Stefanie DÜHR, University of South Australia, Australia
Australia’s population distribution and urban settlement structure is dominated by a handful of large metropolitan centres along Australia’s coastline. Since the early 1970s Australia has depended on immigration in order to achieve population growth and workforce renewal, with traditionally a majority of international migrants settling in the largest cities. This has resulted in considerable challenges for growing metropolitan cities, but also for different types of regional towns. Recently calls have been made for a national strategy able to support the coordinated planning of settlements, housing, infrastructure and jobs in regional towns, supported by federal and state funding and enabled by new governance arrangements between local councils, state governments, local and regional employers, and service providers. However, urban and regional planning is the responsibility of Australian states and territories, without much involvement by the federal government, and with – in international comparison – weak local governments that are highly dependent on state funding.
This paper addresses the research question of how expected changes in population and economic growth are considered in contemporary Australian urban and regional planning frameworks, and how such planning policies are aligned with regional economic development and infrastructure strategies. Conceptually, the paper is guided by the international literature on balanced spatial development and spatial policy coordination. Methodologically, the paper draws on a desk study analysis of policy frameworks from two neighbouring states, Victoria and South Australia, which are facing different population trends. The analysis shows that the two states are pursuing different approaches to using spatial planning as guiding frameworks for more decentralized settlement structured and the coordination of regional policy and infrastructure funding.
Mots clés : balanced spatial development|Australia|urban and regional planning|multi-level governance |policy coordination
A102897SD