

The national government in 1972 created the National Urban and Regional Development Authority, which was mandated to offer the government advice on issues of regional and urban development. In the same year, the government created Department of Urban and Regional Development with the purpose of developing as well as putting urban policy initiatives and the strategy of national urban and regional development into practice (Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development, 2010). The urban planning system for Canberra city is known as Canberra plan, and its main objective is making Canberra a dynamic heart of the Australian Capital Territory.

In this case the key element of planning is making the urban area a vibrant and pre-eminent regional centre which is crucial for the region’s competitiveness. Urban planning facilitates investment, attraction of diverse and skilled workforce, and also encourages cultural enrichment. The key elements of Canberra plan include economic efficiency, efficient public transport services, and cultural facilities. As mentioned by Department of Land &​ Property Services (2010), efficiencies in Canberra’s space and time promote ‘public life’, offer various activities searched by the visitor and locals, and sustain the enhanced municipal services provision.

The national government in Australia has shown some commitment in improving the advantages associated with cities across the country and taking actions against the emerging social, infrastructure and environmental challenges. When the government released its first national urban policy, it provided an all-inclusive framework of principles, objectives and goals that it will utilise to determine its future actions in the major cities across Australia, particularly those having a population of more than 100,000 persons.

The government has formulated some initiatives with the aim of ensuring that that the national urban policy realise its goals and objectives; for instance, the government integrated the planning of investments and activities that complement those already happening (Department of Infrastructure and Transport, 2011). Many years ago, the Better Cities Program as cited by Howe (2001) was administered in a way that demonstrated that the government was pursuing cooperative federalism. The national government was under pressure to offer an improved efficiency level in the services delivery in various fields like communication and transport, energy production and transmission, as well as human services delivery.

For this reason, the Commonwealth started promoting environmentally sustainable development themes. The Better Cities Program, offered valuable lessons for urban and regional planners. As mentioned by Howe (2001), the program was an effort by national government to collaborate with the States in implementing States’ planning strategies, particularly because the affected areas selected for strategic reasons. The key elements of planning instruments, as mentioned by DPTI (2015), include design standards, planning and design code, policies of State planning, the regional plans.

These instruments could be prepared by a Joint Planning Board, State Planning Commission or the Minister for Planning. No amendments can be made to the instruments without the approval of the Minister. According to Kinnear and Ogden (2014), regional planning in pursues a well-acknowledged sequence, which includes consultation at community level, gathering evidence, and a process through which priorities and issues at regional level could be identified as well as auctioned. In the early 21st century, pressures associated with population growth resulted in emphasis on new communities planning as well as providing social services and infrastructure to the planned and existing communities at local, regional and national levels.

Simultaneously, evolving or emerging issues, which include housing affordability, energy security, climate change, and traffic congestion, pose serious challenges to the planning systems in Australia.

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