Unit Outline

Climate change is a determining factor in how we plan for cities and regions, including how we mitigate, and adapt to, large-scale disasters. In this unit, you will gain practical experience in planning for adaptive futures and circumventing maladaptive outcomes. You will critically evaluate different political and economic approaches that can inform strategic planning, like market-based economics, Green New Deal, degrowth, and decolonisation. You will apply this knowledge by evaluating the effectiveness of regional strategic plans and formulating evidence-based recommendations for improved regional planning outcomes in a changing climate. Your learning, and skills development, will benefit from in-depth regional case studies, field trips, and engagement with planning professionals and stakeholders.

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	Synthesise economic, political and social knowledge of climate change to support place-based planning approaches
2	Critique different forms of climate politics and governance to evaluate regional and urban decision-making
3	Devise planning strategies and solutions at a regional scale to address complex climate problems
4	Implement planning techniques to advance best adaptive practice in a changing climate

Alterations as a result of student feedback

The case studies used in this unit have been updated, and changes made to unit contents and assessment tasks to reflect trends in the area and field.

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:	Short task or quiz	Week 3	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	4000 word essay	Week 7	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Report	Week 13	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Short task or quiz

Task Description:

Near the start of semester, you will be provided with a short task or a series of quizzes to consolidate your knowledge of key concepts.

Task Length:

Short written piece

Due Date:

Week 3 (10/Mar/2025)

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate an understanding of climate change, and regional risks and impacts	LO1, LO2
2	Demonstrate an understanding of regional planning concepts and principles	LO1, LO2
3	Reflect, based on your own observations and perceptions	LO1, LO4
4	Engage with workshop activities and session materials	LO1, LO2
5	Apply academic standards in written work, including referencing	LO4

Assessment Task 2: 4000 word essay

Task Description:

In this essay, you will critically evaluate regional plans in light of how each approaches climate change and adaptation. You will pay particular attention to human settlements in your analysis of the economic and political underpinnings of each plan. In your conclusions, you make recommendations regarding the changes required to ensure adaptive and sustainable human settlement patterns.

Task Length:

4000 words

Due Date:

Week 7 (06/Apr/2025)

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Apply regional planning concepts and principles to your selected case study	LO1, LO3, LO4
2	Understand social impacts in relation to your selected case study	LO1
3	Evaluate a political approach in relation to your selected case study	LO1, LO2, LO4
4	Engage with workshop activities and unit materials	LO2, LO3, LO4
5	Reflect, based on your own and perceptions	LO1, LO4
6	Write in correct English, with logical structure, correct referencing, and adheres to the word limit	LO4

Assessment Task 3: Report

Task Description:

You will act as a planning consultancy for Southern Tasmanian Council Authority (STCA). STCA has engaged you to identify preferred strategies for addressing a range of problems associated with climate change in the Southern Tasmania region. Each student will work to provide a report that defines a problem and analyses and evaluates a range of strategies/responses.

Task Length:

4000 words

Due Date:

Week 13 (01/Jun/2025)

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Apply knowledge of regional-scale climate impacts and risks in the southern Tasmanian region	LO1, LO4
2	Apply regional-scale data and principles to improve integrated land use planning in the southern Tasmanian region	LO1, LO4
3	Evaluate regional land use strategies, including their political approaches, in the context of climate change	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
4	Formulate regional land use planning recommendations for climate change in the southern Tasmanian region	LO2, LO3, LO4
5	Engage with workshop activities and session materials	LO1, LO2, LO4
6	Write a report in correct English, logically structured, correctly referenced, and adheres to the word limit	LO1, LO4

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.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

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.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

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.