Search

This paper investigates a decade of changes in the location patterns of older people in the ‘sunbelt’ region of South East Queensland (SEQ). Despite the accentuation of public policies to better cater for older people in an ageing Australia, little attention has been directed towards exploration of the changing spatial distributions of older people over time. This paper partially redresses this gap in the literature, by exploring changes in the spatial distribution of older people in SEQ over the decade 1996 to 2006. The findings highlight a marked spatial variation in numerical and structural ageing across SEQ, in which numerical ageing has become more pronounced, whereas structural ageing, particularly in the coastal areas, has, largely, not eventuated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the challenges of climate change and population growth, it is essential for planners to think about the health of people and the planet in an integrated way. Until recently the profession has focused on environmental sustainability without necessarily making the link to human health. This is despite mounting evidence for the critical role urban planning plays in supporting human health and wellbeing. Walkable and mixed use urban areas, active and public transport modes, open space and locally sourced fresh food, together with safe and well-designed neighbourhoods, are the foundations of both environmental and human health. Regional plans set the framework within which these outcomes can be realised. This paper examines how the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009-2031 proposes to manage human health in relation to environmental sustainability. Using a detailed textual analysis of the Plan, the paper investigates how well the Plan incorporates a comprehensive suite of inter-sectoral provisions that will build the strategic policy foundation for supporting human health and environmental sustainability in a high growth scenario. Further, consideration is given to how the specific provisions will translate into future actions and development requirements for the Region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Providing a secure water supply for future population growth that accommodates climate change is a high priority of governments. Moreover, investing in such costly infrastructure must meet obligations for economic, social and environmental sustainability and high standards of governance. In this research, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) sustainability framework is used to assess alternative water supply options proposed in the 2009 draft South East Queensland (SEQ) Water Strategy. While it has become the norm for large companies to use the GRI to report on progress using economic, social and environmental sustainability indicators, this paper investigates the applicability of the GRI 2005 Public Agency Supplement designed for use by governments. By including indicators about public policy disclosures, efficiency and effectiveness, governments can be called to account for decision-making that affects future generations. The results illustrate the value of the GRI approach as a basis for improving transparency in governance and decision-making to achieve sustainability performance in water source options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]