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GEOP6070 – Urban Dynamics: Population, Housing and Regeneration

2024 – Session 2, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor, Lecturer
Elizabeth Adamczyk
elizabeth.adamczyk@mq.edu.au
WWB210
By appointment
Lecturer
Alistair Sisson
alistair.sisson@mq.edu.au
NA
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MPlan or MEnv or MSusDev or GradDipEnv or GradCertEnv
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
GEOP2070
Unit description Unit description

This unit explores some of the key drivers of urbanisation across Australia and the globe. The focus here is threefold. First, population dynamics are examined. The unit explores the role of population change (fertility, mortality, migration and ageing) in influencing the growth and structure of our cities. Second, the role of housing as a central element of urban change and urban planning policy is explored. Students will examine issues of housing affordability, social and community housing options, and the role of home ownership and private rental in Australian cities. The unit analyses new forms of housing delivery, such as urban renewal and regeneration, which provide opportunities to address the housing crisis facing many of our cities. Finally, the unit investigates processes of urban regeneration across Australian cities. The unit explores the drivers behind large regeneration projects, as well as the policies and development processes which deliver them on the ground. Central to the unit is the exploration of possible policy responses (including urban planning and broader social and economic policy) for addressing many of the challenges facing our cities. Students will develop an understanding of how population and housing processes shape cities.

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:

  • ULO2: Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the concepts, definitions and measures underpinning processes of urban change.
  • ULO3: Analyse population and housing data at the urban scale.
  • ULO1: Identify the demographic, housing and urban regeneration processes driving urban change in Australia and internationally.
  • ULO4: Critically evaluate the role of urban planning in addressing contemporary urban problems.

General Assessment Information

Assignment requirements and submission

Detailed requirements and marking rubrics for each assessment are available on the iLearn site. All written assignments should be submitted online to Turnitin via the relevant links provided in iLearn.

You are not required to submit a hardcopy of any assignments or include a cover sheet.

Assessment extensions and late penalties

Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. Circumstances that affect your ability to complete assignments by the deadline must be discussed with the Convenor (Liz) prior to the due date. Extensions will be granted only in unforeseen or exceptional circumstances according to the University Special Consideration policy. Students must apply online via AskMQ and provide appropriate supporting documentation (e.g. medical certificate).

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of '0' (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. This late penalty will apply to non-time sensitive assessment (incl. essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the Unit Convenor in a Special Consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic.

Assessment feedback

All feedback for assignments will be made available online.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Report 20% No Sunday Week 3 (Online)
Online quiz 30% No Sunday Weeks 5, 9, 12 (Online)
Research report 20% No Monday Week 9 (Online)
Essay 30% No Sunday Week 13 (Online)

Report

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Sunday Week 3 (Online)
Weighting: 20%

 

Students are required to produce a population profile of a sub-national region (1000 words). Drawing on ABS Census data, the report should explore the current demographic situation of the area as well as some of the major changes that have occurred in population over the past decade. Reports should critically evaluate the data available.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the concepts, definitions and measures underpinning processes of urban change.
  • Identify the demographic, housing and urban regeneration processes driving urban change in Australia and internationally.
  • Critically evaluate the role of urban planning in addressing contemporary urban problems.

Online quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Sunday Weeks 5, 9, 12 (Online)
Weighting: 30%

 

Three short quizzes will be conducted throughout the unit. Each test will focus on a specific element of the unit (Population, Housing, Regeneration)

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the concepts, definitions and measures underpinning processes of urban change.
  • Analyse population and housing data at the urban scale.
  • Identify the demographic, housing and urban regeneration processes driving urban change in Australia and internationally.
  • Critically evaluate the role of urban planning in addressing contemporary urban problems.

Research report

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Monday Week 9 (Online)
Weighting: 20%

 

Students are required to prepare a research report (1,500 words) on the housing experiences and expectation of university students.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the concepts, definitions and measures underpinning processes of urban change.
  • Analyse population and housing data at the urban scale.
  • Identify the demographic, housing and urban regeneration processes driving urban change in Australia and internationally.

Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Sunday Week 13 (Online)
Weighting: 30%

 

Students are required to write an essay (2,500 words) exploring the role of urban regeneration projects in shaping Australian cities.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the concepts, definitions and measures underpinning processes of urban change.
  • Analyse population and housing data at the urban scale.
  • Identify the demographic, housing and urban regeneration processes driving urban change in Australia and internationally.
  • Critically evaluate the role of urban planning in addressing contemporary urban 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

Each week students are expected to:

  1. Attend the lectures and work through associated online material and activities for the week (details available on iLearn),
  2. Complete assigned readings (available on Leganto),
  3. Participate in tutorials to undertake discussions and activities, and build knowledge and skills towards the successful completion of assessment tasks.

Students are required to complete all assessment tasks, and all components of assessment tasks, throughout the session.

The Unit Urban Dynamics, Housing and Regeneration (GEOP2070 / GEOP6070) uses a variety of resources for learning and teaching, including: the Unit iLearn page where slides and audio from lectures will be posted and discussion forums will be used, the Macquarie University Library for access to academic materials (peer reviewed publications, via Leganto), and the internet in general to access news and grey (policy) literature about, and discussions of, housing, population, and urban regeneration.

Students will be required to have access to digital technology and acess to iLearn to complete and submit assessments. The Unit will assist you in building skills for assessments. 

Unit Schedule

Week

Topic

Tutorial  

Assessment

Module 1: Population

1

Introduction to The Population System

No tutorial

Students should instead watch recorded lecture on Population Data (Available on Echo360)*

 

2

Fertility and Australian Fertility  

Population Data and Profiles

Tackling ABS Census data

 

3

Mortality and Morbidity

Population Dynamics

Is Sydney Overpopulated?

 

Tutorial Paper (due Sunday Week 3)

4

Drivers of Ageing

Population Policy

Policy and Planning for Population Growth

 

5

Migration and population dynamics

No tutorial

Quiz 1: Population (due Sunday, Week 5 - Material from Weeks 1-5 [*including Population Data Lecture])

Module 2: Housing

6

Housing and Home Ownership in Australia

Research Report:

Online students complete survey and answer questions in discussion forum by end of tutorial time (Wednesday 5pm)

  

7

Private Housing: Government Support and Private Rental

Use Value and Investment Value Australian home ownership

  

8

Understanding Social, Community, and Affordable Housing

Social or private housing?

Social Housing vs Private Rental

 

Mid semester break

9

Planning for Housing Australia: The Sub-urban nation?

No Tutorial

Research Report (due Monday, Week 9)

Quiz 2: Housing (due Sunday, Week 9 - Material from Weeks 6-9)

Module 3: Urban regeneration

10

Planning for Urban Regeneration, and Inner-City Regeneration

Brownfield regeneration

Economic catalyst or driver of inequality?

  

11

Social Housing Estate Regeneration

Estate regeneration  

Should social housing be regenerated?

 

12

Middle-Ring and Sub-urban Regeneration

Suburban regeneration  

Do Australian cities need to increase density?

Quiz 3: Regeneration (due Sunday, Week 12 - Material from Weeks 10-12)

Wrap Up

13

Urban Dynamics: Overlays and interconnections

No Tutorial

 

 

Essay (due Sunday Week 13)

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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

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

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

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

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

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 2024.01R of the Handbook