Your Development

The accessibility of an activity to an individual is the ease with which the individual can get to the places where that activity can be performed.
(Source: Transport strategy: a Decision-Maker’s Guidebook, University of Leeds, Leeds)

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Acid Sulfate Soils are usually found in low-lying coastal locations, containing high quantities of sulfides which when exposed to air due to drainage or disturbance, readily oxidise to produce sulphuric acid, also often releasing toxic quantities of iron, aluminium and other heavy metals to the environment.

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Research oriented towards bringing about change, often involving respondents in the process of investigation, with the researchers being aware of their influence on the research process by being a part of the environment they study (Sarantakos, 1998).

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A way of life that integrates physical activity into daily routines, such as walking to the shop or cycling to work (Wikipedia).

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The term active open space is used to describe formalised for certain organised activities such as sporting competitions, recreation centres, exercise grounds and those facilities that are typically hired for use such as tennis courts or swimming pools.

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Active transport is walking, cycling and using public transport.

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A cost attribution to cost units on the basis of benefit received from indirect activities such as order processing and setting up quality procedures.

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An activity node is a central location where a number of land uses that attract people co-exist.  Uses might include residential, office and retail uses, and will cause the area to be used during the day, as well as at night. 

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Adaptable housing is designed at the outset to be easily modified in the future to comply with disability access standards, if the needs of occupants change.

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Modifying the place to suit proposed compatible uses.

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This includes aspects of sensory perception for which criteria can and should be stated. Such criteria may include consideration of the form, scale, colour, texture and material of the fabric and even the sounds and smells associated with the place and its use.

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Housing that is appropriate for the needs of low and moderate income households, and within their means to rent or buy.  Affordable housing may be provided through the market or non profit sector.  A common measure of affordability for low – moderate income households is up to thirty per cent of gross household income on rent or mortgage payments.

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Usually refers to non-mainstream styles of living that involve some type of intentional community. Previously alluded to ‘feral’ tendencies or hippie communes.

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A person with specific skills employed to assist in organising and enlivening a community process, such as children’s participatory design activities. Generally used in community cultural development projects and working with children and young people. This person may also be a community artist.

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The impact existing from past human exploitation of a site, by both owners of the land and third parties in some cases.

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A form of asset-based community development where the focus is on finding the best in people and situations and helping people list and amplify those assets or qualities in a community. Take from Wates the focus is on innovation and unexplored potential, rather than lists of weaknesses and deficiencies. Can lead to visions of values and possible futures.

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The Building Sustainability Index has been introduced in the New South Wales state planning system and is a web-based self-rating tool focused on residential building only at this time. It serves as a design, planning and assessment tool, measuring the potential performance of proposed residential dwellings against energy performance, thermal comfort and water consumption. BASIX helps enforce the state government's policy targets of reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as well as water use, likely to shift over time. For new construction permits emission performance is currently limited to 40% of those of average homes or apartment buildings implemented before the legislation. To be granted development approval, each development application must carry a BASIX certificate. Certificates are issued once a BASIX assessment has been satisfactorily completed on-line, using either the single dwelling or multi-unit tool. Building applicants - architects, builders, owners, developers - complete the assessment themselves; plug-in software and specialised assessment services can be consulted in the rating process

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 A process used in management and particularly strategic management, in which organisations evaluate various aspects of their processes in relation to best practice, usually within their own sector. This then allows organisations to develop plans on how to adopt such best practice, usually with the aim of increasing some aspect of performance. Benchmarking may be a one-off event, but is often treated as a continuous process in which organisations continually seek to challenge their practices. (also "best practice benchmarking" or "process benchmarking")

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A best practice is a process, technique, or innovative use of technology, equipment or resources that has a proven record of success in providing significant improvement in cost, schedule, quality, performance, safety, environment, or other measurable factors which impact an organisation.

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Capable of being decomposed through the action of bacteria.

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Biodiversity is the variety of life: the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, their genes and the ecosystems of which they are a part.

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Biodynamics is a regenerative agriculture, holistic in approach and practice, through which the farmer and gardener brings the substances and forces of nature into a quality and sustainable production.

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The land and water (both marine and inland waters) area that supports significant photosynthetic activity and biomass accumulation used by humans. This means non-productive land and marginal areas with patchy vegetation are not included. Any area that produces biomass that is not of use to humans is also not included.

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Biota is the total collection of organisms of a geographic region or a time period, from local geographic scales and instantaneous temporal scales all the way up to whole-planet and whole-timescale spatiotemporal scales. The biota of the Earth lives in the biosphere. (Wikipedia)

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Contains waste from the toilet, therefore, has a high load of pathogens and requires advanced levels of treatment.   

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Vigorous discussion to generate ideas in which all possibilities are considered. Widely used first step in generating solutions to problems (Wates, 2000).

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A site containing contaminated soil.  Often ex industrial sites that may pose a risk to people.  Sites will need to be tested for contamination and remedial action is often required.

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The structures and places in which we live, work and play, all of which are integral to improving the health, wellbeing and quality of life of our community as a whole.

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The Burra Charter is the Australia ICOMOS charter for the conservation of places of cultural significance and the 1999 version provides the basis for conservation philosophy in Australia.

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The development of awareness, knowledge, skills and operational capability by certain actors, normally the community, to achieve their purpose (Wates, 2000).

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The person in charge of the meeting or workshop, who manages the entire process, directs the flow of information, monitors effectiveness of work at workshop tables and keeps the proceedings to the agenda and on time.

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Intensive design session, often including ‘all-nighter’, originally just for architecture students but more recently including the public and professionals. The term originated at the Paris Ecole des Beaux-Arts at the turn of the century. Projects were collected at designated times on a cart (charrette) where students would be found putting finishing touches to their schemes. Similar to a Design Workshop (Wates, 2000).

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An opportunity for a randomly selected group of the public (usually about fifteen to twenty people) to deliberate about an issue for between one and five days. A professional facilitator helps them understand a range of viewpoints and search for common ground. Expert witnesses care called on a variety of issues and are questioned by the jurors. The findings are presented to decision-makers.

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The arena of organised citizen activity outside of the state and market sectors. People coming together to define, articulate, and act on their concerns through various forms of organisation and expression.

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Climate change refers to a statistically significant variation in either the mean state of the climate or in its variability, persisting for an extended period (typically decades or longer). Climate change may be due to natural internal processes or external forcings, or to persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere or in land use. (IPCC).

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The climatic area that a dwelling or development is located in and is usually determined based on thermal comfort.  There are many definitions of Australian climate zones. The zones used in Your Development are defined by the Bureau of Meteorology and have been grouped into six broad categories, for simplicity. These are:

• Hot humid/tropical
• Warm humid/sub-tropical
• Hot dry, warm winter
• Hot dry, cold winter/hot arid
• Temperate
• Cool temperate/alpine

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A shared house, rented or co-owned, common arrangement for students. Concerns of residents similar to Cohousing, eg seek like-minded housemates, manage that process (not the landlord), share meals, share most spaces and facilities. Developers most likely to be involved in these in education-related developments. Inclusion of students in design process is beneficial.

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A neighbourhood self-designed by the future residents, wherein each family has a private house but various resources and facilities are shared. This may include a common house for meal-sharing, recreation, children’s play areas, adolescent dens, organic gardens, business suite, meditation room, library, laundry, meeting places, vehicles, tools, white goods … it really depends on the shared vision emerging from the design phase. Cost saving comes from avoiding duplication by sharing expensive resources, bulk purchase, and from the common house enabling more compact private dwellings.

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Cohousing, central living or other forms of housing with shared facilites. May be specially designed for families, working parents, singles and the elderly. Many of these neighbourhoods feature the sharing of common facilities such as dining, child care, workshops, libraries and more. Allows residents to enjoy amenities that would be too expensive for many single households – everything from music and computer rooms to extensive gardens and recreational fields. Most important, this kind of housing represents an active, diverse community where neighbours know each other and children have plenty of room to play (Fromm, 1991).

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An collective household that operates like an extended family. Usually shares a common purse, common ownership, makes collective policy about all aspects of communal life and emphasises the welfare of the group, emulating family and social life. No community assets accrue to members, who pool all or most of their income, work in community businesses and food production, and are housed, fed and receive a small spending allowance. Usually fewer than 20 people. May form part of a larger intentional community such as a kibbutz (Metcalf, 1993). Echoes of hippie culture of the 1960s. See Communes and the Green Vision, by David Pepper. See also Eco-Commune.

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Used in many ways. Usually refers to those living within a small, loosely defined geographical area. Yet any group of individuals who share interests may also be described as a community. Also sometimes used to describe a physical area rather that a group of people (Wates, 2000).

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Housing that is owned or managed by a not for profit provider.  Also called ‘social housing’.

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Measures devised and used by communities for understanding and drawing attention to important issues and trends. Useful for building an agenda for education and action (Wates, 2000).

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Community integration has two aspects. Firstly it refers to the existence of positive, harmonious and mutually beneficial social and cultural relationships between a diversity of people within a community. Secondly, it refers to the physical, social and cultural links between the residents of a new development and those who are current or future residents of the area

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"An organisation created to hold land for the benefit of a community and of individuals within that community … a democratically structured non-profit corporation, with an open membership and a board of trustees elected by the membership … the board typically includes residents of trust-owner lands, other community residents and public-interest representatives. Board members are elected for limited terms, so that the community retains control of the land it owns. … acquires land through purchase or donation with an intention to retain title in perpetuity, thus removing the land from the speculative market … offers life-time leases … transferable to heirs” (Institute for Community Economics, 1982).

Covenants on environmentally & socially responsible land use; no interference with private decisions; lease fees based on use value not land value; privately-built improvements may be sold or taken on departure.

Used in North America as a vehicle for local government to set up partnerships with communities for the purpose of protecting natural or cultural heritage sites at the same time as securing affordable housing (Roseland 1992).

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A process whereby an authority or organisation works with others to plan, provide and promote the wellbeing of communities with the active involvement of communities sin the decisions that affect people’s lives. In Australia, this is often called social planning.

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Compatible use is use which involves no change to the culturally significant fabric, changes which are substantially reversible, or changes which require a minimal impact.

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Is the degree to which corridors are functional in maintaining populations and helping to prevent local extinctions, this being on a neighbourhood to regional scale.

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A measure of connectivity expressed as a ratio of Links divided by Nodes.

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A large number of stakeholders deliberate for between one to three days with the goal of reaching common ground on broad and complex issues and influencing decision-making. They are selected to be representative of the community, as well as by invitation and are overseen by a Guidance Team. Trained table facilitators assist and a forum report is prepared for comment (Hartz-Karp: www.21stcenturydialogue.com)

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A non-voting, group decision-making process that relies on either the approval or consent of all members. Often misunderstood as a requirement for unanimity. Based on the understanding that voting creates winners and losers, and often deep divisions, so agreement is reached by discussion, with various strategies to ensure equity in contribution. Other strategies, eventually involving voting may be ordained for when consensus is not achievable. In some situations such as change of the Development Plan, Community Title may actually require unanimity of the entire electorate, and the ability of one vexatious person to hold out against the whole community. This can be finically ruinous to the community, and need mediation or a hearing in the court specified under the Act.

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All the processes of looking after a place, including maintenance, so as to retain its cultural significance. Depending on the situation it may include preservation, restoration, reconstruction and adaptation or a combination of these.

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Adaptation of a building to accommodate a new use.

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Friendly and lively (Oxford Dictionary)

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waste chilled air/water which is produced as a ‘by product’ of an industrial process which, if able to be delivered, can be used elsewhere in a development

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Housing owned mutually by residents through purchasing a share in a co-op corporation that owns housing. Residents pay rent on their private space, which is their share of the mortgage payments, maintenance and utilities (Fromm, 1991). See also Limited Equity Co-op. They own a share, not a specific dwelling. Members elect a legally responsible Board, while management may be professional or internal. Broad participation, good internal relations and access to ongoing education as needed, facilitate good outcomes. In Denmark, ‘Co-operative Housing’ was the original term for what was to be called ‘Cohousing’ by McCamant & Durrett in 1972.

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More a legal structure describing the ownership-sharing relationship between the people in a collective, and expressing the co-operative nature of the enterprise, than a particular approach to development. Unlike normal corporations, investors, management & line workers are the same people (Reed et al, 2007). Co-ops often work as Incorporated Associations, or non-profit companies (limited by directors’ guarantee), that hold ownership of land and/or buildings on behalf of a community. Community members may have shares as part of their terms of agreement for membership. May be the basis for EcoVillages, Cohousing, communes, Permaculture clusters and many others. eg Maleny (Queensland) has many Co-ops. Many are extended households (leasing co-operatives), but others exist for buying at a better price, sharing overheads for selling produce or for assisting people financially, possibly through a loan fund or land trust.

Co-ops are strong on social equity values and principles, especially seeking self-help, self-responsibility, equity, self-sufficiency, and participatory economics and democracy. See: Co-operative Federation of Victoria Ltd for helpful downloads. In South Australia mutual benefit co-operatives may be set up between public housing tenants living in a subregion. A good example of a Co-operative, affordable Cohousing with a mix of private and public ownership, set up as an Incorporated Association, is Pinakarri Community, part-funded by a HomeWest grant. In WA Government Sustainability Case Studies link .

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Implies shared responsibility between citizens and public officials (and more established shared legitimacy of interest and involvement), in producing services and managing development processes. Aim: to work together constructively through inevitable tensions and conflicts, negotiating outcomes with recognised power and responsibility sharing. Term used widely in Europe to mean community engagement.

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are the subordinate condition to fully functional, continuous habitat (remnant), and are not in themselves a conservation outcome. The purpose of corridor retention in development is to maintain populations and help prevent local extinctions while not adversely affecting survival rates during movement through them. In planning a development, corridors can be used as conservation practice to ameliorate the impacts of habitat fragmentation.

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Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

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Community Supported Agriculture. 1960s concept originated in Switzerland & Japan. Related to insecurity of farm income and consumer concern for healthiness of food supply as agribusiness practices and distance from source have undermined both. Consumers wanting safe food link up with farmers wanting reliable markets. Community members enter a business relationship with a farmer through shares: sharing the risks and the bounty, and agreeing to cover the overheads and the farmer’s salary in the meantime. Operates in some EcoVillage settings such as West Haven Farm of Eco village at Ithaca.  See Community Supported Agriculture Web Site.

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Cultural significance means the aesthetic, historic, scientific or social or spiritual value for past, present or future generations. Cultural significance is embodied in the place itself, its fabric, setting, use, associations, meanings, records, related places and related objects. Places may have a range of meanings for individuals or groups. (Australia ICOMOS 1999)

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The area around an item that allows its significance to be understood.

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A representative, random sample of the population (150 to 400 people) is surveyed before and after listening to and questioning competing experts and taking part in dialogue with peers over one to four days. Care is taken to provide a briefing document and facilitation to assist participants. A final report informs policy. (Hartz-Karp: www.21stcenturydialogue.com)

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Based on the EcoEfficiency practices of ‘Doing more with less’; the famous ‘3 Rs’ or ‘4 Rs’: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair, Reform, Redesign (the process of product), Review (the need), R…  and when all else fails, offset for energy and CO₂ emissions.

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Demolition and clearance, with new development on the site.

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Reference to street layouts that are hierarchical and tree-like in structure.

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The number of homes per hectare of land.

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Term used to describe the use of adaptable models to develop detailed design proposals for a building or site. Participants explore options by moving parts of the model around: e.g., parts of a building or whole buildings. Similar concept to Planning for Real but on a smaller scale (Wates, 2000).

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A measure of directness of travel path to a destination expressed as a ratio between the straight line distance to the destination (as the crow flies) divided by the distance of actual path travelled.

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A valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of an investment opportunity. Discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis uses future free cash flow projections and discounts them (most often using the weighted average cost of capital) to arrive at a present value, which is used to evaluate the potential for investment.

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The longer the duration of a project the more likely it is that simple addition or subtraction of inward and outward cash flows will produce a skewed result as far as the assessment of its viability is concerned.

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A term used to describe how some recycling can often result in a reduction in the service of material or product, leading to a lower order use. For example, reclaimed bricks going to be used as roadbase.

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Water that is suitable for human consumptions without harmful health risks.

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Research and analysis focused on assessing the proposal in its social context. Produces a report that describes this social context and analyses the potential social risks, opportunities and benefits associated with the proposal. Identifies any issues to be addressed in the master planning phase in order to enhance social sustainability outcomes.

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Full-spectrum neighbourhood design that includes social and ecological function in the design; generally includes participation of future users in the design phase at least. SCD in Scandinavia is sometimes referred to as ‘urban ecology’, but this may function at larger or smaller scales than neighbourhood.

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Small rural, eco-sensitive co-operative community run as a household. Example Alpha Farm Oregon USA: “Our purpose is to create a holistic community in harmony with each other and the earth, sharing along the way with the wider community and society.”

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After The Natural Step System Conditions for Sustainability, housing that:

• Reduces wasteful dependence on fossil fuels, heavy metals and minerals that accumulate in nature;
• Reduces wasteful dependence on chemicals and synthetic substances that accumulate in nature;
• Reduces encroachment upon ecosystems and
• Meets human needs fairly and efficiently. (James & Lahti, 2004)

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A network of local governments committed to serious action on sustainability.

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An ecologically healthy city. “Ecocities seek the health and vitality of humanity and nature, and that is all. And that is enough – because it can guide all the rest” (Register 1987). Richard Register invented the term. A carpenter from Berkeley, he has birthed the international Ecocities movement (which runs significant international conferences biennially) and demonstrated by a strong positive vision, in shared thought and local action how we might go about crafting that journey.

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Society based on recycling & reusing substances, materials and structures, closing materials and energy loops in imitation of natural processes. As in industrial ecology, where one factory’s waste becomes another’s feedstock: strong focus for MFP Australia.

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Following ancient layouts, an eco-designed cluster of houses or a cluster of eco-designed houses, usually in a rural setting. Or an eco-neighbourhood.  Or a Cohousing, designed within an EcoVillage or as one or more housing clusters on a Multiple Occupancy land parcel. Examples The Ecovillage at Currumbin (Qld) and EcoVillage Ithaca (New York, several Cohousing neighbourhoods).

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A measure of how much biologically productive land and water an individual, population or activity requires to produce all the resources it consumes and to absorb the waste it generates using prevailing technology and resource management practices. The Ecological Footprint is usually measured in global hectares.

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An ecocycles, systems approach to planning and design that seeks to close ‘loops’ in materials, energy or information flows - imitating Nature, where ‘nothing is wasted’, instead of taking the linear take-make-use-waste approach of modern industry. This approach was espoused and promoted by Swedish participants at the UN Habitat II Conference in Istanbul, 1996, with a booklet on urban development in ‘Ecocycles-adapted industrial society’ (Rolén, 1996).

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The interaction between organisms and their environment

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A tool designed for small business to map its premises as part of the process to establish an Environmental Management System to international standard ISO14001 or EMAS (required in Europe). It has been successfully adapted for use in many types of business, large and small, agriculture, schools and homes. It is available free of charge to interested individuals, companies, organisations and local authorities for personal use. It can be downloaded from the Ecomapping website. Trained and licenced consultants are available for programmes beyond this scope.

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Services provided by nature – air quality, water quality etc. Stormwater management through WSUD is based on the ecosystem services provided by wetlands and natural systems.

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“Ecovillages are urban or rural communities of people, who strive to integrate a supportive social environment with a low-impact way of life. To achieve this, they integrate various aspects of ecological design, permaculture, ecological building, green production, alternative energy, community building practices, and much more.” Global Ecovillage Network (GEN)

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An approach to food production where exotic ornamentals are replaced with edible or productive plants. In village or town settings street trees are replaced with fruit trees and food is produced from the common land for all to share. Example: Village Homes Davis CA in the famous eco-community designed by architect Michael Corbett.

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El Niño, in its original sense, is a warm water current which periodically flows along the coast of Ecuador and Peru, disrupting the local fishery. This oceanic event is associated with a fluctuation of the intertropical surface pressure pattern and circulation in the Indian and Pacific oceans, called the Southern Oscillation. This coupled atmosphere-ocean phenomenon is collectively known as El Niño-Southern Oscillation, or ENSO. During an El Niño event, the prevailing trade winds weaken and the equatorial countercurrent strengthens, causing warm surface waters in the Indonesian area to flow eastward to overlie the cold waters of the Peru current. This event has great impact on the wind, sea surface temperature and precipitation patterns in the tropical Pacific. It has climatic effects throughout the Pacific region and in many other parts of the world. The opposite of an El Niño event is called La Niña. (IPCC).

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The quantity of energy required by all of the activities associated with a production process, including the relative proportions consumed in all activities upstream to the acquisition of natural resources and the share of energy used in making equipment and in other supporting functions.

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Endemic, in a broad sense, can mean "belonging" or "native to", "characteristic of", or "prevalent in" a particular geography, race, field, area, or environment; native to an area or scope. (Wikipedia)

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An energy audit is a systematic gathering and analysis of energy use information and can be used to determine energy efficiency improvements of a building, plant/equipment or a specific process. The Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 3598:2000 Energy Audits defines three levels of audit.

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Using less energy to perform the same function.

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A land area estimated based on the land required to sequester carbon dioxide. 1 global hectare can sequester 3.7 tons of CO₂ per year.

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An interactive process held over one to four days involves a representative group of people (stakeholders, random sample and self-nominations) who learn about issues, deliberate with each other and search for common ground. Multidisciplinary technical teams brief participants. Participants agree on definition of triple bottom line criteria, advantages and disadvantages of options and prioritise options. A follow-up report is prepared later. (Hartz-Karp: www.21stcenturydialogue.com)

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A management tool comprising a systematic, documented, periodic and objective evaluation of how well a project, organisation or equipment is performing with the aim of helping to safeguard the environment. The audit should facilitate management control of environmental practices and assess compliance with policy objectives and regulatory requirements.

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A means for companies or organisations of ensuring effective implementation of an environmental management plan or procedures and compliance with environmental policy objectives and targets. A key feature on any effective environmental management system is the preparation of documented system procedures and instructions to ensure effective communication and continuity of implementation. The international certification standard for EMS is ISO 14001, which demonstrates that a system is operated to an internationally recognised standard. Alternatively a customised system can be developed addressing the particular needs of the operation.

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The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act) is the Australian Government’s central piece of environmental legislation. It provides a legal framework to protect and manage nationally and internationally important flora, fauna, ecological communities and heritage places — defined in the Act as matters of national environmental significance (http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/)

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Evapotranspiration (ET) is a term used to describe the sum of evaporation and plant transpiration from the earth's land surface to atmosphere. Evaporation accounts for the movement of water to the air from sources such as the soil, canopy interception, and waterbodies. Transpiration accounts for the movement of water within a plant and the subsequent loss of water as vapor through stomata in its leaves. Evapotranspiration is an important part of the water cycle. An element (such as a tree) that contributes to evapotranspiration can be called an evapotranspirator. (Wikipedia).

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This is additional time spent at a bus, light rail/tram or train stop/station when the passenger has been unable to board the first service due to overcrowding. This component is largely beyond the control of the passenger and is a function of the demand compared to capacity of the service.

Without knowing more about the desired departure times of passengers it is difficult to accurately estimate schedule delay time and excess wait time and for this reason it is common to find scheduled wait time as the sole representative of service frequency in the specification of generalised cost, e.g. half of the headway = (30 mins/number of services per hour). It should be noted that wait time will also be affected by service unreliability and cancelled services.
(Source: Transport strategy: a Decision-Maker’s Guidebook, University of Leeds, Leeds)

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Costs or benefits that impact society, but are not included in the market price of the goods or service.

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All the physical material of the place.

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Preservation of the façade of an historic building, with a new building behind it.

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Bringing people together to decide what they wish to do, and to work together to decide how to do it.

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A person with group process skills responsible for the balanced flow of information at a workshop table group of approximately six to ten people. This person often reports back on behalf of their group to plenary sessions. They and the table recorder receive their briefing instructions from the Chair or Head Facilitator.

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A pre 2000BCE Chinese design system for living in harmony with your environment. Fung = wind, Shui = water, representing the continuous energy exchange between people and environment. Health and wellbeing are thus facilitated by both modifying our environment to meet our needs and modifying our own understanding and behaviour to better use the existing environment – especially in the areas in which we spend the most time: home, office and car. It is explained as a science of subtle energy and its flows (Chi/Qi) throughout the site and buildings. The character of Chi is related to the five elements of earth, metal, water, wood and fire, through selection of shape, colour, angle of view, aesthetics and contextual relationships.

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An innovative workshop approach, where some participants sit in the centre of a large group (in the “round”) and participate in a process that the others observe. It can be used in role-plays within workshops or in community meetings or workshops as a way of highlighting the role of the professional planner in resolving community issues. Workshop technique where participants sit around, and observe, a planning team working on a problem without taking part themselves.

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infrastructure providing a hard surface for the movement of people on foot, with prams or by wheelchair.

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The Forest Fire Danger Index (FDI) is used to predict the likelihood of ignition and difficulty of suppression of bushfires.

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Coal, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and fuels derived from crude oil (including petrol and diesel). They are called fossil fuels because they have been formed over long periods of time from ancient fossilised organic matter.

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refers to streets that do not provide access to private motor vehicles.

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Are those that satisfy the purpose of a corridor, and in doing so facilitate connectivity both across the site and on site/off site.

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Highly structured two-and-a-half-day process allowing a community or organisation to create a shared vision for its future. Ideally, 64 people take part: eight tables of eight (Wates, 2000).

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Global Footprint Network

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A productivity weighted area used to report both the biocapacity of the earth, and the demand on biocapacity (the Ecological Footprint).

Refers to one hectare (approximately two soccer fields) of biologically productive space with world-average productivity.

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Gross Leasable Area

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Housing loans that acknowledge higher up-front costs, increasing the amount borrowed by 10-20%, but writing in increased payments on the basis that they will be offset by reduced running costs (utilities). Usually specify types of resource-efficient strategies that must be installed in order to qualify.

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Use of a layer of vegetation as the outer roof coating instead of traditional tiles, iron, etc

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Feedback forms (usually printed on green paper) for workshop participants to fill in if they wish further information, want to be contacted after the event or feel that issues they wish to raise were not addressed fully during the workshop. The workshop Chair or other representative of the client should respond to all Green Sheets in writing or by telephone as soon as possible after the workshop.

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Planting of vegetation such that is either attaches to the external wall of a building or structure, or hangs (as in a hanging garden) adjacent to the wall structure, to regulate temperature, or in indoor applications, provide for gardens in limited space.

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A site that is constructed on ex agricultural or other previously non urban land or on the edge of communities to which new roads and services are usually required.

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Are components of the atmosphere that contribute to the greenhouse effect. Some greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere, while others result from human activities. Naturally occurring greenhouse gases include water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. Certain human activities, however, add to the levels of most of these naturally occurring gases.

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A site on which commercial establishments such as shopping centres and buildings are built.  Usually will not contain contaminated soil.

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Greywater is any wastewater from a property apart from toilets (Diaper, 2004).

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Healthy communities are communities that:
• Provide affordable, appropriate, accessible housing
• Adjust the physical environment for inclusiveness and accessibility
• Ensure access to key health and supportive services
• Ensure accessible, affordable, reliable and safe transport
• Provide work, volunteer and education opportunities
• Encourage participation in civic, cultural, social and recreational activities.
(US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Aging, Center for Home Care policy & Research – Case Studies [2005], 2005 Liveable Communities for All Ages Competition)
 

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An important element of modern intentional community housing, usually implemented in the form of non-toxic paints and other finishes, avoidance of PVC and careful choice of insulating materials. Purists may avoid coatings altogether on resource conservation and pollution prevention grounds.

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A heat wave is a prolonged period of excessively hot weather, which may be accompanied by excessive humidity. The term is relative to the usual weather in the area, so temperatures that people from a hotter climate find normal can be a heat wave if they are outside the normal pattern for a cooler area. The term is applied both to "ordinary" weather variations and to extraordinary spells of heat which may only occur once a century.

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Heritage refers to what we inherit from the past and what we value. It may be something old that becomes rarer and more valuable with age, but it may also provide a way of understanding the past, be associated with a famous event, people, places or values, or be a symbol of identity and aspiration. Heritage may incorporate a range of values; from the value of the physical fabric to socially-based values.

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Housing Industry Assocciation

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This encompasses the history of aesthetics, science and society and generally underlies all other cultural heritage values. A place may have historic value because it was influenced by an historic figure, event, phase or activity. It may also have historic value as the site of an important event.

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The International Council of Monuments and Sites is an international organisation linked to UNESCO that brings together people concerned with the conservation and study of places of cultural significance. The Burra Charter is the Australia ICOMOS charter for the conservation of places of cultural significance and the 1999 version provides the basis for conservation philosophy in Australia.

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The abiotic and biotic elements of a site pre-development, and sites may have anthropogenic perturbation existing from previous exploitation.

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Co-location of industrial development such that the waste from one site/process becomes a fuel/resource for another.

A systems approach to industrial dematerialisation as practised by MFP Australia, whereby a review of waste streams and feedstocks in an industrial zone are audited with a view to ‘loop work’: connecting the waste from one industry or factory with the feedstock stream of another. eg Fly ash from furnaces becomes a key ingredient in cement that creates a stronger product, reducing quantity needed for building; or a new product may be developed that uses one or more waste streams.

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A site within an already developed area.  The site is likely to be in close proximity to built dwellings and existing amenities.

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Communications technology may be a driver for development (mobile access, highspeed internet, etc).

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Integrated Design is a design process which prioritises collaboration between the various professional disciplines on the project team with the goal of integrating design features and technology with the ultimate aim of increasing efficiencies and optimising the sustainability performance of the built solution. Active participation in the development and decision-making process by stakeholders is essential.

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The ISO 14000 series is a family of environmental management standards developed by the International Organization for Standardisation (ISO). The ISO 14000 standards are designed to provide an internationally recognised framework for environmental management, measurement, evaluation and auditing. They do not prescribe environmental performance targets, but instead provide organisations with the tools to assess and control the environmental impact of their activities, products or services. The standards address the following subjects: environmental management systems; environmental auditing; environmental labels and declarations; environmental performance evaluation; and life cycle assessment.

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SI unit of energy. It was named after James Prescott Joule.  As a rough guide, 1 joule is the amount of energy required to lift a one kilogram object up by a height of about 10 centimetres on the surface of the Earth, by the most efficient method.

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Energy unit used for electricity.  One kWh is equivalent to 3.6×106 Joules  (3600 kJ or 3.6 MJ).

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Land use refers to the location and activities within a geographic area.  Often activities are grouped into relatively basic categories, such as residential, industrial, recreational and commercial.

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Land use mix (or mixed land use) is the diversity or variety of land uses (e.g. residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural).  A diverse land use mix is associated with shorter travel distances between places of interest and activities.

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Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - Green Building Rating System® has been developed by the United States Green Building Council.

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LEED for Neighbourhood Development is a US based rating system that integrates the principles of smart growth, new urbanism and green building into a standard for neighbourhood development.  It is being developed by the US based Green Building Council in partnership with the Congress for the New Urbanism and the Natural Resources Defense Council. 

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Local Exchange Trading System (or Local Equity Trading System or Local Economic Trading System or Local Economy/ic Transfer System). Local regional pseudo-currency with local accounting admin, designed to enable bartering of goods and services, keeping money local (perhaps regional), and enabling low income and otherwise economically excluded people to participate in society. It also keeps wealth local. It is poorly understood by society how the support of supermarkets actively drains local resources into the pockets of large international corporations at the expense of local economies.

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An objective process to evaluate the environmental burdens associated with a product, process, or activity by identifying energy and materials used and wastes released to the environment, and to evaluate and implement opportunities to affect environmental improvements.  LCA is commonly referred to as a "cradle-to-grave" analysis. LCA's key elements are:

1. identify and quantify the environmental loads involved; e.g. the energy and raw materials consumed, the emissions and wastes generated;
2. evaluate the potential environmental impacts of these loads; and
3. assess the options available for reducing these environmental impacts.

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Sum of all discounted costs over the life of an asset.  Fundamental aspects considered within a life cycle costing are capital expenditure, ongoing maintenance and labour costs, replacement costs, expected service life, and decommissioning cost (Landcom, 2006).

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Links are segments between Nodes, used for the purpose of calculating Connectivity Index.

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A facilitator at an issue stall in a SpeakOut.

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The continuous protective care of the fabric, contents and setting of the place and is to be distinguished from repair which involves restoration or reconstruction.

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One thousand joules

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Permaculture approach to landscape design focuses on usefulness of plants as well as origin. Artificial ecosystems including plants and animals may be set up for the purpose of emulating natural cycles for harvesting purposes, using species not necessarily local. Local indigenous habitat may also be preserved or restored. Whatever is planted, the exhortation is always to select mindfully, with function(s) in mind.

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A human intervention to reduce the sources or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases.

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Ease of moving about. Often specifically meaning access to a private vehicle for travel.
(Source: Transport strategy: a Decision-Maker’s Guidebook, University of Leeds, Leeds)

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Full-size representation of a change or development, usually on its proposed site, prior to finalising the design, used to test the proposed design (Wates, 2000).

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this is also known as mode split in some literature. Mode share is the proportion of travel in the urban area performed using different modes, such as public transport, car, bicycle and walk. Often, the breakdown is given only for two modes, public and private transport, when data for the other modes are not readily available.

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The Multifunction Polis (MFP) was a controversial concept, first proposed in 1987, to build a new technology city with a population of 100,000.  The MFP was to include futuristic villages containing housing, education, employment and recreation. A modern communication system was proposed to attract high tech industry funded by Asian investment, with an emphasis on Japanese investment. In 1990, a site was chosen in the north of Adelaide. The proposal generated considerable opposition and the funding never eventuated and the original project was abandoned in 1998.

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the National Australian Built Environment Rating System, is a comprehensive post-construction rating tool. Designed for assessing existing buildings, not for evaluating designs under development, NABERS has been developed for the rating of residential and commercial office buildings by tracking the impacts they have on the environment, both directly and indirectly.

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New urbanism was an urban design related movement formed in the United States during the early 1980’s.  The goal of new urbanist design is to provide for a diverse range of housing and non-residential land use (jobs) which are provided within a highly connected transport system, largely based on walking.  (Source: www.newurbanism.org)

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"A return to the classic principles of placemaking” (Katz 1994). Underpinned by a ‘Charter of the New Urbanism’, and strongly driven in the USA by the large estate developers Duany & Plater-Zyberk. Adopted in 1991 as a basis for urban design by the MFP (MultiFunction Polis Adelaide), which transmuted eventually into the Mawson Lakes Development SA.

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Not in My Back Yard!! Planning argot for ‘community resistance’ to a planning or development idea. The antithesis is ‘YIMBY!!’ Yes! we’ll host that!

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Nodes are intersections and ends of cul-de-sacs, used for the purpose of calculating Connectivity Index.

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Water that has not been treated to meet drinking water standards but that is suitable for non-consumptive uses, such as garden irrigation or toilet flushing. 

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May be defined as the net present cost of the purchase or project and all future revenues flowing from it discounted back to the present time. Various allowances may need to be taken into account, such as the value of the purchase or project at the end of its useful life.

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Process conducted for all or part of a day, when a project of organisation encourages people to come and find out what it is doing via displays and opportunities to make comments. Often used to generate interest and momentum. Similar to a SpeakOut, only without the intensive facilitation of that model (Wates, 2000).

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Event designed to allow those promoting development initiatives to present them to a wider public and secure reactions in an informal manner. Displays and experts to explain plans and drawings are the usual way this even is organised. Sometimes a small discussion group is also held for an hour or less. Halfway between an exhibition and a workshop.

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Can be both Private and Public, with conservation on Private Open Space protected under a covenant. Covenants on Private Open Space have the advantage of devolving responsibility for day-to-day weed management, for example, to the land owner after initial clearing at the time of development, as weed re-infestation is considered to be of major concern. Covenants apply to the subject land and are for the life of the estate ie. not extinguished at the time of resale to subsequent purchaser(s).

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Framework developed by Harrison Owen in the 1980s to allow for maximum participant involvement in a conference or workshop. There are no keynote speakers, agendas, pre-announced workshops or panel discussions. Rather, participants create their own conference, becoming facilitators, leaders and participants. In this context Open Space workshops are held (Wates, 2000)

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Workshop processes that last from ½ to three days for between 20 and 1,000 participants. The process for generating commitment to action in communities or organisations. Features include starting without an agenda, with the issues to be discussed formulated by the participants themselves, who then arrange for them to be discussed.

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Process that involves people directly in decision-making that affects them, rather than through formally elected representatives such as Councillors or MPs as in representative democracy (Wates, 2000).

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Design processes, which involve the users of the item or places being, designed (Wates, 2000).

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Passive design is design that does not require mechancical heating or cooling.  Homes that are passively designed take advantage of natural energy flows to maintain thermal confort.

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The term passive open spaces is used to describe outdoor areas that are principally designed for use in an unstructured or informal way.  These might include neighbourhood or icon parks that are used by families for BBQs or other sporadic events. 

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Same as Direct route index

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A technique to measuring the efficiency of the walkable catchment
“Walkable catchments, sometimes referred to as ‘pedsheds’, are maps showing the actual area within a five minute walking distance from any centre, or ten minutes from any major transport stop such as a railway station.

The centre could be a neighbourhood or town centre. The walkable catchment is simply a technique for comparative evaluation of how easy it is to move through an urban area in order to get to and from these centres or facilities. These maps are the best estimates of walkability, and as such are an indication of energy efficiency” (Liveable Neighbourhoods, Edition 3 Draft, 2004: 154).

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Permaculture is based on close observation and imitation of Nature, and increasingly celebrated as the sustainable alternative to the modern monoculture food production.

‘Permanent’ + ‘Agriculture’. An internationally acclaimed Australian model for productivity based on emulating Nature’s systems. “An integrated, evolving system of perennial and self-perpetuating plant and animal species useful to man” (Mollison & Holmgren mid 1970s). “Caring for the Earth, Caring for People”.

“Consciously designed landscape which mimic the patterns and relationships found in nature, while yielding an abundance of food, fibre and energy for provision of local needs.” “The use of systems thinking and design principles that provide the organising framework for implementing this vision.” (Holmgren 2002) or “… which can be used to design, establish, manage and improve all efforts made by individuals, households and communities towards a sustainable future (Holmgren 2008)”.

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Planning Institute of Australia

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A site, area, building or other work, group of buildings or other works together with associated contents and surrounds. Examples would be a ruin, an archaeological site, a town or an agricultural landscape.

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Eye-catching, hands-on participatory design method using three-dimensional models of a neighborhood or structure plan. Registered brand name for a UK-based method of community involvement in planning and development focussing on the construction of flexible cardboard models and suggestion and priority cards. Community priorities and a profile of community needs and desires are the outcomes.

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Maintenance of an item in its current physical condition and retarding deterioration.

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Housing that is owned or managed by a government housing authority.  Also called ‘social housing’.

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A transport service provided to the general public for a fee.  The service may be provided by a public or private operator.    Please see the fact sheet for innovative modes for guides on public transport systems other than conventional buses and trains.

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The frequency of public transport services and the hours they operate.

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An urban model based on the original town of Radburn in New Jersey, USA, built in 1928. The main concept is based on the separation of vehicular and pedestrian traffic by having dedicated systems for vehicular versus pedestrian/ cyclists’ uses, with the street network serving the cars and other vehicles and the linked car-free corridors fronted by dwellings serving pedestrians and cyclists. The continuous car-free corridors are made possible by a system of disjointed fingers of cul-de-sacs, which allows the corridors to flow without crossing the streets.

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Piece-by-piece reassembly of a building, either in-situ or on a new site.

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Returning a place as nearly as possible to a known earlier state with the introduction of materials (new or old) into the fabric.

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A person assigned to a group table to record in a format all can read, the ideas and decisions of group members. Ideally, this person is paid and is not a volunteer community member, as it is demanding work. Community members, trained and paid, make excellent recorders.

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Reclaimed effluent, which as a result of treatment is suitable for a range of beneficial uses that would not occur otherwise.

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Physical intervention in the fabric of the building to ensure its continued performance.

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Market trading mechanisms created through the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 in connection with the commonwealth government's mandatory renewable energy target. The certificates provide a 'premium' revenue stream for electricity generated from renewable sources.

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Construction of an exact copy of an existing building.

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Returning an item to the physical condition it had at some previous stage of its life by removing accretions or by reassembling existing components without the introduction of new material.

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Any change made to an existing structure to reduce or eliminate damage to that structure from flooding, erosion, high winds, earthquakes, or other hazards.

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Is a stream side area which support a wealth of biological diversity and is ecologically important regardless of its role as a corridor.

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Examination of risks from disasters existing in any community. The basis for risk reduction. Comprises three components: hazard analysis; vulnerability analysis; resource assessment (Wates, 2000).

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Adopting the role of others and acting out scenarios. Used to help people understand the views and aspirations of others (Wates, 2000).

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(Otherwise known as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)) – The theory of proper design and effective use of the built environment to reduce the incidence and fear of crime, to improve quality of life, and to enhance business profitability. (Lake 2006)

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Soil salinity (sodic soil) is a natural part of the Australian landscape. Salinity occurs when salts found naturally in soil or groundwater are mobilised, and the resulting capillary rise and evaporation of ground moisture concentrate the mobilised salts at the ground’s surface.

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This is the difference between when a passenger would most like to travel and the scheduled time of travel. This could involve the time spent waiting at home or at work before walking to the bus or tram/light rail stop, or train station. The estimation of schedule delay time depends upon when passengers would ideally like to travel, the timetable and passengers’ preferences for arriving early or late. As service headway (time between two particular services normally calculated as 60mins/number of services per hour) increases it is likely that this element of generalised cost (the monetary and time cost of a journey) increases in importance relative to scheduled wait time.

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This is the time spent waiting at the stop and is usually taken to be a function of the service headway and service reliability. Where services are frequent and at regular intervals, passengers are assumed to arrive at the bus stop at random and are therefore assumed to wait on average a time equal to half the service headway. Where services are infrequent, it is assumed that passengers time their arrival at the bus stop to coincide with the arrival of the bus.

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The scientific or research value of a place will depend upon the importance of the data involved, on its rarity, quality or representativeness, and the degree to which the place may contribute further substantial information.

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Preliminary exploration of a subject of project (Wates, 2000).

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A structured meeting of between thirty and fifty invited participants selected to be heterogeneous but sharing identifiable interests; often conducted early in a project to identify a broad cross-section of views; lasting from half a day to several days
Conference or workshop for key interested parties organised as a first stage in a community engagement process on a project. May include briefings, role-play, reconnaissance, interactive displays, workshops and plenary sessions. Similar to planning day or community planning forum.

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Section 94 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act (NSW) provides that, if the consent authority is satisfied that if a development is likely to increase the demand for public amenities or public services in the area, the authority may require the applicant to make a financial payment and/or dedicate land free of cost as a  condition of approving the development.

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Extraction (mining) of blackwater from the sewer for onsite (high level) treatment and reuse. Requires specific provision of specific site based infrastructure.

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sections of the street or road environment where pedestrians and cars or cyclists and have relatively equal rights of way. This is accomplished by reducing travel speeds for private vehicles to match those of people on foot.

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Initiated by Professor John Brown, Professor of Architecture at University of Calgary, Canada. “is an international movement devoted to bringing good design into real life. It takes its name from the slow food movement which arose as a reaction to the processed food industry. The sprawl of cookie cutter housing that surrounds us is like fast food - standardized, homogenous, and wasteful. It contributes to a too fast life that is bad for us, our cities, and the environment. In the same way that slow food raises awareness of the food we eat and how these choices affect our lives, Slow Home provides design focused information to empower each of us to take more control of our homes and improve the quality of where and how we live.”

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Ability of social structures and institutions to provide a supportive framework for individuals; includes firms, trade unions, families, communities, voluntary organisations, legal/political systems, educational institutions, health services, financial institutions and systems of property rights (Wates, 2000).

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Housing that is owned or managed by a government housing authority or a not for profit provider.  Includes ‘public’ and ‘community’ housing.

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Seen as a strategy for changing behaviour, one that combines the best elements of the traditional approaches to social change in an integrated planning and action framework. Importantly, this approach uses advances in communication technology and marketing skills.

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A social plan draws on previous research and analysis into the social context of the site, and the potential social risks and opportunities, in order to make recommendations for enhancing social outcomes of the project. It is likely to include recommendations for community facilities and other kinds of social infrastructure, and detail priorities for service provision and processes for community development and community consultation. A social plan identifies social objectives, and sets out the social initiatives that the developer will adopt in order to achieve those objectives and the specific actions that will be undertaken by the developer (often in partnership with other agencies).

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A socially sustainable society is one that is just, equitable, inclusive and democratic, and provides a decent quality of life for current and future generations. Social inequity and division is linked with conflict and instability – major impediments to sustainability. Furthermore, one of the key principles of sustainability is balance. A highly stratified society with unbalanced access to goods, services, social infrastructure, resources and opportunities is not socially sustainable. Poverty, deprivation and other social problems exclude people both physically and socially from the benefits and opportunities afforded by full social and economic participation. Social sustainability then, requires conditions of equity, access, social justice and social inclusion to be met.

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This embraces the qualities for which a place has become a focus of spiritual, political, national or other cultural sentiment to a majority or minority group.

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Also known as ‘dynamic governance’ or ‘dynamic self-governance’. A method of organising and governing ourselves using the principle of consent. It produces more inclusive, sustainable and productive organisations and promotes society’s most cherished values – equality, freedom, education, and entrepreneurial opportunity – more deeply than the forms of democracy that rule our civic lives or the autocratic structures that rule our work lives. John Buck & Sharon Villines (2007).

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SoHo, or small office - home office housing, comprise of integrated working (office) and residential (home) uses that are undertaken within an otherwise typical home.  Office use is normally a small business (typically 1-3 people) or a home office for working for another business from home. 

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The radiant energy of the sun, which can be converted into other forms of energy, such as heat or electricity.

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Electricity generated from solar radiation.

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Solar radiation is the essential source of energy for the world’s climate system and thus determines weather and climate. Total solar radiation values are highest in clear, sunny conditions and lowest during cloudy days. When heavy clouds block the sun or the sun is below the horizon, direct solar radiation is zero.

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An interactive event a bit like an Open House but intensively staffed. Participants drop in and visit a number of issue stalls set up with interpretive material with facilitators and recorders the community or planning issues under consideration. A staffed exhibition with lots of interesting things to read. It’s a bit like a meeting and a bit like an exhibition or “open house”. It provides an informal and interactive “public meeting” environment where a wide range of people have a chance to participate. One feature is that it encourages casual, “drop-in” participation at people’s convenience. At the SpeakOut, people find issues they wish to “speak out” about and have their say, with comments clearly recorded by a Recorder. A Listener pays close attention and asks questions.

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An individual, organisation, group, agency or business with an interest in the future of the project and/or the community.

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The best-known definition of sustainability or sustainable development is the definition by the World Commission on Environment and Development. This suggests that sustainability is defined as "forms of progress that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs."

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Community that lives in harmony with its local environment and does not cause damage to distant environments or other human or nonhuman communities—now or in the future. Quality of life and the interest of future generations are valued above immediate material consumption and economic growth (Wates, 2000).

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is a socio-ecological process characterised by the fulfilment of human needs while maintaining the quality of the natural environment indefinitely. The linkage between environment and development was globally recognized in 1980, when the International Union for the Conservation of Nature published the World Conservation Strategy and used the term "sustainable development." The concept came into general usage following publication of the 1987 report of the Brundtland Commission - formally, the World Commission on Environment and Development. Set up by the United Nations General Assembly, the Brundtland Commission coined what was to become the most often-quoted definition of sustainable development as development that "meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Although commendable, this definition is not operational and has created much antagonism and cognitive dissonance.  The field of sustainable development can be conceptually broken into three constituent parts: environmental sustainability, economic sustainability and social-political sustainability. (Source: Wikipedia)

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Within a workshop, a group of six to ten people under the guidance of a facilitator and assisted by a recorder, usually working through a structured agenda and reporting back to the full workshop group in plenary sessions.

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The total of all costs in acquiring goods or services from the inception of the demand for them until their safe and satisfactory delivery at the point required.

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A product cost estimate derived from a competitive market price and used to reduce costs through continuous improvement and replacement of technologies and processes.

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Refers to a center of high-tech manufacturing and information-based quaternary industry.

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A simple model for understanding sustainability that provides an operational definition that is widely applicable to all sustainability efforts. Uses four System Conditions for Sustainability for principled decisions and analysis using Backcasting from a preferred future, and works as a contextual framework for any sustainability tools or strategies such as Zero Emissions, Ecological Footprinting, Environmental Management Systems etc. Can be used in any setting from community to business & industry to organisations to project management.

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The relationship between a person’s thermal sensation and the stimulus in the form of the thermal environment in conditions of moderate heat stress (generally taken to include thermal discomfort)

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Pipe network for he transport and distribution of non-drinking water.  Pipes are often coloured purple to distinguish from drinking water services.

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the top layer of soil rich in micro-organisms, nutrients, and locally endemic seed stock.

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The purchase price of a product and its transportation cost plus indirect handling inspection quality, re-work maintenance, and all other follow on costs associated with the purchase including costs of disposal.

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refers to street treatments like speed humps, roundabouts and chicanes that work to reduce the speed and volume of through traffic, thereby making the street environment more attractive to pedestrian and other modes of transport as well as other street activities such as outdoor eating.

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refers to streets that provide access to pedestrians, cyclists and forms of motorised public transport like buses, taxis and light rail, but not to private motor vehicles.

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A planning approach that develops a land-use activity around a transport hub. TODs are located on or near major transport stops or stations and are of a high density, encouraging more people to use public transportation, walk or cycle.

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Measures to change demand for travel, typically encouraging use of public transport, and less use of single occupant vehicles.

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Referring to the notion that organisations are responsible for social and environmental as well as financial outcomes.

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A tropical cyclone (also referred to as a tropical depression, tropical storm, typhoon, or hurricane depending on strength and geographical context) is a type of low pressure system which generally forms in the tropics. While they can be highly destructive, tropical cyclones are an important part of the atmospheric circulation system, which moves heat from the equatorial region toward the higher latitudes.

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Urban Developement Institute of Australia

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An approach to design that achieves accessibility and ease of use for everyone, including people with disabilities. 

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Urban environment includes both natural and built places and encompasses state, regional, metropolitan, local and remote settings.

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Urban form is a term used to describe the physical elements within a city.  It refers to the arrangement, function and aesthetic qualities of the design of buildings and streets, which overlay the land use and transport system.

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Increased absorption and re-radiation of heat encountered in highly urbanised areas. A direct result of increased thermal mass from buildings, roads, carparks, etc causing increased solar heat gain, and increased in its effect as a result of clearing/reduced urban vegetation.

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An image of how things might be in the future. May be in words or pictures. Provides useful guide for developing project and program priorities. Having ‘vision’ implies being imaginative. Creative visualisation and visioning exercises can be used as the first stage of a participatory planning process (Wates, 2000). A vision gives a community direction and an overall philosophy. Working through a vision builds consensus and provides a shared picture of the future. It also generates community energy and commitment to take the necessary actions to achieve it.

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the measure of the overall walking conditions in an area (Wikipedia)

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Walkable communities give people a variety of destinations within walking distance of home, and safe and connected streets and pathways to get there.

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good or satisfactory condition of existence (Macquarie Dictionary)

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Several definitions of WLC exist. At its most basic, WLC includes the systematic consideration of all costs and revenues associated with the acquisition, use and maintenance and disposal of an asset.

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A dynamic meeting, lasting from half a day to two days, usually consisting of table groups of six to ten people, invited on the basis of skills or specialised interests, or a particular target group. Public workshops can also be held for the general public. Structured sessions are aimed at producing proposals for solutions. Usually aided by a facilitator, explores issues, develops ideas and makes decisions. A less formal and more creative counterpart to a public meeting or committee. Structured for the active involvement of participants. A topic workshop focuses on specific issues. A design workshop includes the use of participatory design techniques.

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A non-confrontational and creative structured process to help large numbers of people engage in interactive conversations and build mutual understanding and collective learning about important issues by working in small groups. The process culminates in a whole group conversation.

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Water sensitive urban design (WSUD) is defined in the NWI as: the integration of urban planning with the management, protection and conservation of the urban water cycle, that ensures urban water management is sensitive to natural hydrological and ecological cycles.

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