Sea Change Research Wins Planning Awards

The research, carried out by Planning Research Centre at the University of Sydney, won the prestigious President’s Award and the Institute’s Planning Scholarship, Research for Teaching Award.

Titled Meeting at the Sea Change Challenge:  Sea Change Communities in Coastal Australia the report was commissioned to find out more about the impact of population movement to the coast and to identify the priority issues facing coastal councils attempting to meet the challenge of population and tourism growth.

“This project provides important research for long-term planning in coastal areas,” said Monique Roser, President of PIA NSW Division.  “The project is a first in providing a profile of the people that are behind the sea change phenomenon and therefore how we can better plan for their needs and those of the existing seaside communities.”

The PIA NSW 2005 Awards for Excellence recognises the quality, innovation and excellence in planning and planning research throughout NSW.  There were five Awards presented, along with eight Commendations.  All Award winners are now also eligible for the National PIA Awards for Excellence to be announced next April.

Mayor Paddi Creevey of City of Mandurah congratulated Dr Nicole Gurran, Caroline Squires and Professor Ed Blakely of the Planning Research Centre on winning the awards.  “This indicates the quality of the research work that has been commissioned by the Taskforce,” Mayor Creevey said.

“The research report has cast new light on the sea change phenomenon and provided much needed information on the priority issues facing sea change communities.  It is heartening to see that the quality of the research has been recognised in this way.”

Since release of the phase one research report earlier this year the Taskforce has commissioned a second phase of research through the Planning Research Centre to document the range of governance, environmental, community, economic and infrastructure challenges facing ‘sea change’ councils and to identify best practice planning models for addressing these issues.

The phase two report, titled Meeting The Sea Change Challenge: Best Practice Models of Local and Regional Planning for Sea Change Communities, identifies best practice planning principles for responding to the needs of non-metropolitan coastal communities.  It provides more than 140 examples of best practice for managing the effects of rapid growth in ‘sea change’ areas drawn from Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada , the UK and the European Union.

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