Sustainability and local policy and planning responses
Cath Smith and Carolyn Atkins
Victorian Council of Social Service
Contact Email:   carolyn.atkinsvcoss.org.au

The importance of a sustainability framework for policy responses and local planning is being increasingly recognised internationally and in Australia. This paper reports on a Victorian research project which highlights that effective planning for the future means adopting alternative priorities which will also favour those who have been disadvantaged in the past, and in doing so, help to build communities which are not only more inclusive, but are also more likely to be sustainable in the future. The qualitative research was based on principles of social geography and community development, and focused on: understanding the physical barriers encountered by people from disadvantaged backgrounds in their lived environments; gaining an understanding of how these impacted on their quality of life, with a particular focus on exploring issues of liveability, equity, access and affordability; and identifying a broad framework aimed at assisting NGOs and local and state governments to identify areas of need and action.

The project was undertaken for the Victorian Department of Infrastructure as part of the development of Melbourne 2030: Planning for Sustainable Growth. The paper argues that while disadvantage is frequently discussed as being on the margins, it is important to remember that we are talking about the margins of power and wealth, not of number or place; and that the problems and solutions for many of those on the margins are important for the wellbeing of the community as a whole and should be located firmly at the centre within a sustainability framework which accords equal emphasis to social, environmental, cultural and economic development and outcomes.

Paper Download Information (if available):

Paper244.pdf

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