Sustainable development in coastal NSW: the allocation of land to meet the objectives of environmental and urban sustainability

This thesis presents the results of an application of grounded theory research methodology to an area of study not previously tested by this technique. The allocation of land to urban growth impacts on both urban areas and the environment. A group of twenty leading practitioners in the field was interviewed and asked, in a set of structured questions, about their roles, the most important issues confronting them from ongoing urban development of Greenfield sites, how they saw the interaction between the current system of regulation and these issues, and changes they considered to be required. Applying grounded theory identified that the issues which concerned the practitioners fall into the following groupings: urban and environmental sustainability, the inadequate integration of these components yet the need to recognise their interaction, and the decision making process in terms of who is making decisions and how and when decisions are made about the allocation of land for urban growth. The current system is based primarily on the objective of resolving conflicts concerning land use. It was expected that the data obtained during the interviews may confirm the current orthodoxy. Unexpectedly, the data revealed not only a commonality of views but also a set of recommendations which could form the basis of a management framework to achieve greater environmental and urban sustainability. The interviewees pointed to proposals for urban growth in coastal NSW where a number of the recommendations have already been embraced by the NSW Government.