Houston_P_Workshop_Australian Peri-Urban Observatory

Putting “peri-urban” on the map: ideas for an

Australian Peri-urban Observatory

Peter Houston

“Beyond the Edge”

La Trobe University

October 2013

Context and background … • Collective recent experiences

– Victoria’s “logical inclusions” saga; the demise of agriculture in

the Sydney Basin; the dismantling of the Virginia horticulture

district

– perspectives from other sectors: biodiversity, water resources, fire

• … and a journey of investigation to Europe

PURPLE - http://www.purple-eu.org/

PLUREL - http://www.plurel.net/

AGROTERRITORI - http://www.agroterritori.org/

• lobbying platform for city-regions

• coordinated research program on

land use relationships/dynamics

• information exchange for

agriculture planning and

management in peri-urban settings

Landscape Observatory of Catalonia

• support to municipalities re the

European Landscape Convention

Observatori del Paisatge http://www.catpaisatge.net/

• profile for an obscure topic

• collaboration of organisations and

professionals

• information exchange

• influencing role

• an Observatory ???

TREND - http://www.trendsa.org.au/

TERN - http://www.tern.org.au/

• quasi-“Observatory” functions

already exist in Australia...

An Australian Peri-urban Observatory?

• raise profile

• a permanent presence

• inter-disciplinary and integrative

• a vehicle for research and action

An Australian Peri-urban Observatory...

Why this form of initiative? • the importance of a permanent institutional presence

• profile and network strength

• the need to coordinate/sponsor/conduct research

Why an Observatory? • more than an association

• structure and purpose: monitoring and reporting critical for traction

Why a website? • subject matter, at a variety of scales, that is best explained through

spatial analysis with GIS tools and techniques

An “archipelago” of opportunity...

Presentation to CSIRO Urban Ecosystem Science Workshop

2-6 May, 2004. Sydney.

Agricultural productivity, Greater Adelaide region

($/ha, 2001)

Analysis of re-zoning and development projects in and around the Virginia horticultural

district, 2004-2013.

An Australian Peri-urban Observatory...

What does it do? • independent information, analysis and commentary

• an Australian focus for study of the peri-urban phenomenon

• a repository for/portal to peri-urban research

• a vehicle for developing and funding research projects

An Australian Peri-urban Observatory...

Who might be involved? • a network of collaborating researchers and practitioners

– Universities

– ABS, ABARES, CSIRO

– not a bottom-up/grass-roots initiative

• inter/multi/cross-disciplinary

• independent - probably not linked to State Government agencies

An Australian Peri-urban Observatory…

How does it operate? • a consortium of Universities and research organisations

• cohorts of graduate research students

• start small and achievable

– assemble existing research and establish a website presence

• “capacity building” projects

– define and identify Australia’s peri-urban regions

– establish simple monitoring projects (UGBs, population shifts, land use

change, etc)

• more ambitious research built on demonstrated credibility