Urban and Regional Planner

Urban and regional planners develop policies and plans for the use of land and resources. They advise on the economic, environmental, social and cultural needs of particular localities or regions as they relate to the built environment and the community.

They also work on large-scale projects such as new suburbs, towns, industrial areas, commercial and retail developments, urban renewal projects and transportation links.

Urban and regional planners may perform the following tasks:

develop long-range objectives to cope with growth and change, in consultation with affected communities
perform surveys and site inspections
compile and analyse information on physical, economic, social, legal, political, cultural and environmental factors which affect land use
discuss plans with local communities, private companies and government organisations
consider new developments or re-developing areas and advise state and local governments on planning issues for projects such as new suburbs, transportation links, industrial estates, retail complexes and housing developments
draw up plans for development or re-development and evaluate proposals in terms of benefits and costs, recommending how schemes can be carried out
prepare urban and rural subdivision plans, taking into account various land uses, including residential, public open space, schools and shops
prepare and coordinate economic, social and environmental impact studies
provide evidence for appeals in planning disputes
consult with, and act as an advocate for, community groups or developers
assist developers to obtain planning permits
design strategies to guide land and resource use and development in particular locations
recommend a course of action that ensures local and regional needs will be met, by taking into account factors such as amenity, community facilities, access to employment, retail housing and transport
supervise and work with associates and technicians.

Specialisations:

Planning is a broadly based discipline and it is possible to specialise in a wide range of fields, including strategic planning, urban design, environmental impact assessment, residential planning, commercial and industrial planning, heritage planning, tourism planning and social planning.

Transportation Planner

A transportation planner balances public and private transport to avoid congestion in cities.

Planners work closely with professionals in other fields (e.g. surveying, urban design, architecture, engineering, environment and conservation, property development, community services and transport planning). There is a high level of public contact as planners spend a lot of time in meetings and discussions. Time is also spent on field visits, writing reports and performing research. Planners are required to prepare documentation of decisions for independent review and are often called upon to appear as expert witnesses before appeal hearings.