Planning Urban Sustainability

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

120 hours.

Admission to a master's program in the Melbourne School of Design or the Master of Environment (Graduate Environmental Program) or written approval from the subject coordinator.

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the Course Description, Course Objectives and Generic Skills of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

The urban dimension of sustainability is the focus of this subject. The nexus between cities and rural areas is acknowledged. A holistic view of sustainability is explored (environmental, social, cultural and economic). The contribution of cities to the crises of the environment is analysed. Solutions based on existing experience and practice are explored using international and local examples. Methods of planning are discussed, with an emphasis on the policy barriers likely to be encountered and ways of overcoming them.

• To deepen students' understanding of urban sustainability and its relationship to public values and goals.
• To analyse the means of governance and planning for urban sustainability.
• To critically analyse approaches to planning for urban sustainability.
• To propose solutions to facilitate urban sustainability.

• Series of class papers / policy exercises – 500 words x 3 weeks (due weeks 3,4 and 5, worth 30%)
• Field trip report of 1500 words (due week 8, worth 30%)
• Group project, and report with an individual contribution of no more than 2000 words (due week 12, worth 40%).

None specified

Newman, P., and Jennings, I. Cities as Sustainable Ecosystems: Principles and Practices, Washington: Island Press, 2008.
Wheeler, S. M. Planning for Sustainability: Creating Liveable, Equitable and Ecological Communities, Milton Park, Oxon: Routledge, 2004.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• To be advocates for implementing the sustainability of the environment
• To have a broad global understanding with increased regard for human rights, equity and ethics
• To examine critically, synthesise and evaluate knowledge across a broad range of disciplines