Public open space
Activating people and places
Supported by PLA WA.
This stream was of interest and relevance to all local government officers responsible for the planning and design of public open space. Presentations focused on the challenge of delivering functional POS in our current climate, the skills required by leisure and open space planners to sit comfortably at the urban development table, and examine the how and why of open space policy.
POS Planning and Allocation: Current Issues and Challenges
Panel (PLA WA)
Issues relating to public open space planning are currently attracting a great deal of attention in recreation, planning and health circles. This introductory session will provide an overview of research and networking initiatives instigated by Parks and Leisure Australia (WA Region).
Useable Public Open Space: The Role of POS in Developing Healthy Communities
Dr May Carter (Edith Cowan University)
Public open spaces are important sites for physical activity, relaxation and social interaction. In a recent PhD study, it was found that people who lived near useable green spaces reported better general health. This presentation will explore how attitudes to different types of public open spaces and perceptions of useability relate to better health.
It’s Not Just a Pretty Place: Incorporating Ecological Design into Public Open Spaces
Deborah Kuh (Syrinx Environmental Consultants)
A holistic approach to landscape architecture maximises the performative and functional values of the landscape, thus offering many opportunities for increasing the efficiency of water, energy and material use, whilst providing an essential social asset. This integrated process to design, almost a form of landscape urbanism, provides practical and creative solutions to the problems sustainably projects are facing. This presentation will briefly showcase two projects where landscape elements provide multiple functions pertaining to the social, environmental and economical sustainability of the place.
Working With Community and Culture in Open Space Planning
Greg Grabasch (UDLA)
Greg Grabasch is principal of UDLA, a small urban design and landscape architecture practice which has concentrated their efforts on growing their experience with regional community, town centre and general residential development within Northwest Western Australia. These communities mainly consist of mid size pastoral and mining towns with a large indigenous population. UDLA have several community and cultural projects that have and are presently being built from Town Walks to Town Centres.
UDLA’s design philosophy hinges on the understanding that the standard of the community’s capacity has a symbiotic relationship with their public space and the associated environment’s amenity and health. When designing public space you must understand the existing condition of both before addressing the opportunity to lift their mutual capacity.
Achieving Parks and Leisure Outcomes: What You Need to Know
Charles Johnson (Department of Planning)
Hear from Charles Johnson about what the Public Open Space end user needs to know to be involved in and have influence on the land use planning process. Charles will set the scene on where the Department of Planning is heading, the status of strategic planning under way, and how these approaches relate to the open space planner/manager.
Case Studies: Integrating POS into Structure Planning – Mark Casserly (CCS Strategic Management)
Mark Casserly will use the Wungong Urban Development Master Plan to open the floor for discussion on aspects of public open space in this planned community near Armadale. Participants will be asked to evaluate potential outcomes relating to provision of active open space.
Promises and Pitfalls: An Insight into Policy Development – Panel Session
Formulating policy is fraught with pitfalls and the promise of policy implementation does not always meet expected outcomes. Three brief presentations for local government officers currently involved in implementing and developing deliberately different public open space policy will set the scene. Join Dr May Carter and staff from the cities of Stirling, Gosnells and Swan for a lively interactive discussion!
Workshop: Designing for Healthy and Active Communities
Presented by PATF
The potential exists for master planning to influence the opportunities for people to be physically active, thereby promoting healthy and active communities. In response to this, the Physical Activity Taskforce in partnership with the National Heart Foundation are in the process of developing design guidance which promotes healthy environments and active communities.
This session will introduce the Healthy and Active By Design Western Australia project to a range of stakeholders from planning, development and local government sectors. Feedback will be sought from participants to test the application of the following design principles that have been identified to be promoted by master plans; Compact, Connected and Conducive (the Three C’s).
