The Future of the Fringe: The Crisis in Peri-Urban Planning

Description

Peri-urban landscapes are some of the world's most vulnerable areas. Although they are often thought of simply as land awaiting development, these landscapes retain important natural resources and make valuable contributions to agriculture, water use, biodiversity conservation, landscape preservation and human well-being. Billions of people use them and enjoy their natural values. Their continuing loss threatens to alter our relationships with nature and have a negative impact on the environment. The Future of the Fringe first explores the history of peri-urban areas, international peri-urban policy and practice, and related concepts. It analyses internationally relevant issues such as green belts and urban growth boundaries, regional policy, land supply and price, and the concepts of liveability, attractiveness, well-being and rural amenity. It then examines a range of Australian peri-urban issues, as an extended case study. The book argues for a precautionary approach so that we retain the greatest number of options to adapt during rapid and unprecedented change.

Michael Buxton is an Emeritus Professor at RMIT University and is former head of RMIT Planning and Environment. He has published more than 80 refereed papers, books, book chapters and monographs, including Planning Melbourne (CSIRO Publishing, 2016). He has led 20 major research projects, mainly on peri-urban issues and urban form. He formerly held senior positions in local, regional and state governments. Andrew Butt is an Associate Professor in Sustainability and Urban Planning at RMIT University. His experience in planning practice, research and teaching has focused on rural and peri-urban issues, including a PhD on approaches to planning for farmland protection in peri-urban Australia, as well as articles and book chapters exploring socio-economic transitions and planning systems in rural and peri-urban regions.

"Urban ecologists will find this book useful in planning research relevant to the peri-urban landscape. It presents a review of the international and Australian literature about policy, planning and risks (to humans), as well as the history of green belts." -- Ian Abbott * Pacific Conservation Biology 26(3) * "This book is a useful resource for understanding the process of land-use transition, particularly within Australia. I would recommend it to a cross-disciplinary audience and those working at the fringe of a growing metropolitan neighbour" -- Anna McKinlay * Australasian Journal of Environmental Management *