Students

GEOP370 – Urban Strategic Planning

2018 – S1 Day

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
Contact via email
W3A 433
Lecturer/tutor
Ashraful Alam
ashraful.alam@mq.edu.au
W3A 429
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
(39cp at 100 level or above) including (ENVG281 or GEOS280 or GEOS281 or GEOP181)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
Designed to be a planning applications unit, this unit focuses on urban strategic planning at the regional and local government level, drawing on existing strategic plans at both levels of government in the Australian context. This unit allows students to develop practical skills for urban strategic planning, while also drawing on recent academic research published in major academic journals. On completion of this unit students will know how to approach urban strategic planning as an inter-agency/intra-department process. They will also have gained practice experience in assessing the scope of issues covered in urban strategic plans and the keys to effective strategy development.

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:

  • A clear understanding of the underlying principles of urban strategic planning and plan making
  • A sound appreciation of urban strategic planning in the recent NSW context
  • An understanding of the role of urban strategic planning and plan implementation in shaping our cities.
  • A capacity to research and apply current academic literature to urban strategic planning issues.
  • A sound understanding of how to develop an urban strategic plan.
  • Experience in working as a team in urban strategic planning

General Assessment Information

Late Submission 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 (including weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

Assessment tasks are designed to ensure you are learning during the unit. Please let the unit convenor know as soon as possible if you need clarification about the expectations for each task. Some general information:

  • All assessment tasks must be submitted in order to pass this unit
  • All assignments should be properly referenced using the Harvard system of referencing.
  • Text should be a minimum of 11 point font, 2 cm margins and line spacing of 1.5.
  • When using images and diagrams always cite the source, provide a label, and refer to them in your text.
  • Proof read your work at least twice.
  • Use Australian English.
  • Assessment tasks 1 and 3 should be submitted via Turnitin.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Greater Sydney Commission 20% No 19 March Week 4
Community video 30% No 1 May Week 8
Preparing a strategic plan 40% No 8 June Week 13
Attendance & Participation 10% No throughout semester

Greater Sydney Commission

Due: 19 March Week 4
Weighting: 20%

This assessment requires you to write a 1,500 essay about the role of the Greater Sydney Commission (GSC) and reflect on its successes, influence and effectiveness in planning for Sydney. Matters to consider in your essay include:

  • What is the GSC, its role, key players and the legislation that supports it?
  • Select a (draft) District Plan within greater metropolitan Sydney and provide a snapshot of what’s planned for housing in that District.
  • Reflect on the effectiveness of the GSC to date, with reference to commentary in the media and other published critical evaluation.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • A sound appreciation of urban strategic planning in the recent NSW context
  • An understanding of the role of urban strategic planning and plan implementation in shaping our cities.
  • A capacity to research and apply current academic literature to urban strategic planning issues.

Community video

Due: 1 May Week 8
Weighting: 30%

You are to imagine that you are working for an organisation which has decided to prepare an urban strategic plan addressing one of these issues:

1. street verge community planting 

2. making spaces in the city for pets 

3. graffiti management in Surry Hills 

4. dockless bike hire schemes 

Choose an issue from the above list and prepare a three minute video which would be part of a community consultation strategy that is aimed at engaging the community in participating in the preparation of the plan. You want to motivate the public to want to know more about the project and ask them for their ideas.

Your video would begin by explaining the decision of your organisation to prepare the plan, what the plan means and the issues that would be covered. You would finish with a "call to action". 

This assessment is not to test your film making and editing skills but rather to get you to experiment with different media for community consultation. I would expect that you would speak in the video and utilise an appropriate background or images to keep your viewers' attention. Background music or other sounds could be used. These videos will be posted on You Tube (unlisted setting) and shown in class  in week 8 for discussion.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • A clear understanding of the underlying principles of urban strategic planning and plan making
  • An understanding of the role of urban strategic planning and plan implementation in shaping our cities.
  • A sound understanding of how to develop an urban strategic plan.

Preparing a strategic plan

Due: 8 June Week 13
Weighting: 40%

This assessment requires you to prepare a plan for Bankstown civic area. As a class we will visit the area and meet with local planners. You will work in a group in class time to develop the aims/objectives of the plan. The parts of the Plan will be divided into group work and individual student work as follows:

CHAPTER GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL WORD LIMIT Introduction & Background Group 700 Objectives Group 300 Connectivity Individual 1,000 Accessibility Individual 1,000 Community Individual 1,000 Resilience Individual 1,000 Recommendations Group 500

The finalisation and presentation of the document shall be undertaken as a group. The group mark will be 15%.

The assessable mark on the individual student's own work on the chapter of the plan will be 25%.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • A clear understanding of the underlying principles of urban strategic planning and plan making
  • A sound appreciation of urban strategic planning in the recent NSW context
  • An understanding of the role of urban strategic planning and plan implementation in shaping our cities.
  • A capacity to research and apply current academic literature to urban strategic planning issues.
  • A sound understanding of how to develop an urban strategic plan.
  • Experience in working as a team in urban strategic planning

Attendance & Participation

Due: throughout semester
Weighting: 10%

You are expected to attend at least 90% of all scheduled classes. The unit is being taught involving you in active learning which will require you to participate in activities in each session. The activities are designed to provide you with essential skills for working as a planner. In order to achieve maximum marks for this assessment it will not be sufficient to simply turn up, you will need to demonstrate engagement and participation. Attendance will be recorded at each class. Failure to attend will impact upon other assessments as well as your mark for this component.

4 marks out of 10 will be allocated to your attendance, and 6 out of 10 will be allocated to participation in class activities and discussion.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • A clear understanding of the underlying principles of urban strategic planning and plan making
  • A sound appreciation of urban strategic planning in the recent NSW context
  • An understanding of the role of urban strategic planning and plan implementation in shaping our cities.
  • A sound understanding of how to develop an urban strategic plan.
  • Experience in working as a team in urban strategic planning

Delivery and Resources

GEOP370 will be taught in a three hour weekly session. The Unit Schedule below provides detail of the topics to be covered. The first part of the class will generally be in a lecture format followed by a tutorial or practical session developing planning skills. There will be a series of self-directed site visits as well as a class site visit to Bankstown.

Recommended texts for this unit are:

Stein, L (2017) Comparative Urban Land Use Planning: Best Practice, Sydney University Press, Sydney.

Jackson, S, Porter, L, and Johnson, L.C (2017), Planning in Indigenous Australia, Routledge, NY

Gurran, N., 2011 Australian urban land use planning: principles, systems and practice, Sydney University Press, Sydney.

The following websites contain material that will be referenced in the unit:

www.planning.nsw.gov.au

www.legislation.nsw.gov.au

 

Unit Schedule

2pm - 5pm Tuesdays in Room E5A 170

Week

Date

Lecture topic

Tutorial

Assessment

1

27 FEB

Introduction to unit and assessments

What is strategic planning?

What do you already know about Sydney?

 

2

6 MAR

Influential urbanists

Strategic planning in NSW

Walkability

 

3

13 MAR

State and local policy and plans

Student presentations - Walkability

Mapping skills - representation & symbolism

 

4

20 MAR

Site visit - Department of Planning & Environment

Gary White: Chief Planner

Observing the everyday - city

Assessment 1 due

5

27 MAR

Building evidence for strategic plans

Student presentations - Observing the everyday

Mapping skills

 

6

3 APR

Site visit Marrickville

Land use survey

 

7

10 APR

Local strategic planning

Site visit Bankstown

 

 

 

MID SEMSTER BREAK

 

 

8

1 MAY

 

Student  video presentations 

Assessment 2 due

9

8 MAY

Strategic planning - perspectives and examples

Writing objectives

 

10

15 MAY

Planning Proposals

Group work - site planning and community engagement

 

11

22 MAY

Planning workshop

Developing a design brief and plan

12

29 MAY

Testing a plan 

Feedback and planning responses

 

13

5 JUN

 Unit overview

 

 Assessment 3 due

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

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

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results shown in iLearn, 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.

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 improve your marks and take control of your study.

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

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.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • A capacity to research and apply current academic literature to urban strategic planning issues.

Assessment task

  • Preparing a strategic plan

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • A clear understanding of the underlying principles of urban strategic planning and plan making
  • A sound appreciation of urban strategic planning in the recent NSW context
  • An understanding of the role of urban strategic planning and plan implementation in shaping our cities.
  • A capacity to research and apply current academic literature to urban strategic planning issues.
  • A sound understanding of how to develop an urban strategic plan.
  • Experience in working as a team in urban strategic planning

Assessment tasks

  • Greater Sydney Commission
  • Community video
  • Preparing a strategic plan
  • Attendance & Participation

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • A clear understanding of the underlying principles of urban strategic planning and plan making
  • An understanding of the role of urban strategic planning and plan implementation in shaping our cities.
  • A sound understanding of how to develop an urban strategic plan.

Assessment tasks

  • Community video
  • Preparing a strategic plan
  • Attendance & Participation

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • A clear understanding of the underlying principles of urban strategic planning and plan making
  • A sound appreciation of urban strategic planning in the recent NSW context
  • An understanding of the role of urban strategic planning and plan implementation in shaping our cities.
  • A capacity to research and apply current academic literature to urban strategic planning issues.
  • Experience in working as a team in urban strategic planning

Assessment tasks

  • Greater Sydney Commission
  • Community video
  • Preparing a strategic plan
  • Attendance & Participation

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Experience in working as a team in urban strategic planning

Assessment tasks

  • Community video
  • Preparing a strategic plan
  • Attendance & Participation

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • An understanding of the role of urban strategic planning and plan implementation in shaping our cities.

Assessment tasks

  • Community video
  • Preparing a strategic plan
  • Attendance & Participation

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • A sound understanding of how to develop an urban strategic plan.

Assessment tasks

  • Community video
  • Preparing a strategic plan
  • Attendance & Participation