Interdisciplinary tools to enable middle suburb regeneration

Due to the unsustainable nature of urban sprawl, Australian metropolitan strategies have increasing been pushing for increased levels of infill: the redevelopment of existing urban (typically residential) land. However, the current infill models of Brownfield and lot-by-lot redevelopment are largely incapable of generating the volume or range of future housing needs. This issue has led to increased attention being placed on greyfield redevelopment, and in particular regeneration precincts, as a way to encourage more efficient reuse of land. However, due to a number of issues, namely the complexity of amalgamating individually owned land, statutory limitations and community concern regarding the redevelopment of existing residential land, this has to date been seen as too difficult to strategically engage with. This paper presents a worked example that aimed to address these issues. Covering the development of 2D spatial tools, 3D visualisation and assessment tools, new statutory responses and community/stakeholder engagement techniques, the paper illustrates how a range of approaches have been used to show the viability of this model to all relevant stakeholders, and how the interdisciplinary approach is beginning to have effect in the policy arena.