10/23/18. Science informed regional planning: opportunities for better outcomes. Seeking Better Outcomes for Our Regions

Transcription

1 SEGRA 2018: Beyond the Boom: opportunities for growth and vitality Acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the country where we are meeting today Science informed regional planning: opportunities for better outcomes Emeritus Professor Darryl Low Choy Acknowledge the Elders past & present and the Traditional Owners of the land and sea scapes which are the subject of our research Seeking Better Outcomes for Our Regions A Contemporary National-level response to increasing land and resource degradation Towards a Healthy Environment with a Productive Economy Create environmental accounts Fix land and water use planning Blueprint for a Healthy Environment and a Productive Economy Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists Regionalise management Use markets November 2014 The Wentworth Group believes there are five transformative, long-term economic and institutional reforms that Australia must implement if it is to create a healthy environment with a productive economy: Conserve natural capital Wentworth Group s Five transformative, long-term economic and institutional reforms 1

2 An Opportunity to get it right! An Opportunity to get it right! With respect to this conference: but that can t happen until: No 4. Regionalise management: We must embed and give prominence to natural resource management at the regional scale to reconnect people to the land, so that investment decisions are underpinned by an understanding of how landscapes function. No 1. Fix land and water use planning: We must put in place regional scale land and water use plans that address the cumulative impacts of development on the environment and the long-term costs to the economy. A Post World War 2 Opportunity An Early Innovative Australian Scientific Response to Regional Assessments Melbourne

3 Air Photo Coverage (1950 & 1955) Air Photo Interpretation CSIRO Land Systems Mapping CSIRO Terrain Evaluation 3

4 Post WW2 Regional & Metropolitan Planning Era: Opportunity Lost Opportunities to incorporate Science into Traditional Land Use Planning?XPost War Metropolitan Planning Post War Reconstruction Planning?X 1970s Growth Centre & Metropolitan Planning of 1970s: Opportunity Lost Metropolitan Planning Challenges for Traditional Land Use Planning 1970s Growth Centres Planning 4

5 Traditional Forms of Planning (Spatial Planning) Selected Shortcomings of Traditional Land Use Planning Master Plan.. blind faith! Physical Planning Land Use Planning Town Planning City Planning Town and Country Planning Urban and Regional Planning City and Regional Planning Ø Ø Ø physical and design bias urban and economic efficiency focus (lack of rural & regional focus) Lack of suitable philosophical perspective to address emergent ecological, environmental and natural resource management issues Ø Lack of science input The Long Standing Challenge Addressing the Science Planning Hiatus Strategic planning needs to be based on a better understanding of local and regional physical, social and economic environments in Australia s coastal zone, and this information must provide the basis for planning and managing of development Graham in RAC, 1993:96 Biophysical Science Science Civic Science* (incl Indigenous knowledge) Social Science How should we address the hiatus between science and planning Planning lack of information and poor communication channels between scientists and managers HORSCERA, 1991: 42 *Civic Science = Local knowledge and Indigenous knowledge 5

6 Underpinning Philosophy: Sustainable Development Contemporary Planning Era (1990s - present). the paths of economic, social, environmental and political progress that aim to meet to needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs Published: 1987 Sustainable development aims to provide for the social and economic needs of society while protecting environmental resources and values for the future (after Randolph, 2004) Integrated Planning Act 1997 as amended Embedding ESD into contemporary Planning Legislation Sustainable Planning Act 2009 as amended Queensland Planning Act 2018 as amended Current Planning Legislation Queensland Planning Act 2018 as amended The purpose of this Act is to establish an efficient, effective, transparent, integrated, coordinated, and accountable system of land use planning, development assessment and related matters that facilitates the achievement of ecological sustainability. Relevant Highlights: Ecological sustainability underpins Act; Balances ecological processes and natural systems with economic development and the maintenance of cultural, economic, physical and social wellbeing of people and communities at regional levels; Seeks diverse, efficient, resilient and strong economies, including regional economies; and Formalises regional planning. 6

7 Embrace Towards Best Practice Planning (operationalising the legislative intent) Planning with Nature (Ecosystems management in ecological units - eg catchments [drainage basins, watersheds], bioregions) A Landscape (Ecological) Planning Approach Ian McHarg: Design with Nature 1969 Geographical Information Systems (GIS): contemporary technological approaches to McHarg s overlays 7

8 Planning Support or Automated Planning Adopt a Science informed planning approach (Evidence based) A Science Informed Planning Approach Acknowledge a Climate Sciences Citizen Sciences Indigenous Knowledge Physical Sciences Biological Sciences Water Sciences Socio-economic Sciences Technological Sciences -led Planning approach (science informing planning values including community input) 8

9 Relationships between Landscapes, & Community Goals of Liveability Societal Landscape Attributes Environmental Social influence Community (Environmental) protection for a desire for Liveability Community Economic Community (Landscape) Indigenous Landscape [Indigenous Landscapes] Rural Production [Good Quality Agricultural Land] Cultural Heritage [Legacy Landscapes] Outdoor Recreation [Nature Based Recreation] Ecosystem Services [Supporting Landscapes] Biodiversity [Protected Landscapes] Scenic Amenity [Viewed Landscapes] Habitation [Multiple Settlements] a contested landscape Embrace a community engagement approach (Incorporating community values) 9

10 Plan with the Community Informing Consulting Involving Collaborating Empowering Stronger & Consistent Leadership Increasing level of engagement and community influence Source: IAP2 Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Concluding Current COAG Councils: 1.? Federal Financial Relations Council; 2. Disability Reform Council; 3. Transport and Infrastructure Council; 4. Energy Council; 5. Industry and Skills Council; 6. Law, Crime and Community Safety Council; 7. Education Council; and 8. Health Council Comments The Transport and Infrastructure Council will play a key role in progressing infrastructure reforms to boost productivity. 10

11 Best Practice Science Informed Land Use Planning 1. Acknowledge a values-led planning approach (incorporate community viewpoints) 2. Incorporate a science informed ( evidence based ) planning approach Thank You 3. Make maximum use of science (incorporate into planning) 4. Plan with high levels of community engagement 5. Incorporate an adaptive management framework (plan for uncertainty and evolving science) 11