Architecture, Building and Planning - Theses
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ItemInstitutionalising governance experiments in cities that lack a metropolitan government: Lessons learnt from 100 Resilient Cities initiative in Melbourne, Sydney, and Christchurch( 2023-07)This thesis investigates the institutionalisation of governance experiments, specifically focusing on the context of cities that lack a metropolitan government. The thesis draws upon the 100 Resilient Cities [100RC] network as the primary context of research. It employs a qualitative research methodology with the application of a multiple-case study research design, focusing on the three case studies of Living Melbourne (Resilient Melbourne), Resilient Sydney, and Resilient Greater Christchurch as governance experiments initiated via the 100RC network. To address the aim of this research, a novel analytical framework is developed, drawing upon the sustainability transitions literature. This framework centres on the notion of 'beyond experiments' and two key conceptual foundations: the role of urban governance context (specifically cities lacking a metropolitan government) and the role of city networks. The framework is subsequently applied to analyse the selected case studies, providing empirical evidence for the research. This research finds that the institutionalisation of governance experiments occurs in cities that lack a metropolitan government by generating lasting changes within urban governance, particularly around two key domains: ways of thinking and ways of organising. However, it argues that most changes generated via institutionalisation are predominantly incremental and reformistic in nature. They are rarely sufficiently transformative to bring about substantial urban sustainability transitions. In addition, this research identifies key factors that influence the extent of institutionalisation, which include: (1) existing metropolitan governance conditions (with the absence of a metropolitan government), (2) internal conditions of governance experiments, and (3) city networks (albeit to a limited degree). This research concludes that governance experiments can support the development of new approaches to urban sustainability. Nevertheless, the institutionalisation of these experiments requires considerable governance commitment, leadership, and collaborative efforts to embed these new approaches.
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ItemBarriers and facilitators to nature-based stormwater management in Melbourne’s private realm: the role of statutory planning frameworks and actors( 2021)Sustainability transitions in Australia’s Stormwater Management (SM) sector over the past two decades have led to the realisation that achieving a ‘Water Sensitive City’ is critical to ensure the health and wellbeing of urban residents and urban ecosystems, as climate change and urbanisation increase uncertainty around the quality and quantity of water in urban environments. ‘Nature-Based Stormwater Management’ (NBSM) is increasingly acknowledged as an important approach to accelerate transitions to a Water Sensitive City due to the multifunctional role of vegetation. In response to sustainability shifts in planning and urban water sectors, the Victorian state government and several municipalities across Melbourne introduced strategic plans and guidelines supporting Integrated Water Management (IWM), Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD). More recently, a series of local and state-wide planning scheme amendments in the statutory system have formalised IWM, WSUD, SM and Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) requirements for development on private land. However, current literature highlights that a wide variety of systemic and actor-based factors influence uptake of NBSM in Melbourne and ultimately restrict practical implementation of NBSM systems. This thesis employed qualitative semi-structured interviews with twelve public and private statutory actors to identify barriers and facilitators in Melbourne’s inner-city statutory framework that influence uptake of NBSM on private land. Findings suggest that while more prescriptive policy requirements are important to prioritise the use of vegetation, they are insufficient in isolation to produce effective NBSM outcomes. This is due to barriers presented by competing interests, inconsistencies between councils, poor technical knowledge, and siloed decision-making. Instead, targeted collaboration between actor groups at the early stages of project development, supported by state-led knowledge-sharing initiatives, will be necessary to successfully deliver NBSM and maximise co-benefits provided by vegetated systems. Recommendations from this study can be used to inform targeted strategies for Melbourne’s public and private practitioners to establish healthier relationships with urban water systems long into the future and simultaneously achieve a wide variety of planning objectives.
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ItemAn investigation into planning for urban resilience through niche interventions( 2016)This thesis investigated how planning for urban resilience is informed by niche interventions. This was done by tracking the trajectory of live/work as a niche intervention in San Francisco, Oakland, and Vancouver. The trajectories were used to contribute to understandings of urban resilience by providing insights into each city’s governance structures, approaches to planning, and key stakeholders, and identifying challenges and success factors. Resilience planning was more successful with collaborative and experimental planning, compared to rigid, top-down political approache