Responses to Retailing Change in Canberra

Abstract

Retailing is a major activity in urban areas. Where it is located is a major influence on traffic flows and the ease and level of access the population has to goods and services. Relying solely on the market to determine retail provision is likely to result in a misallocation of resources. Given the dynamism of the industry, and the uncertainty in predicting the future, the challenge for planning frameworks has been how to best respond to the needs of an increasingly affluent and mobile population while considering the social and environmental consequences of development. This article explores, with particular reference to Canberra, how retail planning policy has evolved to respond to these changes. How communities respond to such changes will depend on the relative weighting they give to accessibility, efficiency, equity, sustainability and amenity criteria. The aim should be the development of a retail system that provides for competition, choice, accommodates new retail formats while meeting the needs of the less mobile and the need to reduce overall travel.

Keywords:

• Retail planning
• hierarchy
• change
• objectives
• criteria
• Canberra

Notes

1. The airport outlet centre was developed without reference to the ACT regulatory system. Its development was not subject to appeal and occurred without assessment to its economic, environmental or social impacts. It will, subject to legal challenge, face strong competition from the better-located discount factory outlet at Fyshwick. The airport outlet is isolated from the metropolitan population and other retail activities and doesn't offer the agglomeration provided by the Fyshwick location. The airport has appeal rights against developments elsewhere in the ACT—a somewhat unlevel playing field. Future airport development will also be outside the planning jurisdiction of the National Capital Authority as a result of recent changes to the Airports Act.