15614 Advanced Development Assessment
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksRequisite(s): 15613 Development Assessment OR 49463 Development Control
Anti-requisite(s): 49464 Advanced Development Assessment
Description
This subject seeks to promote fresh thinking to improve development assessment techniques and processes. Ways to engage the community in spatial planning to deliver strategic outcomes for local communities are considered with connections drawn to local government community strategic plans. The key themes covered in this subject include: current planning directions; interpreting and applying planning instruments; engaging communities in spatial planning; relationships between strategic and development assessment planning; improved communication between state and local government authorities; site, neighbourhood and environmental analysis; and dealing with the NSW Land and Environment Court.
The subject is designed for experienced practitioners seeking to broaden and refresh their practical skills, consider new ideas and reflect on current approaches. Managing the assessment process, aligning it with relevant community strategic plan outcomes and problem-solving, develops leadership and managerial skills. The strong practical focus appeals to urban and rural practitioners who benefit from the shared knowledge and experience of fellow students, lecturers and guest speakers.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
| 1. | Understand and appreciate the complexities of the strategic, legal and institutional context of development assessment. |
|---|---|
| 2. | Interpret and apply performance based measures using planning instruments. |
| 3. | Evaluate the benefits and issues with 'collaborative planning'. |
| 4. | Develop capability to identify and respond to key development assessment issues. |
| 5. | Undertake precinct, site and environmental analysis. |
| 6. | Evaluate and analyse urban design and development outcomes. |
| 7. | Consult and facilitate understanding and resolutions regarding complex development situations. |
| 8. | Interpret and apply judgements and principles from the Land and Environment Court and understand planning and processes to resolve issues to mitigate or avoid this avenue. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes to the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes:
- Ability to reflect on personal views and values, debrief on practice and articulate the impact of these actions on professional judgement and practice (A.2)
- Ability to present, and invite feedback on, complex arguments and ideas (C.1)
- Understanding the impact of organisational structures for communication and outcomes (C.5)
- Ability to question, challenge and develop new perspectives for achieving built environment objectives beyond traditional methods (I.1)
- Ability to conduct merits based assessment or find alternative solutions for the assessment of development applications consents. (P.3)
- Ability to draw on political and urban theories to critique current approaches and suggest improved practice (R.2)
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject comprises intensive workshops run in block mode with two blocks over five days (2+3) in total, offered on-campus and an external field trip. Students will undertake pre-course work with self-directed reading followed by in-class discussion before the first scheduled block of teaching. Students will explore links, undertake readings and participate in online activities in preparation for the workshop sessions.
Face-to-face classes incorporate a range of teaching and learning strategies including lectures and peer-to-peer learning through in-class group discussion, group work, interactive presentations, cases studies, expert guest practitioners, scenarios and facilitated workshops with ongoing formative feedback. The sessions are designed to increase knowledge building, provoke participatory discussions and encourage critical thinking. The field trip provides practical exposure and is used to provoke further discussion and learning relating to the complex information being presented.
Pre-reading links and materials will be posted online prior to the course. The evaluative summative assessments enable the teaching staff to make administrative decisions about the effectiveness of the teaching sessions and the ability for students to achieve the learning outcomes.
Coursework
The course has two written assessment tasks to support the learning objectives of this subject. Short course students have a choice whether to submit the two assessment tasks and receive a Certificate of Attainment or just attend the course and receive a Certificate of Attendance.
Assessment 1 comprises a Local Area Analysis enabling students to demonstrate the skills and knowledge developed in the class workshops and how they can apply to a local situation. The work required includes simple hand-drawn plans, listing elements and dynamics of the townscape, a Desired Future Character Statement (DFC) and a Responsibilities Matrix.
Assessment Task 2 is the preparation of a Planning and Leadership report for a manager that reflects on the alignment between the land use planning sections of council and the Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework.
Feedback
Feedback will be provided during the learning process along with group discussion, case studies, field trip debrief and group work furthering engagement in inquiry and the exploration of different perspectives. Summative feedback is provided with all assessed work and is published along with indicative grades at Canvas
Content (topics)
1. Overview of planning process
- Where is planning heading
- Integration and collaboration: spatial planning and engaging the community
- Land use and infrastructure integration
- Overview of the DA process
2. Introduction to Urban Design
- Local area analysis: vocabulary of townscape
- Urban design at the DA stage
- Public domain and local area analysis
- Site inspection
3. Field trip and practice workshop
- Debrief on Field Trip Case Study Assessment
4. Planning and Leadership
- The role of the experienced planner
- Relations with communities and developers
- Decision-making and political dimensions
- Leadership in the urban space
- Collaborative planning
- Putting sustainability and resilience into practice
5. Legal workshop
- Dealing with the Land and Environment Court
- Recent key court judgements
- Facilitated course review
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Report - Local Area Analysis
| Intent: | This assesment task enables students to demonstrate the skills and knowledge developed in the class workshops to a local situation. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 2, 4, 5 and 6 This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.): C.1, I.1 and P.3 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Length: | 2000 words |
| Criteria: | Assessment criteria will be placed on Canvas at the same time as the subject outline and discussed in class in the assessment task workshop. |
Assessment task 2: Report for Manager
| Intent: | This assessment task provides the opportunity for students to explore leadership in the urban space through alternative ways of relating to the community and other practitioners.no content |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 1, 3, 7 and 8 This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.): A.2, C.5 and R.2 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Length: | 2000 words |
| Criteria: | Assessment criteria will be placed on Canvas at the same time as the subject outline. |
Minimum requirements
Students must meet attendance requirements and overall must obtain at least 50% of the total marks.