1. Development Proposal Review.
This assessment comprises two parts: a presentation and a one page summary.
Presentation Length: 12 P/P slides and/or 10 minutes maximum accompanied by 1 page handout (enough copies for all the class).
Date: Saturday 18 October

Select a development proposal with which you are familiar or which is currently before a local Council of your choice and prepare a verbal presentation accompanied by a power-point presentation. A topical, interesting or controversial case study example will be rewarded. The development you select must not be determined (finalized). Selection of your proposal must be made without delay to maximise the opportunity to follow the development approval process through all of its steps over the semester. That said, the development that you choose may not be determined (finalized) over this period. This is not a disadvantage to your assessment. Please choose a development within the Sydney Region (preferably within a 20km radius of CBD) to make a site visit possible. Confirm your chosen development with the course convenor as soon as possible to avoid duplication among class members. Students may not collaborate on proposals.
The Development Proposal Presentation must include a description of your chosen development and canvas the characteristics of the proposal, the legal and procedural context, and the attitudes of all the stakeholders/parties to the proposal. Consider using a SWOT analysis to examine the environmental and social outcomes for the developer, the Council, the community and the environment. Include a past and predictive time-line of events in your presentation.
Please prepare a short 10 minute (12 slides max) presentation to be uploaded to iLearn no later than the date of the presentation. The presentation should be accompanied by a 1 page handout summarizing the development for each class member. Use of visual aids for the oral presentations is important – your audience needs to be able to see the site in the form of maps, photographs and/or slides. You may combine power-point, slides, overheads and a display as necessary. All students will be required to present on Day 4, Saturday 18 October 2014. The presentations will be peer and self–reviewed.

The aim of this assessment is for students to develop an awareness of development and the local government approvals process through a case study analysis and to develop writing and presentation skills.

Part 2: All students will be involved in a peer-review of the presentations of Part A of the development proposal review. Each student will be reviewed using an assessment template. In addition, each student will self-review using the same template. The marks will be averaged and marks equivalent to 100% will be mediated against the convenor’s assessment.

Attend a hearing in the Land and Environment Court and a meeting of a local council of your choice.
The Land & Environment Court hearing must be a development related matter; cases are listed in advance and information on the sitting schedule for that week can be obtained by checking the web. Check with the convenor if you are unsure of the relevance of the chosen hearing. The first or last day of a hearing are usually the most useful.

Similarly, attend a council meeting which is discussing a development related matter. Councils usually have more than one type of meeting. You need to check the council’s website to determine which type of meeting hears development related matters. They are usually property or planning meetings. Advance notice of the agenda for each council meeting is available on the council web page.

You are responsible for identifying these matters It is most likely that you will have two separate, unrelated matters.

Prepare a poster using powerpoint to report on the Land & Environment Court hearing and the local council meeting including:
• a brief summary of the case before the court and of the development related matters in a case before council;
• the range of stakeholders involved and their relative standing;
• an evaluation of the relative emphasis on procedural versus merit issues;
• the consideration of environmental, social and economic issues in the case.
• a comparative summary

Consider clear and effective methods of communicating the comparative information in poster format. The role of summary boxes, comparative tables, pictures, maps and graphics need to be carefully considered.

Upload a copy (pdf is fine) through iLearn on 19 September 2014

Bring a hardcopy A1 or A0 size to class on 18 October 2014.

The aim of this assessment is to assess student’s ability to critically observe and reflect on real developments and planning practice, and to practice presentation skills.

Students will be required to assess a current development application. Copies of the relevant materials and a site visit will be provided. The assessment has been designed so that a student could use the results as part of their career portfolio.

The assessment is to be no more than 10 pages in length (3000 words). Students are encouraged to view similar reports available on the websites of councils. Full details, including an assessment guide, will be provided to the students. Information regarding this assessment will be made available through the iLearn site.

This essay will require the students to identify, analyse and discuss the NSW planning reforms. This essay will accord students an opportunity to illustrate their understanding of planning processes in NSW and planning approval processes in general. Further details of the requirements of this essay will be provided.

Planning practice includes the regular reading of plans and maps. GSE816 students will be required to undertake a number of tasks through iLearn. More information will be provided during class and through iLearn.