Career in Urban and Regional Planning Urban and regional planners (often also called Town 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
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.
Successful planners need to –
- Be interested in social, economic, environmental and cultural issues
- Have good oral and written communication skills
- Be able to produce detailed and accurate work
- Have good analytical and problem-solving skills
To become an urban and regional planner students usually have to study urban, regional, community and/or environmental planning at university. Students may also consider other degrees that emphasise related fields of architecture, economics, environmental management or science, geography and sociology.
Entry to these courses requires students to attain their VCE and a year 12 maths is highly recommended.
It is important to note that degree studies in urban and regional planning are necessary for professional recognition by the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA).
Visit Urban and Regional Planner for further information.
sourced from the Job Guide – Job Guide
Victorian universities that offer courses in Urban and Regional Planning include –
Deakin University Bachelor of Planning (Honours)
La Trobe University Bachelor of Urban, Rural and Environmental Planning Urban, Rural & Environmental
RMIT University Bachelor of Social Science – Environment
Bachelor of Environmental Science
Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning Environment and Planning
University of Melbourne Bachelor of Environments
Environments – Urban Design and Planning