Darryl Low Choy

Perspectives on tradable development rights for ecosystem service protection: lessons from an Australian peri-urban region

Competition for land between agriculture and urban uses is a global problem. Until recently, planners and policy makers have relied on regulatory ‘command and control’ planning approaches; however, there is growing interest in the use of market-based instruments to address natural resource management issues in complex and highly contested peri-urban environments. Tradable development rights are one type of market-based instrument. While tradable development rights have been used extensively in the United States, their application in Australia has been limited. Yet, in Australia, population growth and development in peri-urban areas is placing extensive pressure on natural resources and productive agricultural lands. These pressures are particularly acute in Australias fastest growing metropolitan region, South East Queensland. By using a case study approach we explore stakeholder perspectives on the value of this tool to protect peri-urban landscape values. Whilst current planner and stakeholder perspectives suggest there is considerable support, there are substantial political, institutional, knowledge, resource and legislative barriers that need to be overcome before this tool can be a viable, realistic and acceptable option for land use planning in peri-urban regions such as South East Queensland.

A conceptual model for integrating physical geography research and coastal wetland management, with an Australian example

We have developed a conceptual model to assist integration between physical geographical sciences, institutional frameworks and management in the context of coastal wetlands. Wetlands are key interconnected systems that will respond early to climate change and especially to associated sea-level changes. A major constraint on management of wetlands is the lack of congruence between the ecosystems and the institutional frameworks that govern their management: connectivity in coastal systems is overlain by institutional fragmentation. We introduce a model that facilitates integration of physical geographical (biophysical) information into the legislative, planning, policy and management process. It consists of interconnected parallel subprojects in science and in planning with strong cross-links with stakeholders at all levels, founded on long-term and trusting relationships. We also show progress that has been made in applying the model, with an Australian example. It is concluded that the approach has potential to move towards the goal of sustainable management but that it urgently needs to evolve, so as to meet the challenges of climate and associated changes.

Public engagement and climate adaptation: insights from three local governments in Australia

Public participation in decision making is a central component of the planning process; however, implementing effective engagement initiatives to resolve complex planning and policy problems, such as climate change, is challenging for planners. These challenges are particularly acute in coastal communities throughout Australia, where many settlements are at risk of future climate perturbations. Using the International Association for Public Participation framework for public participation, we analyse three local government led public participation initiatives in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, Australia. Our analysis suggests there are three critical factors that can influence the level of public participation in the context of climate change adaptation: the technocratic approach to decision making; absent high order government support; and the lack of evaluation mechanisms for public participation.

The SEQ Regional Landscape Framework: Is Practice Ahead of Theory?

Current research into the peri-urbanisation associated with the rapid population growth of preferred Australian metropolitan regions has shown that their landscape values are put at risk and the regions quality of life (QoL) and the communitys standards of liveability are consequently threatened. Whilst the concept of a landscape framework as an analytical, policy and management tool has general acceptance, there appears to be few if any working examples where this concept has been operationalised. To date, the conventional approaches utilised by regional planning agencies and local government have not been able to deliver the necessary tools to incorporate the essential landscape planning principles let alone planning processes to address the regional landscape values at risk in the peri-urban areas of rapidly growing regions. However, promising initiatives have emerged from allied planning fields such as landscape planning. Despite shortcomings in the theoretical development of this conceptual framewo...Current research into the peri-urbanisation associated with the rapid population growth of preferred Australian metropolitan regions has shown that their landscape values are put at risk and the regions quality of life (QoL) and the communitys standards of liveability are consequently threatened. Whilst the concept of a landscape framework as an analytical, policy and management tool has general acceptance, there appears to be few if any working examples where this concept has been operationalised. To date, the conventional approaches utilised by regional planning agencies and local government have not been able to deliver the necessary tools to incorporate the essential landscape planning principles let alone planning processes to address the regional landscape values at risk in the peri-urban areas of rapidly growing regions. However, promising initiatives have emerged from allied planning fields such as landscape planning. Despite shortcomings in the theoretical development of this conceptual framework, a regional landscape framework has been incorporated into the recently released SEQ Regional Plan 2005–2026, a statutory planning instrument for the South East Queensland (SEQ) region, Australias fastest growing metropolitan region. Whilst it is conceivable that in the SEQ case, practice may be ahead of theory, there is now an imperative to develop this framework in a manner that it can be utilised as a regional policy framework and as an integrating instrument to address the values of regional landscapes including the range of existing and emerging rural values of the critical urban–rural interface.

The Role of Anticipatory Governance in Local Climate Adaptation: Observations from Australia

Anticipatory governance is emerging in the literature and practice as a form of decision-making which attempts to deal with climate change complexities and uncertainties. Underpinning the anticipatory governance approach to decision-making is a three-step process which includes future analysis, flexibility of strategies and monitoring and action. This paper adopts the anticipatory governance and its three-step approach as a framework to investigate two Australian local government adaptation initiatives. It discusses the challenges local governments face in taking the lead through anticipatory governance to address climate change adaptation in their planning efforts. The paper aims to contribute analytical insights into adaptation planning at the local scale through anticipatory governance.

Planning the Outward Growth of Australian Capital Cities: Brisbane

The South East Queensland (SEQ) region recently has experienced the highest growth rates of any urban fringe region in Australia. The belated appreciation of the significance of this rapid growth and of the implications for public policy and public finance by government have led to what may become a major shift in coordinated metropolitan planning in Queensland. The potential for a significant shift in policy is enormous, but the actual impact is as yet uncertain.

Learning from cross-border arrangements to support climate change adaptation in Australia

This paper focuses on learning from existing cross-border governance arrangements with a view to strengthening and improving climate change adaptation within the Australian context. Using an institutional learning framework, the research offers a critical analysis of two Australian cross-border cases: (1) the Murray-Darling Basin, and (2) the Australian Alps. The research findings focus on the issues of geographic (place), administrative (space) and political (territory) fragmentation as key concepts that underpin integrated environmental planning and management in practice. There are significant implications for climate change adaptation in evolving cross-border regions at scale that this paper highlights.

Parks for People: Meeting the outdoor recreation demands of a growing regional population

Abstract Rapidly growing regions such as South East Queensland strive to maintain the quality of life and standards of liveability that initially attracted the incoming population. Continued urbanisation invariably leads to a loss of open space, a loss of regional landscape quality and limitations on opportunities for outdoor recreation. This paper examines the potential role of regional parks as a policy option and as environmental infrastructure capable of addressing many challenges associated with rapidly urbanising regions. The paper proposes determining a regional parks network that can provide a full array of environmental, social, cultural and economic benefits. Investigations have considered a range of regional park types based on a recreation opportunity and level of service approach. If the concepts outlined are adopted and developed within the SEQ regional planning process, this will make a significant contribution to the achievement of the regional visions of sustainability and liveability.

Methodological proposals for research on risk and adaptation: experiences in Brazil and Australia

In this article the authors introduce a debate about focus groups and scenarios planning with stakeholders and researchers as methodological tools for qualitative studies on risks aimed to investigate perceptions and needs, to debate proposals and solutions, as well as to promote the participation of the extended peer community in producing knowledge and dealing with risks associated to extreme events and environmental change. Considering this theoretical and methodological approach the paper focuses on two research projects undertaken in urbanizes coastal areas in Brazil (North Coast of Sao Paulo) and in Australia (Nort Cost of Queensland), between 2011 and 2013. The findings highlight that both methods achieved the proposed goals and improved the dialogue and articulation between scientists and stakeholders.In this article the authors introduce a debate about focus groups and scenarios planning with stakeholders and researchers as methodological tools for qualitative studies on risks aimed to investigate perceptions and needs, to debate proposals and solutions, as well as to promote the participation of the extended peer community in producing knowledge and dealing with risks associated to extreme events and environmental change. Considering this theoretical and methodological approach the paper focuses on two research projects undertaken in urbanizes coastal areas in Brazil (North Coast of Sao Paulo) and in Australia (Nort Cost of Queensland), between 2011 and 2013. The findings highlight that both methods achieved the proposed goals and improved the dialogue and articulation between scientists and stakeholders.

Adapting to climate change in South East Queensland, Australia

There is growing recognition that regionally scaled responses will be pivotal in adapting to climate change (e.g. Kirshen et al. 2008; Reyer et al. 2012). This recognition is echoed in South East Queensland (SEQ), where rapid population growth and coastal urban centres have made it one of Australia’s most vulnerable regions and a focus for climate adaptation research. As a collection of papers, this special edition contributes to the emerging evidence base for adaptation in the region, but more broadly, the various contributions draw together disciplines and theories that provide lessons for future regionally scaled adaptation studies.; ;