Urban Development and Planning in Australia: Definitions, Responsibility, Frameworks and Challenges
Urban development refers to the physical growth and expansion of urban areas. As Australia continues to urbanise, with over 85% living in cities, urban development is critical for accommodating population growth and supporting economic activity. In Australia, urban development encompasses the planning, design, construction and management of urban environments. It includes building houses, commercial buildings, roads, parks and community facilities to meet demand.
Urban planning is the process of maximising the effectiveness of urban development. Its objectives are to enhance liveability, sustainability and productivity. Development assessment is a fundamental element of planning, ensuring new developments meet planning guidelines.
All levels of Australian government have responsibilities for urban development and planning. These include infrastructure provision, environmental regulation, development approvals and strategic planning. The private sector plays a major role, being responsible for most property development along with architecture and construction firms, consultants and industry groups. They transform urban plans into living built environments. Each Australian state and territory has enacted planning legislation and policies which guide appropriate development. These include Development Control Plans, Local Environment Plans and State Environmental Planning Policies.
Major capital cities have developed long term blueprints to manage expansion. These include Melbourne 2030 and Sydney’s Sustainable Sydney 2030 plan which coordinate development at the metropolitan level. Urban planning now integrates sustainable development goals through carbon efficient design, renewable energy, water sensitive practices and active transport usage. Environmental impact statements are mandated for large scale developments.
Key challenges include managing rapid population rises leading to urban sprawl into biodiversity areas. Also minimising environmental harm, traffic congestion and providing affordable housing options remain ongoing issues for policymakers and planners.
What is the meaning of urban development?
Urban development refers to the physical expansion of urban areas, cities and towns to accommodate population and economic growth through construction of infrastructure, housing, commercial buildings and amenities. The key aspects of urban development are facilitating economic prosperity and business investment; providing housing, transport, recreational spaces for the growing population; and ensuring environmentally sustainable development to protect biodiversity and ecosystems.
Australia's urban development practices have evolved from the initial colonial settlements into a suburban sprawl model after WW2. More recently, the focus has shifted towards urban consolidation, transit-oriented development and urban renewal within established areas rather than fringe expansion.
What is the meaning of urban planning?
Urban planning is the process of proactively envisioning, managing and regulating how cities and urban spaces will grow and develop over the long term. This is achieved through land use policies, zoning regulations, development guidelines and community consultation.
While urban development involves the physical building of infrastructure and housing, urban planning strategically coordinates this activity to optimise efficiency, liveability and sustainability across the urban environment.
The key objectives of Australian urban planning are to facilitate economic prosperity; promote social inclusion and access through transport and services; ensure environmentally sustainable development; and preserve local character and cultural heritage. Guiding principles focus on compact, mixed-use and integrated land use and transport oriented development.
Who is responsible for Urban Development in Australia?
The Federal Government sets national policies, guidelines and provides major infrastructure funding to guide sustainable urban development.
State/Territory governments oversee planning legislation, prepare long term strategic plans for capital cities, coordinate transport projects and work closely with local governments on development matters.
Local city councils are responsible for assessing and approving development applications, enforcing by-laws and codes, and providing guidance to the community on planning schemes and rules.
Lastly, private sectors and developers drive urban transformation by financing, designing and building major urban renewal precincts, housing estates and commercial centres in line with government plans.
What are the Australian planning frameworks?
Key national planning and development policies aim to promote economic growth while enhancing sustainability. These outline standards and incentives for public transport usage, affordable housing, emissions reductions in buildings.
Bodies like the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) and Green Building Council of Australia develop action plans, advocate policies and rate development projects to continually improve industry practices.
What are the Australian planning frameworks in New South Wales?
The NSW planning system is governed by the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) which outlines the process for developing plans, assessment pathways and approval of developments. Key instruments include State Environmental Planning Policies, Regional Plans and Local Environment Plans. The Department of Planning and Environment oversees strategic planning and assessment. Development assessment analyses proposals against statutory plans and policies to determine social, economic and environmental impacts.
What are the Australian planning frameworks in Victoria?
In Victoria, the Planning and Environment Act 1987 establishes the key planning schemes for regulating land use and development including Victoria Planning Provisions and all Local Planning Schemes. State planning policies outline objectives related to environmentally sustainable development, neighbourhood character, growth areas and activity centres. The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning administers the regulatory frameworks and statutory authorities like VicSmart assess specific development applications. Assessment against zone provisions and overlays ensures developments appropriately respond to site characteristics and area needs.
What is the role of the Australian Federal Government on urban development?
The Federal Government shapes national policies and programs to facilitate sustainable and inclusive urban growth. This includes major funding commitments for public transport infrastructure, schemes to boost affordable housing supply, and emission reduction targets for the building sector. Inter-governmental partnerships provide coordination on major urban projects.
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act provides a legal framework to protect and manage matters of national environmental significance, including impacts related to development. Any urban development likely to significantly impact threatened species, ecological communities or migratory species must be referred and assessed for approval under the EPBC Act. This ensures biodiversity protection is integrated with planning approvals.
What are the main Urban Development Challenges in Australia?
Major challenges faced in Australian urban development include rapid population growth putting strain on infrastructure and services; urban sprawl encroaching on natural areas; unaffordable housing prices and rents in cities; transport congestion and emissions from car dependency; and balancing economic growth with ecological sustainability.
These interrelated challenges constrain urban planning efforts to build inclusive, productive and sustainable cities into the future. Demand is outpacing supply for infrastructure, housing, transport and amenities. Achieving emissions reductions while accommodating growth remains an ongoing tension.
Strategies focus higher density development connected by public and active transport networks; precinct-scale sustainability initiatives; funding models to boost affordable housing near jobs and services; protection of green spaces and ecological communities; and transitioning buildings, transport and infrastructure to renewable energy sources. Continual monitoring, policy adjustments and coordinated long term visions will be key.
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