Unit Outline

This unit provides a theoretical and conceptual foundation for advanced studies in urban and environmental planning. The unit covers the diverse functions and purposes of planning. You will have the opportunity to think critically about the philosophical and historical underpinnings of planning as a discipline, and the interactions between planning theory, wider social theory and planning practice. Different approaches to planning and their relative merits are considered, especially their importance for informing planning practice. We will examine the roles and responsibilities of planners in different capacities and contexts, including government, non-government and private sectors. Different planning methods such as strategic planning, adaptive planning, and community engagement are evaluated. Australian planning institutions are also reviewed – across federal, state, regional and local planning scales – and we examine relevant policies, processes and legislation. You will participate in practical activities to develop your skills in planning, including data analysis, communication, plan evaluation, site assessment, risk management and project management. Upon successfully completing the unit you will understand what planners do, why we plan, how we plan, who is involved in planning, various planning tools and processes, and how we can tell if planning has achieved its goals.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Describe how planning theory, wider social theory and planning practice inform decision making about built and natural environment as an important human activity
2.	Analyse the diverse roles and responsibilities of planners, when applying strategic planning, statutory planning, adaptive planning, and community engagement methods, tools and techniques.
3.	Evaluate how historical and contemporary planning approaches are applied within capitalist economies and democratic systems of governance when responding to social environmental and economic objectives.
4.	Appraise the influence of procedure, policy and process in shaping planning practice when undertaking project management, plan making and plan implementation.
5.	Formulate potential responses to a contemporary planning issue using key social, environmental and economic data to inform your recommendations
6.	Convey planning proposals to specialist and non specialist audiences in accordance with academic and professional standards and frameworks

Alterations as a result of student feedback

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	City Portfolio	Week 6	30 %	LO1, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6
Assessment Task 2:	Planning Report	Week 14	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6
Assessment Task 3:	Weekly MyLO discussion post	Refer to Assessment Description	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO6

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: City Portfolio

Task Description:

For this assessment you will choose an Australian city. Each week you will draw upon the unit readings and undertake your own independent research to do the following: (1) describe the
city and contemporary threats it is facing; (2) compile a demographic profile of your chosen city, using Australian Bureau of Statistics census data, highlighting residents’ needs; (3) apply a critical lens to identify planning goals for the city,
including answering the questions - who are we planning for and who is being excluded and how -what circumstances have given rise to this outcome?; (4) devise potential solutions to
improve the issues you have identified in week 3 - how might planning strategies and approaches help address identified residents’ needs?; (5) identify the types of legislation, policy, strategies, participatory processes, and urban design
approaches that could make your chosen city more equitable and liveable; (6) discuss the likely future for your chosen city and how planning might enable or change that future. You will use maps, diagrams, charts and other figures as evidence to support your claims and arguments.

Task Length:

Maximum 2500 words

Due Date:

Week 6 (16/Apr/2024)

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Drew upon unit readings, content, and independent learning to synthesise key findings	LO3, LO6
2	Identified key theoretical contributions and practice implications	LO1, LO4
3	Answered the questions guiding weekly tasks	LO1, LO5
4	Presented in correct English, with logical structure and flow of ideas and appropriate supporting images	LO6
5	Sources correctly attributed	LO6

Assessment Task 2: Planning Report

Task Description:

You will write a report that discusses the challenges, issues and relative merits of a development proposal. Details of the assessment will be provided in MyLO.

You will visit the site and observe the current activity and potential constraints to redevelopment. Your report will need to include a SWOT analysis of development options, zoning maps for the site, issue identification (e.g. transport accessibility, building height limitations, heritage considerations, vegetation protection, habitat conservation, open space and economic feasibility), recommendations for public participation, and will need to include diagrams, charts, maps and sketches where relevant. Your report should also include reference to advice from planning professions who may visit the class. Additional information will be provided on MyLO about how to access the Land Information System of Tasmania (LIST) and Australian Bureau of Statistics Census data. The assignment is to be written in formal language suitable for a professional report.

Task Length:

Maximum 4000 words

Due Date:

Week 14 (09/Jun/2024)

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Site-specific issues identified from the site visit and analysis of relevant data	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
2	Opportunities and constraints for different development options evaluated using a SWOT analysis	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
3	Principles and theories from readings and lectures applied to derive evidence-based solutions to identified problems	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
4	Appropriate processes, planning mechanisms and development management instruments appraised and recommended to achieve desired social, environmental and economic outcomes.	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
5	Written in correct English, with logical structure and flow of ideas	LO6
6	Correct attribution of your sources	LO6
7	Comply with word length requirements	LO6

Assessment Task 3: Weekly MyLO discussion post

Task Description:

This is the major task for the semester and starts in week 1. Respond to the questions in the relevant discussion each week. Each post is worth 4%. There are 12 assessable weeks and two of those will be dropped to allow for late enrolments, illness, and for you to have the option to miss weeks deliberately when life events take priority. Everyone is welcome to post in all 12 weeks, but only 10 will count towards the final mark.

You must write in first person and respond to the reading and the class discussion. Online students who do not attend the zoom class will need to listen to the class recording before posting.

Task Length:

Between 300 - 500 word MyLO posts each week for 10 weeks of semester.

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Scholarly readings used effectively to support arguments and reasoning	LO1, LO4
2	Presented in English to a professional standard, using clear expression and a logical flow of ideas	LO6
3	Sources are correctly attributed	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO6
4	Claims appropriately back-up with evidence	LO6

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.