Student definitions of urban sustainability

The University of Auckland 21 July 2009
Class PLAN 332.

Where people can access daily needs within walking distance of 1km and public transport.

Using only what we need.

Minimising the environmental impact of cities

Develop the social, culture, environment and economy of communities and cities.

Urban development which is effective and efficient.

Managing growth and resources of cities to ensure that social, environment and economic needs of current and future generations are catered for.

Holistically viable city which meets the needs of residents and future residents and takes into account the environmental, social and economic and political factors.

2009 Semester 2 begins

Over the 11 week period students will be expected to make 6-8 contributions to the blog. Week 1 will involve taking part in the short survey and making a posting of no more than 100 words distilling your thoughts on the urban sustainability of a particular place you have visited and posting a photograph.

Fiji and Tonga

I have always wondered what planning systems were in place for the Pacific Islands. The lecture today was very interesting... it is staggering that there are only 3 planners in all of Fiji! Planning must be an increadibly stressful task for those planners and a difficult job to deliver quality urban planning. I wonder how Fiji is coping with the tourism industry and the conflict with the native ownership of the islands where resorts are established. This would be interesting to explore more...

Chinese Planning

I thought that Kai's lecture on Chinese planning was thoroughly interesting and has sparked a bit of an interest in travelling through China to see what it's all about on the ground. The concept of the Danweis was particularly interesting... a sustainable form of development which NZ should perhaps be thinking of on a smaller scale. The Danweis related to my first assignment on gated communities which discussed the social segregation that gated communities cause in developing countries. I wonder if this would be the case in China? Something to ponder....

U Tube

Visit the World Bank website
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfcxY6fMDwU for short films on some of
the pressing planning issues related and shared by the world.

Post your thoughts.