Policy, process and practice conflict analysis in decision making for sustainable urban development, $85,000

Project Leader:
KLondon 2005 - 2007

Aims & Objectives:
The project aim is to examine the existing policies, practices and processes (PPP) of local government with the aim of identifying the conflicts between state and local government PPP to develop a model for effective and efficient decision making.

The research question addressed is: "What are the conflicts between state and local government policy, practice and process?"

The research objectives are to:

• identify the barriers and drivers for sustainable urban development decision making in regional Australia
• examine existing best practices in Australia and analyse the conflicts between state and local government policy, practice and processes in a regional centre
• develop a position paper that summarises the problems, identifies good practice, policy and processes and develop a model for effective and efficient decision making
• benchmark international best practice cohesion between levels of legislation in relation to major urban developments

Deliverables:
A literature review of relevant industry-based reports, studies and investigations as well as a review of theoretical literature to reveal the barriers in the development approval process, which have been identified by various past industry investigations; provide background to the barriers and drivers for SUD decision making through a discussion on the academic literature particularly in relation to the concept of SUD and then various "best practice" models which have been developed in Australia towards addressing conflict in development processes

Position paper summarising the problems, good practice, policy and processes and describing a model for effective and efficient decision making

Potential Outcomes/Impact:
This study provides a small window into the Australian context in relation to the decision making process surrounding project development approval processes and in particular for those players in the property and construction industry in "regional" areas such as Newcastle from the perspective of the central players from disciplines of architecture and construction management and economics – namely architects, contractors, developers – as this is ultimately the professions that the Centre for Interdisciplinary Built Environment serves and can contribute towards in a direct sense.

This study represents an opportunity to reflect upon the critical issues which have plagued those involved in the development process for decades and to take time to assess more broadly the recent dramatic changes put into place by the NSW government in a more objective manner.

Project Participants:
University of Newcastle
McCloys