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Planning for a changing society in the national capital : a planning system for the Australian Capital Territory

This Report examines the history of the planning of Canberra
with emphasis on the systems devised for determining land use,
development control and public participation. Part One covers
the periods during which various authorities and Departments
have been responsible for planning and development. The
long term effect of autocratic attitudes of the early planners
and the subordinate position of the employee/tenant/lessee
on the ordinary rights of the community to participate in
planning is considered. The single minded objective of creating
a monumental city, the determination to preserve at all costs
what each generation of planners regarded as the original plan,
the overriding concern with physical planning and construction,
and the determination of the bureacracy not to share power or
responsibility is noted.
Part Two examines those places in Australia and elsewhere which
have developed democratically and have devised systems to make
planning responsible to the community. A number of common
characteristics are noted. The limitations on the extent of
public participation is acknowledged.
Part Three examines a statutory planning system for the ACT. The
conclusion is reached that the existing system, relying as it
does on antique NSW laws adapted fifty years ago when the town
was in its infancy are totally inadequate for a medium size
city. The existing legislation is particularly defective in
providing for the town planning process and development control
needs of the Territory. The deficiencies of the latest planning
review are noted, and although the retention of the existing
planning authority is supported, its compulsory democratisation
through a Planning Act providing statutory requirments for plan
making and public participation, is advocated.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/218844
Date January 1984
CreatorsCohen, Paul D., n/a
PublisherUniversity of Canberra. Environmental Design
Source SetsAustraliasian Digital Theses Program
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
Rights), Copyright Paul D. Cohen

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