Area-Level Disparities of Public Open Space: A Geographic Information Systems Analysis in Metropolitan Melbourne

Abstract

This article examines differences in proximity to, and size of, four types of public open space for different levels of socio-economic disadvantage in metropolitan Melbourne. Since the provision of public open space in Melbourne is guided by the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP), this article also demonstrates the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a tool to compare the current distribution of public open space with policy. Measures of distance to, and size of, the closest public open space were derived using GIS and analysed according to area-level socio-economic disadvantage. A novel method of estimating public open space access points is introduced.

Over one-third of dwellings in metropolitan Melbourne were located in areas that did not align with the VPP public open space proximity standard; however, we found no evidence of a socio-economic gradient in terms of compliance. There were statistically significant differences between disadvantaged and advantaged areas with respect to proximity to, and size of, public open space. However, while the differences were statistically significant the magnitudes of the differences were small. Future research needs to investigate how different measures (e.g. quality, size) can be included in planning regulations to support equitable provision of public open space.

本文考察墨尔本市四类为不同程度社会经济弱势地区服务的公共开放空间之远近和大小。墨尔本公共开放空间的提供遵循维多利亚规划条例（VPP），因此本文也说明如何利用地理信息系统（GIS）比较目前公共开放空间的分布和政策。对最近公共开放空间的距离和规模的测量，使用GIS，并根据社会经济弱势地区进行分析。文章介绍了一种评估公共开放空间可及性的新方法。墨尔本三分之一的居住区处所不符合VPP公共开放空间的距离标准，然而我们未见社会经济状况与符合标准程度的对应。弱势地区和优势地区的公共开放空间在远近和大小上存在具有统计意义的差别。不过差别的程度并不大。今后需研究如何在规划法规中增加不同的措施，确保公平提供公共开放空间。

Keywords::

• Public open space
• geographic information systems
• equity
• accessibility
• Melbourne

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the data sources: the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council and the Victorian Department of Sustainability and the Environment.

Additional information

Funding

Giles-Corti is supported by a NHMRC Principal Research Fellowship (#1004900). Mavoa and Davern are in part supported by VicHealth.