For a country like Australia, a one-size-fits-all solution to boosting liveability is not applicable. Around the nation we have everything from capital cities with new suburbs without critical infrastructure for residents; to rural communities with one bus route a day – so a good quality of life, and the urban development required to achieve this, will look different across the nation. Associate Professor Melanie Davern, Director of the Australian Urban Observatory (AUO), talks to Council about how research and collaboration in local government is a big piece of the liveability puzzle.
The Australian Urban Observatory (AUO) is a digital planning tool powered by urban liveability researchers at RMIT University, providing liveability indicators, multiple data sources and analysis, and invaluable resources for local governments.
Councils can use the AUO to discover where to invest resources and influence future policy direction to create sustainable, healthier and more liveable neighbourhoods.
The AUO’s research is based on its definition of liveability, gathered from extensive review, and defines a liveable place as somewhere that is: safe, attractive, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable; withaffordable and diverse types of housing, public open space, local shops, health and community services, leisure and cultural opportunities; with opportunities for employment and education all accessible by convenient public transport, walking and cycling.
Associate Professor Melanie Davern, Director of the Australian Urban Observatory (AUO) leads a team of researchers to source new data, through partnership development, academic research, spatial research and undertaking different investigative projects.
“The AUO is really trying to take research knowledge and then translate it into indicators, tools and resources that can be useful for practitioners later on in the AUO,” Associate Professor Davern said.
The indicators can aid local governments in determining what regions of their council area require more development to become more liveable, and attract and keep residents.
Associate Professor Davern said that the plethora of regions in Australia vary immensely and each require a unique approach.
“It really depends on the needs of the area and the people who live in that area. That’s exactly why we have developed the Australian Urban Observatory, because all communities are different. I talk about places being not dissimilar to people in that we all have strengths and weaknesses, and it’s really important to be aware of those,” Associate Professor Davern said.
Associate Professor Davern said that to create positive change there has to be a match between place and people, and an attempt to understand what needs to be done to promote health and wellbeing in that area.
“Because I think all councils really do a wonderful job in trying to promote health and wellbeing, and often with little resources.”
Associate Professor Davern hopes her team’s research helps councils to understand how features of the built and natural environment are connected to health, such as improving the walkability of an area or understanding where shops and services are, can make a big impact to the liveability of an area.
To work in unison to build more liveable communities also requires understanding that a community is an urban system.
Lack of amenities create inequality
Access to amenities is one of the key factors to improved liveability, which has become a challenge in newly built growth areas; with a large focus on increasing housing and less on ensuring adequate amenities are nearby.
“Liveability for the AUO is based on a clear definition, it’s on our website, it’s out there. We are really trying to connect the social determinants of health, with other elements, such as where you are born, live, learn, work, play, age; that local environment where you live has a huge impact on long-term health,” Associate Professor Davern said.
“We’re connecting those social determinants with urban planning and design. Now, if we keep building the cities the way that we have been, we’re going to have huge impacts on health and we’re also going to see greater inequality across our cities.”
The AUO’s data surrounding health services is one of the more jarring sets of statistics, showing many rural and metropolitan areas face long travel times to see a doctor, especially those in growth areas.
“When you look at citywide results and you aggregate them up to that city score, then obviously there’s going to be less liveable places being developed out in those outer growth areas. We’re happy to put houses in without transport, without services, without access to supermarkets or fresh fruit and vegetables.
“We’re connecting those social determinants with urban planning and design. Now, if we keep building the cities the way that we have been, we’re going to have huge impacts on health and we’re also going to see greater inequality across our cities.”
Associate Professor Davern said that the way cities generally have been created and planned is according to population growth, and to respond to urgent housing needs – leaving many with a home but without a good quality of life and opportunity for rest and exercise; due to increased transport times to access amenities.
“We plan based on population occurring and the delays that come with that, which means that we’re constantly going to be creating these same problems as we allow that growth area development to keep occurring. Why can’t we put transport and schools in as we are doing it? Why can’t we put a shop, a supermarket, fresh fruit and vegetable access in there?
“But instead, we see fast food companies going first. In a growth area, they’re one of the first things to appear once there’s a new suburban development. Along with an independent school, not a public school. So we’re increasing the costs. And then look at petrol prices. Now you’ve got to drive further. We’re actually penalising people for going into those areas.”
Helping councils tackle barriers to improved liveability
For the AUO, Associate Professor Davern said the first step to helping local governments improve liveability is getting information and evidence into the sector, providing new resources and working with partners to develop new liveability indicators that meet the data needs of planners and decision makers to improve the value of the platform.
The AUO also works to constantly update its resources – so councils can see these liveability indicators progress over time.
In the urban development space, Associate Professor Davern said councils have been using the tool to see how their region ranks in certain liveability indicators against other areas, and see the changes they have made play out in real-time data.
“We have heard from other partners that are taking our evidence and incorporating that into policy submissions to State Governments. So they’re able to use it to advocate for change,” Associate Professor Davern said.
Even for elements of the community where the council doesn’t have full control, such as transport, local governments are still using the AUO data to advocate to the State Governments and showcase the areas that need further assistance and funding.
For instance, in New South Wales the AUO works with a number of local health districts, who work with the councils. These health districts have been using the AUO’s tools to create community strategic plans, and to identify areas that require action from the State Government.
“They’re using the information to try and advocate for a better liveability in their areas,” Associate Professor Davern said.
Is collaboration the key to healthy communities?
Collaboration between communities and between fellow councils is a huge step towards making small changes that bring big impacts; and that overall aid communities in becoming more happier, healthier and liveable places.
Associate Professor Davern’s key advice for councils looking to improve the long term wellbeing of their communities through planning and development, is to partner up and collaborate.
“I think that one of the key things to think about is that, and I see it all the time, that some of the most progressive councils and local governments have amazing partnerships.
“So one person or one organisation can do so much, but working in partnerships means that your impact and your reach are going to be so much greater.”
Associate Professor Davern isn’t just referring to councils partnering together to achieve common goals, but also to extend this collaboration out to the community and think of new ways to engage residents.
“Working with those local organisations and working in partnership is really, really critical here. But also to think about partnership with residents.
“Do you want to just provide for your residents, or do you want to really collaborate and engage and understand what their needs are?
“I would really love to see a bit more creativity going into community engagement in councils across Australia, because it’s like the same model has always been applied, ‘Come to a meeting, do a survey online.’ We don’t see a lot of real creativity in the work.”
Associate Professor Davern explains that instead of community engagement being focused on wants, it should be around making the best of what a region has.
“More like: ‘This is what we’ve got. These are the strengths and weaknesses of our areas, which ones should we be talking about? What’s the most critical issue? How do we decide on the priorities we should be working into?’
“The actions that come from it are really important, and that’s where I think research has a role, and academics need to make information easier to access and easier to use so that it can be linked to those conversations.”
Walkability on the apple isle
An example of this style of collaboration is evident in the Communities for Walkability project being undertaken in rural Tasmania.
The project is a joint venture by the AUO and the University of Tasmania, led by researchers Associate Professor Verity Cleland and Dr Kim Jose, Local Government Association of Tasmania and the Tasmanian Department of Health.
The initiative aims to use citizen science to discover what environmental factors influence walkability in rural regions of Tasmania, and the issues unique to these areas regarding health and fitness.
Currently there are not many existing tools for measuring walkability, its varying levels, and what is the optimal level to maintain a healthy lifestyle in rural communities.
The small towns of Railton and Beauty Point in the state’s north are beginning their involvement in the initiative, while Zeehan, on the west coast, and St Helens, located on the north-east coast, are currently in progress.
“We’re doing this for research and really want to understand the connection between walkability and health outcomes in small rural towns of Tasmania. But also sharing that information with the local government partners that we’re working with, so they get to know that as well. I think that’s a nice example of citizen science being used to help inform planning and promote health,” Associate Professor Davern said.
Associate Professor Davern explained that as Australia is so vast, its different areas face unique challenges, and despite the amount of support needed for rural communities, these areas often get less attention than their big city counterparts, but can find their power in collaboration and teamwork – working stronger together.
“Often big cities get a lot of attention and regional and rural remote areas don’t. But it brings a different dimension to it. They’re also the councils that often don’t have the biggest budget and the big amounts of awards and subsidies, but they can still partner.”
