Emerging Australian planning practice and oil vulnerability responses

Abstract

Australia's cities, and in particular the suburban areas, are car dependent and vulnerable to higher oil prices. This paper examines the policy and planning responses to this emerging problem. It does this by reviewing relevant plans and policies at the local, regional/metro, state and national levels. The analysis suggests that there are a number of contradictions in these plans and policies. There appears to be a vertical disconnection between national policy development and that occurring at the local and metropolitan levels. In addition there is a horizontal disconnection/contradiction between oil vulnerability mitigation and other policy areas, such as transport. At present, policy and planning prescriptions are inadequate to meet the challenges of an oil constrained future.

Keywords:

• planning practice
• oil vulnerability
• Australia

Acknowledgements

This research was supported under Australian Research Council's Discovery Projects funding scheme (project DP1095562). The views expressed herein are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Australian Research Council.

Notes

1. As this article was being prepared (July 2010), New York City announced that it had begun construction on the first of more than 200 electric vehicle charging stations throughout the city.