Community development in rural towns is explored in the latest edition of an influential Lincoln University journal, with research articles aimed at addressing the National Science Challenge, Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities.
The Lincoln Planning Review is the country’s only environmental planning research journal. Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor Hamish Rennie, says it aims to contribute valuable insights to the planning profession and offer a means of experiential learning for Lincoln students.
The latest edition features two articles on planning for regeneration in Timaru and Oamaru, written by Dr Mike Mackay, director of Lincoln University’s new Centre of Excellence: Sustainable Tourism for Regions, Landscapes and Communities.
“These articles reflect the importance of tourism to the planning and development of our rural towns,” says Dr Rennie.
According to Dr Mackay’s research, tourism-led regeneration has an important potential role in diversifying the economy of small towns and contributing to social, cultural and environmental development.
“Planning is crucial, as it provides strategy and guidance, especially when there’s a strong underpinning of community input, such as in council planning.”
Another article, by Senior Lecturer in Environment, Su Vallance, and final year Master of Planning student, Mithran Ramesh-Gopinath, explores how the Waimakariri District Council have implemented plans to regenerate Kaiapoi following the 2010 Canterbury earthquakes.
To achieve high levels of public participation, the council employed a number of innovative and interactive tools and engagement strategies.
“The aim was not just to achieve high levels of public participation, but to ensure that ideas for future land use of the red zone areas came from a wide cross-section of a well-informed public.”
The research found that the planning process plays a crucial role in recovery and indicated the importance of the community being satisfied with the planning process.
In addition to the research articles, the journal also includes an outreach section to bridge the gap between pure academic research and practitioners, and to develop the skills of students. It has a global distribution through planning networks.
“Students from second year to PhD level were involved in this edition,” says Dr Rennie. “They worked as voluntary contributors, copywriters, editors and proofreaders, or as members of the editorial team.”
For more information about the Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities Science National Science Challenge, seehttp://www.buildingbetter.nz/