Students

GEOP2080 – Planning and Development

2021 – Session 1, Special circumstances, North Ryde

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor & lecturer
Linda Kelly
linda.kelly@mq.edu.au
25B WW room B443
Mon - Wed
Lecturer
Miriam Williams
miriam.williams@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
GEOP1040
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit examines the relationship between planning and development, with particular reference to NSW. This is a practice-based unit and provides an introduction to the legal basis for development approvals, various development consent pathways, an analysis of development assessment, and plans that provide the framework for assessment, such as State environmental planning policies, local environmental plans, development control plans. Students will learn to interpret plans and development proposals and understand how controls affect built outcomes.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Apply critical thinking and practical experience in the field of planning and development.
  • ULO2: Apply skills in the theory and practice of development assessment process in NSW.
  • ULO3: Apply a basic understanding of planning law and relevant planning instruments to development assessment.
  • ULO4: Use plan reading and evaluation skills to solve development problems.

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Penalty

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved,

(a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and

(b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

Presentation expectation

  • Assessment tasks (excluding quizzes) should be properly referenced using the Harvard system of referencing.
  • Text should be a minimum of 11 point font and line spacing 1.5.
  • When using images, cite the source, provide a label, and refer to them in your text.
  • Proof read your work at least twice.
  • Use Australian English.

Academic integrity

You are encouraged to complete the University iLearn Academic Integrity Module which can be accessed via the unit iLearn site. A link to the Academic Integrity Policy is provided on iLearn as well as in the Policies and Procedures section of this Guide. Individual feedback to students will be provided via Turnitin.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
In-class Assessment 30% No 12/3/21; 22/3/21; 2/4/21
Planning Panels 40% No 3/5/2021
Development project evaluation 30% No 1/6/2021

In-class Assessment

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 13 hours
Due: 12/3/21; 22/3/21; 2/4/21
Weighting: 30%

In-class activities that monitor student engagement and understanding such as online quizzes and reflective activities.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply critical thinking and practical experience in the field of planning and development.
  • Apply skills in the theory and practice of development assessment process in NSW.
  • Apply a basic understanding of planning law and relevant planning instruments to development assessment.
  • Use plan reading and evaluation skills to solve development problems.

Planning Panels

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 3/5/2021
Weighting: 40%

A written report (1700 words) that documents the process of assessment and determining a development at a local planning panel.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply skills in the theory and practice of development assessment process in NSW.
  • Apply critical thinking and practical experience in the field of planning and development.
  • Apply a basic understanding of planning law and relevant planning instruments to development assessment.

Development project evaluation

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 1/6/2021
Weighting: 30%

A written evaluation (1500 words) of a real world project.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply critical thinking and practical experience in the field of planning and development.
  • Use plan reading and evaluation skills to solve development problems.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

This unit is taught with a combination of pre-recorded lectures; an on campus studio/workshop format in weeks 1 - 4 and 7 - 8; as well as synchronous teaching using Zoom on the other weeks.

It is designed to develop some of the hands on skills you will need as a practicing planner. You will develop skills and acquire knowledge from this unit most effectively by regular attendance.

There are no texts for this unit, however, readings and other resources will be posted on iLearn under the topic headings.

Unit Schedule

Weekly topics to be covered include:

  1. Introduction to unit

  2. Legal framework for planning

  3. Statutory planning I (NSW environmental planning instruments)

  4. Understanding density

  5. Statutory planning II (NSW local environmental plans)

  6. Statutory planning III (Approval pathways)

  7. Development assessment

  8. Place making

  9. Infrastructure & transport

  10. Heritage

  11. Planning for diversity

  12. The right to the city

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2021.02 of the Handbook