Students

GSE 818 – Environmental Planning

2013 – S1 Evening

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Peter Davies
peter.davies@mq.edu.au
Contact via peter.davies@mq.edu.au
609 E7A
Credit points Credit points
4
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MEnv or PGDipEnv or PGCertEnv or MEnvEd or PGDipEnvEd or PGCertEnvEd or MEngMgt or MEnvMgt or PGCertEnvMgt or MEnvStud or PGDipEnvStud or MEnvPlan or MEnvSc or MSusDev or PGDipSusDev or PGCertSusDev or MWldMgt or PGDipWldMgt or PGCertWldMgt or MMarScMgt or MSc in Remote Sensing and GIS or PGDipSc in Remote Sensing and GIS or PGCertSc in Remote Sensing and GIS
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit gives students a detailed understanding of the origins and current issues that structure practice in environmental planning. Students are introduced to the history of planning and its intersection with environmental thought. By the end of the unit students will be able to recognise different theories of planning; identify the structure of planning systems; show how current issues such as climate change impinge on planning; and produce a professional planning communication document.

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:

  • Provide a substantive explanation of what is meant by environmental planning
  • Understand and critically assess structures of urban governance, decision-making, and funding for land use and infrastructure planning
  • Identify ways of effectively working with stakeholders with differing objectives
  • Understand how environmental planning policies are developed at a local, regional and metropolitan scale
  • Gained presentation skills for briefing industry peers.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Origins of planning policy 25% March 26
Planning policy and regulation 35% May 21
Poster and presentation 30% weeks 4-12
Class participation 10% ongoing

Origins of planning policy

Due: March 26
Weighting: 25%


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Provide a substantive explanation of what is meant by environmental planning
  • Understand and critically assess structures of urban governance, decision-making, and funding for land use and infrastructure planning
  • Identify ways of effectively working with stakeholders with differing objectives
  • Understand how environmental planning policies are developed at a local, regional and metropolitan scale

Planning policy and regulation

Due: May 21
Weighting: 35%


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Provide a substantive explanation of what is meant by environmental planning
  • Understand and critically assess structures of urban governance, decision-making, and funding for land use and infrastructure planning
  • Identify ways of effectively working with stakeholders with differing objectives
  • Understand how environmental planning policies are developed at a local, regional and metropolitan scale

Poster and presentation

Due: weeks 4-12
Weighting: 30%


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Provide a substantive explanation of what is meant by environmental planning
  • Understand how environmental planning policies are developed at a local, regional and metropolitan scale
  • Gained presentation skills for briefing industry peers.

Class participation

Due: ongoing
Weighting: 10%


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Provide a substantive explanation of what is meant by environmental planning
  • Gained presentation skills for briefing industry peers.

Delivery and Resources

Classes: GSE818 is available in internal mode in Semester 1. Attendance and participation in workshops are compulsory.   

Lectures and Tutorials: Monday 6.00pm-9.00pm (3 hours) Room: EMC - G230

Required and recommended reading: There are a number of general texts covering the subject matter of this course, and the important ones are listed below. None is required to be purchased by students.

It is, however, highly recommended that you a general one of the general texts on environmental planning and law such as:

Farrier, D. and Stein, P, 2011 The Environmental Law Handbook (5th edition) Redfern UNSW Sydney, or

 Lyster R., Lipman. Z., Franklin. N., Wiffen. G., Pearson. L, 2009 Environmental and Planning Law in New South Wales, Federation Press.

 Students will be required to access key NSW legislative provisions covered in the unit:

·         Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, 1979 as amended;

·         Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation, 2000.

Copies of this legislation (including all amendments) are available at: http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au. 

The Department of Planning and Infrastructure web site is also an important reference point http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au.

A Reader has been prepared for the course provides copies and or references to other key readings that students will need to complete to participate in tutorials.

Technology used and required

Access to the Internet and regular access to the unit’s ILearn website is recommended in GSE818. ILearn will be used to communicate with students outside of class, provide links to relevant information and legislation, and post updates on assessments and other tasks. 

Unit Schedule

Wk

Date

Lectures

Tutorials/Assessment Dates

1

25 Feb

 

Introduction to environmental planning

Assignment 1 Preparation

Assignment 3 discussion

2

4  Mar

 

Sustainable development  and sustainable cities

Planning decision-making

 

 3

 11  Mar

Statutory and strategic planning  in NSW

The NSW Context and Recent Changes

4

18 Mar

 

Impact assessment and participation process

Designing a community survey

5

25 Mar

 

Water and catchment planning

Applying the neutral or beneficial effect test

Assessment 1 Due (26 March)

6

1  April

EASTER MONDAY

No lectures of tutorials

7

8 April

Transport planning

 

8

29 April

Conservation of green spaces and biodiversity planning

Using PowerPoint to prepare a poster.

 9

 6 May

Bushfire protection

Bushfire protection case study

10

 13 May

Mining and land use conflicts 

 

11

 20 May

 

Climate change adaptation and public policy: a local government perspectives

Negotiation Role Play on adaptation planning

Assessment 2 Due (21 May)

12

27 May

 

Land NSW Land and Environment Court

Presentation of remaining posters and presentations

 

13

3  June

Planning reforms  and the new planning Act

Presentation of remaining posters and presentations

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy  http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/special_consideration/policy.html

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of Academic Student Support Services. Details of these services can be accessed at: http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

UniWISE provides:

  • Online learning resources and academic skills workshops http://www.students.mq.edu.au/support/learning_skills/
  • Personal assistance with your learning & study related questions.
  • The Learning Help Desk is located in the Library foyer (level 2).
  • Online and on-campus orientation events run by Mentors@Macquarie.

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

Details of these services can be accessed at http://www.student.mq.edu.au/ses/.

IT Help

If you wish to receive IT help, we would be glad to assist you at http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/. 

When using the university's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students and it outlines what can be done.

Graduate Capabilities

PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills

Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Provide a substantive explanation of what is meant by environmental planning
  • Understand and critically assess structures of urban governance, decision-making, and funding for land use and infrastructure planning
  • Identify ways of effectively working with stakeholders with differing objectives
  • Gained presentation skills for briefing industry peers.

Assessment tasks

  • Origins of planning policy
  • Planning policy and regulation
  • Class participation

PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Provide a substantive explanation of what is meant by environmental planning
  • Understand and critically assess structures of urban governance, decision-making, and funding for land use and infrastructure planning
  • Identify ways of effectively working with stakeholders with differing objectives
  • Gained presentation skills for briefing industry peers.

Assessment tasks

  • Planning policy and regulation
  • Class participation

PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability

Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Assessment task

  • Planning policy and regulation

PG - Effective Communication

Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify ways of effectively working with stakeholders with differing objectives
  • Gained presentation skills for briefing industry peers.

Assessment tasks

  • Poster and presentation
  • Class participation

PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens

Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify ways of effectively working with stakeholders with differing objectives
  • Gained presentation skills for briefing industry peers.

Assessment task

  • Poster and presentation

PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative

Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Provide a substantive explanation of what is meant by environmental planning
  • Identify ways of effectively working with stakeholders with differing objectives

Assessment tasks

  • Origins of planning policy
  • Planning policy and regulation
  • Poster and presentation