The AILA National Office has been informed of a range of stories on the implementation of the Commonwealth’s Stimulus Package for infrastructure as well as the school’s program.
We would like to gather together some of the feedback, positives and the other, on the roles of landscape architects in the processes as well as on the value of landscape being considered - and any and all other related matters or issues.
All this will be fed into our thinking for future national and state based advocacy.
The following is the AILA’s response which was also sent through to Minister Garrett with a request for an appointment to discuss the issues.
BEMP: Principles for Planning Sustainable Communities
The following is a response to the recent publication “Principles for Planning Sustainable Communities – Consultation Draft”, which was presented for audience discussion at the Built Environment Meets Parliament (BEMP) event held in Canberra on 12th August 2009.
As the document appears to have been presented (via this event) to the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts as a supposedly representative, industry-based consultative position on an issue of such national significance, The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) feels it is important to offer an alternative viewpoint for the Department’s consideration.
It is the AILA’s view that the BEMP: Principles for Planning Sustainable Communities could have been so much more - both in the manner in which it has been developed, as well as in the content it purports to convey as representative of the collected views of key stakeholder groups within the built environment, including design professionals.
To assist, key issues of concern have been detailed on the following pages:
LIMITED REPRESENTATIVE STATUS OF THE BEMP EVENT
The BEMP it is an event-based coalition of paying subscribers set up to lobby parliament at a particular time of the year on issues relating to the built environment.
As such it is not to be confused as being an organizational entity with the status or authority to devise and promote policy on behalf of either industry or built environment design professionals as a whole.
The absence of any clear consultative process for the development of the BEMP: Principles for Planning Sustainable Communities further undermines the credibility of the stated ‘industry-representative’ nature of the views expressed therein. This is a lost opportunity, resulting in a flawed document.
CONSULTATIVE PROCESS OF DOCUMENT DEVELOPMENT
The document, despite being labelled ‘Consultation Draft”, does not appear to have been produced with reference to a clear consultative process. It does not specify either the consultation framework within which it was developed, nor avenues for key built environment stakeholder groups to engage in review or analysis of what has been proposed.
Stakeholder engagement is a fundamental principle of any planning process, and indeed is even quoted as a “Model Planning Framework Principle” itself (“Principle 3 - Maximise civic engagement – strategic planning must advance community participation and civic engagement”, page 8. ) – yet it appears that this entire document has been generated without the most basic methodology of stakeholder consultation.
SYSTEMS THINKING METHODOLOGY
The lack of an underpinning consultation strategy in developing this document is immediately apparent in the limitations of its structural approach and content.
While there is emerging national and international consensus amongst built environment design professionals on the need for broader-scale, big-picture systems thinking when developing planning strategies for sustainable communities of the future, the BEMP: Principles for Planning Sustainable Communities unfortunately reflects none of this current awareness.
The ‘targeted performance indicators’ outlined in the BEMP document (pg. 13) propose a range of sustainability parameters - albeit extremely limited and poorly defined - which collectively determine sustainable communities for ‘urban areas’, classifying them under headings as either ‘environmental’, ‘social’, ‘economic’ or ‘governance’ issues.
The structure of the proposed strategic framework appears to infer that by simply ‘measuring’ individual indicators, performance benchmarks & targets can be established against which progress towards ‘sustainability’ can subsequently simply be ‘added up’.
If only planning sustainable communities was that simple.
Unfortunately, however, the challenges involved operate across much broader spatial scales, and encompass far more dynamically complex expressions of built form:
“Human settlement in Australia occurs in small, large and also in sprawling interconnected communities. Individual communities may be in decline. They may be about to expand and join-up in a spate of rapid growth (as may happen on our eastern coastal strip). The size of a community may be inversely related to the size of its relative ecological footprint, or the damage caused to inhabitants – depending on its prevailing form of livelihood, sensitivity of environmental features, the specific impact of climate change there, and other sustainability parameters.
It is thus a narrow view to consider that the challenges of sustainable settlement in Australia relate only to so-called urban development.”
What the BEMP proposed framework does not accommodate is the complex reality of how sustainability influences interact with each other across a range of landscape scales and settlement types.
For example, how decision-making concerning energy, waste, water, transport, green infrastructure, public space & residential communities both impacts upon and is influenced by environmental, social, economic and governance conditions at site, neighbourhood, metropolitan, regional and national levels.
It also does not acknowledge that a collaboratively-based, integrative process designed to understand and creatively manage the dynamic nature of these interrelationships is crucial to developing meaningful, long term sustainability solutions for future communities.
The framework as set out in the BEMP document lacks any mechanism to examine the linkages and connections across different settlement scales between sustainability parameters.
Even more critically the document fails to acknowledge the role of design, technology and innovation in addressing the urgent challenges of retrofitting existing human settlements as well as creating sustainable communities of the future.
A ‘PRINCIPLED’ APPROACH TO SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES?
The stated objective of the BEMP: Principles for Planning Sustainable Communities is “to provide a model, principles-based framework about the shape and form that strategic plans for cities and our communities should take.” (pg. 4).
The term ‘principle’ is commonly defined as an important underlying assumption; a proposition which forms the basis of reasoning or action; a fundamental tenet or truth, etc.
As such, this document could reasonably be expected to articulate the critical values and aspirations which should underpin decision-making on the shape and form of sustainable communities of the future.
Unfortunately the BEMP document assiduously avoids this central issue, choosing to focus virtually exclusively on process and governance issues. As a result, its potential applicability and relevance to broader sustainability outcomes is immeasurably diminished.
It is AILA’s considered position that,at the most fundamental level, a principles-based framework for sustainable communities should rigorously address the essential reality that human settlements are complex, evolving social-ecological systems which are dependent on the health of their associated natural environments for ongoing sustainability.
There are many examples of values-based approaches to planning which respect this basic interdependence and seek to build on its value for future generations – the Melbourne ‘Principles for Sustainable Cities’ provides an excellent Australian model, for example (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne_Principles).
The BEMP strategy would have been greatly assisted by referring to such approaches as part of a genuinely collaborative engagement process with the wide range of key stakeholders interested in promoting the development of truly sustainable outcomes within the context of the Australian built environment.
The AILA National Conference in Melbourne will be using the Australian Landscape Principles as the basis for the discussions on the future of professional practice. The Australian Landscape Principles have been developed as a strategic response to this issue, based on respect for the inherent and measurable values of landscape when developing planning, design and management strategies for climate change adaptation in our natural and built environments.
At least one practice will be interrogating their own practice for their presentation at the conference and discussing the issues of ethics in their decision making and in their project work.
The question for all members: Have you conducted such an assessment recently? Have you any thoughts on conducting this kind of in-house study? or any other comments on the future of the profession and the use of the Landscape Principles ?
Hello ex-QUT students and lecturers BAS/BBE(LA) 1989-91 and GDLA 1993-94!!!
Former student, Walter Van Der Loo is travelling from far flung Perth to attend the AILA national conference in Melbourne in May and thinks it’s about time for a catch-up with former uni buddies.
Anyone interested in getting together to reminisce the old days and generally catch-up and have a larf can contact Walter on walter.vanderloo@edaw.com
Clearly, it’s a special experience to come away from an exhibition feeling excited and that you have learnt something.
It’s even more so when the exhibition is a landscape students’ graduation exhibition!
It’s so exciting to see projects that amaze and challenge all of us.
Truly, there is not a shadow of doubt that these students will set a cracking pace in many directions for landscape architecture. These comments were prompted after I saw Switch 08, the University of Adelaide’s Masters of Landscape Architecture and Masters of Architecture exhibition.
Common Ground by Johnny McIntyre, proposes a new engagement process with aboriginal communities that considers how by listening, balancing opinions and being respectful, new planning and design outcomes can be achieved.
Breathing Space and Circulation of the Landscape by Amy Smith and Amelia Brereton, both deal with the plight of the Murray Lakes and the Coorong.
These projects consider how human intervention and engineering can be mediated through landscape design processes to create sustainable environments for the future.
Jason Avery’s Skinscape used the healing properties of the flesh as an intriguing metaphor for the repair of the scarred landscapes of regional Wallaroo.
International projects range from the redevelopment of Copenhagen harbour and the creation of new suburbs for Singapore to the islands of Hong Kong with Dandelion, Xin Xin Yu’s sensitive adaptation of Tai O Island through a study of seasonal changes that affect the environmental, social and cultural ebb and flow of the land.
Su Sien Wong proposed an exciting ‘exit strategy’ for the Royal Adelaide Hospital, while maintaining the vitality and urban fabric of the East End. Marion Chan challenged the conventional wisdom of the Adelaide Hills Face Zone in response to the current urban sprawl and future demand for housing in South Australia.
Adelaide 2018 by Alex Game, illustrated the potential for Adelaide to host the Commonwealth Games and how this event could be used a catalyst for the creation of a new urban context for the City. [I won’t offer any comment about the architectural students’ projects].
There is definitely something special happening amongst the landscape students at Adelaide Uni, and mention should be made of staff members: Tanya Court (Coordinator Landscape Architecture Program), Warwick Keats and Prof Nancy Pollock-Ellwand.
We are considering the marketability of a Graduate Certificate (4 units or subjects) in Conservation of Historic Landscapes, or something similar.
I know I would love be involved in teaching it! Is anyone interested in studying it?
I trained at the University of York (MA-Conservation Studies 1990) which has informed my practice as a heritage consultant and a teacher. Professor Gini Lee has joined us here at QUT and we would be the chief staff involved, with special appearances by other QUT staff as needed.
I envisage lots and lots of expert guest lecturers which was the model at York. We want to make it solidly practical with an emphasis on conservation plans prepared through design studios investigating REAL historic landscapes.
Interested anyone?
ELECTRONIC REFERENCE MATERIAL IN PLACE OF BOOKS TO AID WITH PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND FOR DETAILS ON LIKELY GROWTH HABIT, ETC. FOR LANDSCAPE PROJECTS
Hi!
We are investigating if there are any software books or reference material on DVD or CD or in dedicated pay for or free password accessible web sites out there which can be placed on the network for staff to access on this subject.
The product should show the botanical genus, species, subsp, var. cv, and common names etc. with coloured images of the plants generally and with if availabele bark, trunk, leaves, flowers, etc.
We are aware of “PlantFile” and of CSIRO’s “Eucalid” software so we are seeking any others out there for use in a networked office environment with a number of potential users.
Source and contact details and cost if any would also be useful.
I was recently talking about landscape architects and Heritage with Philip Palmer, one of our WA members, who has recently taken up a job with the National Trust WA.
Nationally we are wanting to identify those AILA members who are working in areas of heritage or cultural landscapes.
Are you in a practice that occasionally or most of the time specialises in this work, or are you working in these areas from within a government department or agency or a non-government organisation (national trust)? If so please make contact.
The AILA national council is considering what national actions should be initiated to position the profession and the AILA in these areas of work, locally and nationally and ultimately internationally.
Philip would also like to build up links and network with other Australian landscape architects on this topic.
We would very much also like to consider doing some profile work on the types of work being undertaken by Australian landscape architects in heritage and cultural landscapes; the work could be within Australia or international.
A debate quietly surfaced last week in the Australian media following a media release from the Australian Institute of Architects (now AIA not RAIA as before in case you had not noticed).
Their comment seemed to be based on a re-badging of their previous Urban Design policy and a public announcement of its presence along with a statement attacking everyone about urban sprawl.
Unfortunately, given the tone of the statements, the AIA became the subject of the debate rather than the important topic they were attempting to raise (about urban sprawl that is, not their recycled policy).
The AILA has offered comment at times to various governments on the topic of the continual urban sprawl and the desire to seek improved design solutions for our urban environments.
The AILA is working for the longer term to have some National Landscape Principles taken up by all local governments within their urban design strategies and protocols.
This project on landscape principles will be the subject of consultations later this year and into next year as part of AILA’s Commonwealth funded Climate Change project.
Meanwhile we welcome comments from members on the topic of urban sprawl - or on any topic relating to urban design and landscape architects. also check the AILA news pages for other news
Queensland University of Technology has been presented with an exciting student project in the Gulf of Carpentatria.
The Project called “Linking Karumba: Creating Sustainable Connections” involves a multi- disciplinary group of 16 senior students, Q.U.T Teaching staff and the residents of Karumba.
This September for 10 days, the group will immerse themselves in the nature and culture of Karumba and create planning options that link the two separate parts of the township.
Karumba is located at the mouth of the Norman River in the Gulf of Carpentaria in Queensland.
The attached image shows the landscape that surrounds the township.
