1. Putting “peri-urban” on the map:
ideas for an
Australian Peri-urban Observatory
Peter Houston
“Beyond the Edge”
La Trobe University
October 2013
2. Context and background …
• Collective recent experiences
– Victoria’s “logical inclusions” saga; the demise of agriculture in
the Sydney Basin; the dismantling of the Virginia horticulture
district
– perspectives from other sectors: biodiversity, water resources, fire
• … and a journey of investigation to Europe
3. PURPLE - http://www.purple-eu.org/
AGROTERRITORI - http://www.agroterritori.org/
• lobbying platform for city-regions
• coordinated research program on
land use relationships/dynamics
• information exchange for
agriculture planning and
management in peri-urban settings
PLUREL - http://www.plurel.net/
4. Observatori del Paisatge http://www.catpaisatge.net/
Landscape Observatory of Catalonia
• support to municipalities re the
European Landscape Convention
• profile for an obscure topic
• collaboration of organisations and
professionals
• information exchange
• influencing role
• an Observatory ???
6. An Australian Peri-urban Observatory?
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raise profile
a permanent presence
inter-disciplinary and integrative
a vehicle for research and action
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11. An Australian Peri-urban Observatory...
Why this form of initiative?
• the importance of a permanent institutional presence
• profile and network strength
• the need to coordinate/sponsor/conduct research
Why an Observatory?
• more than an association
• structure and purpose: monitoring and reporting critical for traction
Why a website?
• subject matter, at a variety of scales, that is best explained through
spatial analysis with GIS tools and techniques
12. An “archipelago” of opportunity...
Presentation to CSIRO Urban Ecosystem Science Workshop
2-6 May, 2004. Sydney.
14. Analysis of re-zoning and development projects in and around the Virginia horticultural
district, 2004-2013.
15. An Australian Peri-urban Observatory...
What does it do?
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independent information, analysis and commentary
an Australian focus for study of the peri-urban phenomenon
a repository for/portal to peri-urban research
a vehicle for developing and funding research projects
16. An Australian Peri-urban Observatory...
Who might be involved?
• a network of collaborating researchers and practitioners
– Universities
– ABS, ABARES, CSIRO
– not a bottom-up/grass-roots initiative
• inter/multi/cross-disciplinary
• independent - probably not linked to State Government agencies
17. An Australian Peri-urban Observatory…
How does it operate?
• a consortium of Universities and research organisations
• cohorts of graduate research students
• start small and achievable
– assemble existing research and establish a website presence
• “capacity building” projects
– define and identify Australia’s peri-urban regions
– establish simple monitoring projects (UGBs, population shifts, land use
change, etc)
• more ambitious research built on demonstrated credibility
