Emerging Constraints for Public Open Space in Perth

Implications of Bush Forever, Water Sensitive Urban Design and Liveable Neighbourhoods for Active Sport and Recreation.

Related topics: Local Government,plan

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Background

There is a general view amongst local government park managers and planners in Perth that the implementation of Bush Forever, Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) and Liveable Neighbourhoods (LN) has led to a decrease in the number and amount of active open space being provided. Unfortunately, there is no published hard data in support of this view. In 2010 the Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) commissioned Curtin University, through the Centre for Sport and Recreation Research (CSRR) and the Department of Urban and Regional Planning), to undertake a study to determine whether these three planning policies have had a significant impact on the supply of active public open space (POS) and, if so, whether this is having an impact on the users of the active POS areas.

The specific aims of the study were to:

document changes to the nature and extent of POS in new residential areas due to Bush Forever and WSUD (and to examine the impacts of LN where possible);
investigate the impacts of these changes on the users of the open space;
explore the policy implications that arise from the data; and
to propose some specific planning policy measures.

It should be noted that this study does not recommend specific quantitative criteria for what should be considered an adequate supply of active POS. Instead, the data are used to propose some guidelines for planners as to when serious consideration should be given to providing additional active open space i.e. when it is highly likely that there will be a significant undersupply of active open space.

Terminology

In WA, publically owned open space is generally categorised as either local open space or regional open space. Local open space is called public open space and is vested in, and managed by, local government. Regional open space (ROS) generally serves the interests of a larger population (at a regional level or all of Perth) and is usually reserved, purchased and managed by the state government. In the metropolitan area regional open spaces are set aside as Park and Recreation Reserves.

This study is primarily interested in POS and, in particular, active POS.

Study methodology

A total of 41 suburbs were selected for study to represent different times in the history of Perth’s planning. These included 12 old inner suburbs (pre- 1950s); 15 middle suburbs (1960s, 1970s and 1980s); 11 Bush Forever and WSUD constrained suburbs; and three LNS only suburbs (called here urban design suburbs). The middle suburbs were developed during a time when it was mandatory to give up 10% of developable land to POS.
There were two broad stages in this study:

Stage One: Documenting the nature and extent of change to public open space in selected new Perth suburbs; and
Stage Two: A case study of the useage of active open space in the south west corridor.

In Stage One each piece of POS had a detailed map drawn showing the use ‘zones’, the zones being Passive Recreation, Active Recreation, Nature Conservation, Permanent Stormwater Management and Seasonal Stormwater Management.

The areas of each zone were calculated and summary data was produced for each suburb. Figure 1 shows a typical map produced for this stage.

Acknowledgements

This study was undertaken by the Centre for Sport and Recreation Research (CSRR) with CSRR research partner, the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Curtin University.

The project relied extensively on the collaboration of the local governments who participated in the study–Gosnells, Armadale, Cockburn, Rockingham, Wanneroo, Stirling, Melville, Subiaco and Nedlands. The study team would like to thank all involved and in particular those local government and Parks and Leisure Australia (WA) representatives who comprised the steering group.

For further information please contact:

Julie Rutherford
Department of Sport and Recreation
Tel: 9492 9700

This document is a summary report produced for the Department of Sport and Recreation, by the Curtin Centre of Sport and Recreation Research.

Middle, G., Tye, M., and Middle, I., Emerging Constraints for Public Open Space in Perth Metropolitan Suburbs: Implications of Bush Forever, Water Sensitive Urban Design and Liveable Neighbourhoods for Active Sport and Recreation. A report for the Department of Sport and Recreation WA. Perth. September 2010.

Centre for Sport and Recreation Research (CSRR)

CSRR is a partnership of Curtin University and the Department of Sport and Recreation WA.

CSRR provides an independent perspective to look at the horizon and beyond, to identify issues that will:

impact sport and recreation decision making; and
benefit from sport and recreation association.

Disclaimer

All information is this report was considered correct and current at the time of publication and any errors or omissions are unintentional. The Centre for Sport and Recreation Research disclaims all and any liability to any person in respect of the consequences of any action or consequence for such persons in reliance, whether wholly or partially, on this report.

The land-use photographs used in this report (cover, page 2, page 3) were taken by Garry Middle.

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