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Implementation of the Development Regulation 2015

The implementation of the Development Regulation 2015 would produce spatial plans that are informed by cultural diversity. Discuss your position in relation to the above statement.

Follow the following examples in writing your responses.

Example 1:

I find it interesting that Campbell’s point of view is that poor economic conditions are a barrier to practices that preserve the environment, suggesting the market is the driver of sustainability. This is opposite to the nested model I feel should be considered – that a healthy environment sustains a healthy society, which in turn allows a healthy economy (Giddings et al., 2002). Although I am not trying to suggest that a productive economy is not necessary, it is the primacy with which it has been emphasised at the expense of the environment that has caused many of the planet’s long-term, and wide-ranging problems – ozone-depletion from CFCs, land salinity from over-clearing, loss of biodiversity from monoculture cropping.

A recent local solution from a WA councillor is to communicate to developers the environment’s value in economic language – to place a dollar value on the environmental cost of removing trees (Young, 2015). Whilst this would not be a negotiable issue for those species of biological importance, a sliding cost could be applied based on the age/ecological-/cultural importance of the tree, with the aim that the specimen would be integrated into a brownfield development, rather than removed. Equally, in a greenfield development, more thought might be given to expanding the urban boundaries of any major city if the environmental cost of removal of tens/hundreds of existent trees were converted to a dollar value? Perhaps if we change from the common model of the triple bottom line elements as equal, intersecting circles, and place environmental health as the driver of social and economic progress, long-term sustainability may a more achievable goal? I would be interested to hear what any of you think.

Example 2

Your discussion was excellent and raised an important question. How can spatial planning address the needs of a diverse community?

’..spatial planning is understood and practised differently because it is strongly rooted in and restricted to the specific traits of a society’ (Othengrafen 2012, 23)

Friedmann (1967) introduced the notion of ‘nonbounded rationality’. This aimed to achieve environmental protection, social equity, economic growth and embrace cultural diversity (Othengrafen 2012, 37). The prescriptive nature of this approach embraced the ‘technical knowledge’ of planners and failed to acknowledge culture (Othengrafen 2012, 37). During the same period the Town Planning Regulation 1967 was introduced in Western Australia.This regulation manages ‘local planning strategies’ and ‘planning schemes’          (WAPCa 2014, 7). The Perth Metroplan with the Peel and Greater Bunbury scheme are both directed by the Town Planning Regulation 1967 (WAPCb 2015). Friedman’s theory of ‘nonbounded rationality’ may have also influenced the development of this regulation (Othengrafen 2012, 37).

Currently a draft Planning and Development Regulation 2015 has been issued by the Western Australian Planning Commission  (WAPCc 2015). The draft regulation will amend the current Town Planning Regulation 1967. (WAPCa 2014,1). The Development Regulation 2015 was prepared in consultation with a number of stakeholders and groups (WAPCc, 2015) This process has enabled the flow of heterogeneous and diverse perspectives to guide spatial planning and is consistent with the post-modern collaborative approach. Through ‘ethnographic interviews’ planning practitioners and stakeholders in Hamburg and Helskini also practice post-modern methods of planning (Othengrafen 2012, 39).

Sources

Othengrafen, F. 2012. Uncovering the Unconscious Dimensions of Planning : Using Culture as a Tool to Analyse Spatial Planning Practices. Farnham, Surrey, GBR: Ashgate Publishing Group, Accessed 23 December 2015.

http://site.ebrary.com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/lib/curtinuniv/reader.action?docID=10556662

http://www.planning.wa.gov.au/Region-and-local-planning-schemes.asp

Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPCa). 2014. Introduction to the Western Australian Planning System. Perth, Western Australia, February. Accessed 23 December. 2015.

http://www.planning.wa.gov.au/dop_pub_pdf/intro_to_planning_system.pdf

Western Australian Planning Commissionb. 2015. (WAPCb). Regional planning schemes.

http://www.planning.wa.gov.au/Region-and-local-planning-schemes.asp.

Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPCc). 2015. Planning and Development Local Planning Schemes Regulation 2015 A Regulatory Impact Statement. Perth, Western Australia, August.  Accessed 23 December 2015.S

http://www.planning.wa.gov.au/Region-and-local-planning-schemes.asp