Water use planning today necessitates an integrated approach that includes
sustainability considerations. We rely upon our water resources to satisfy a lengthy list
of needs yet we often mistreat this irreplaceable, vital resource. Members of society are
acknowledging the situation and are increasingly expressing their interest in being
involved in processes to address these issues. It is the planner's responsibility to respond
with a method that is capable of involving the public in complex planning issues such
water use planning.
The identification and application of a suitable methodology can commence with the
articulation of indicators of success. By being conscious of desired goals, the process
necessary for their attainment is more readily identified. A study of existing literature
indicates empowerment, fairness, trust and efficiency are regular indicators of success.
Communicative facilitation, the product of unifying the fundamentals of communicative
planning and effective facilitation, is a means of working toward the realization of these
success indicators. These process components are both complemented and promoted
through a collaborative effort. Both the process methodology and its application
influence the likelihood of achieving the identified process success indicators.
Analysis of a case study, in this instance the Coquitlam Buntzen Water Use Planning
process, allows extrication of recommendations and caveats that are applicable not only
to collaborative water use planning but also to complex planning processes in general.
• A process should focus on reaching the best agreement possible. Allowing a range of
levels of agreement while documenting points of disagreement is recommended.
• A process's potential to contribute to the development of a positive precedent should
be recognized. Every effort should be invested to maximize opportunities to improve
levels of trust and perceptions of fairness since current processes affect future efforts.
• Process facilitators should be adept in the role of facilitator, analyst, mediator and
negotiator while practicing the principles of communicative planning.
• It is difficult for a process to manage its schedule and budget to the satisfaction of all
participants; however, the evaluation of efficiency is critical to assessment of overall
process success.
• To avoid confusion and frustration, it should be clearly established prior to process
commencement whether a process involves the public generally, stakeholders or
representatives.
• Scope should be as broadly defined as possible. Although the level of complexity can
be expected to increase, the benefits of an integrated approach as well as the
frustrations associated with scope limitation support its expansion. Once boundaries
are set, they should be explicitly articulated.
As the world becomes in increasingly complex place, the planner is faced with the task of
facilitating efforts for interests to work together to make good decisions through quality
processes. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UBC/oai:circle.library.ubc.ca:2429/12150 |
| Date | 05 1900 |
| Creators | Nikolic, Diana |
| Source Sets | University of British Columbia |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, Thesis/Dissertation |
| Format | 9321093 bytes, application/pdf |
| Rights | For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use. |
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