Urban & Regional Planning
Cockburn Public Transport Options Study
Curtin University’s Urban and Regional Planning students are conducting research into public transport options that may better serve the needs of the community of Cockburn. Under academic supervision, third year students enrolled in the Planning Report unit will look into the feasibility of public transport options for the area. The study will explore various public transport options such as train (light rail/ heavy rail) or rapid bus services to improve mobility within Cockburn in the east-west direction. It will seek to determine whether there is a case for connecting the coastal areas of Cockburn with Cockburn Central.
Cockburn Public Transport Community Forum
As part of the study, we are seeking the opinion of the local community to ascertain the need for such an undertaking in the future and if so, what such a public transport service should look like to reflect the aspirations of the community. We would like to ascertain the community’s perception of issues and concerns regarding transport and their priorities and preferences in meeting mobility and access needs. This academic exercise would help our students gain exposure to real transport needs and issues faced by communities around the Perth region. In the process, they could contribute towards providing a forum for the local community to deliberate on and begin to develop a vision of future transport possibilities that could reflect their concerns and aspirations. It is hoped that the study could contribute towards initiating a dialogue within the community to this effect
While this is a Curtin University students’ exercise, the Cockburn City Council has responded positively to our proposed study and has agreed to support out study. We are most grateful to the council for their generous in-kind support that they have extended to us for this purpose.
We are planning to organise two community forums within Cockburn as part of the study (see details below). Please come to one of these forums to have your say and to help our students draw an accurate picture of the transport needs, concerns and aspirations of the local community
Community Forum Details
We have scheduled two separate community forums for the study as per below:
1st Forum: Spearwood Residents Association
Date: 21st September 2009
Venue: Spearwood Primary School Hall, 73 Gerald Street, Spearwood
Time: Assemble 6.00 pm; Set up 6.30 pm; Forum 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm
2nd Forum: The Ottey Family Centre
Date: 1st October 2009
Venue: 2A South Lake Drive, South Lake
Time: Assemble 5.30 pm; Set up 6.00 pm; Forum 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm
Support for the Study
The third year Urban and Regional Planning students and staff at Curtin University are grateful to Cockburn City Council for agreeing to support the proposed study of public transit options in Cockburn. Cockburn Council has responded positively to our proposal for the study and has offered an in-kind contribution of $5000 to this effect.
Planning consultants Roberts Day have also offered to donate their staff time to help with the design of the community forums that are part of the study.
“Planning Report’ – a third year unit in Curtin’s undergrad Planning course
The unit ‘Planning Report’ offered by the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Curtin University, requires third year planning students to participate in carrying out independent research on real life planning related problems for a real client. Students, under academic supervision, undertake various tasks involved in analyzing planning issues, synthesizing information and reporting the findings in a written report.
The unit is primarily focused on improving the ability of Planning students to prepare a planning report covering a real life and pressing planning problem. Each year we try to engage a real life ‘client’ and develop a brief from the client’s point of view, balanced against greater sustainability objectives.
In 2007 we responded to a request by Goomalling Shire Council to look into a planning dilemma it faced in dealing with a controversial development site for residential development.
Last year we investigated the options for a property owner in the outskirts of Perth who wished to explore the best utilisation of the land from a sustainable development perspective that could also be commercially viable.
This year we are investigating the potential for improving public transport network within the Perth metropolitan region in general. We are specifically focusing on public transport service options within the Cockburn area in the east-west direction. We have sought and received support for the study from Cockburn City Council.
The teaching team for the unit Planning Report comprises of Associate Professor Shahed Khan (Unit Coordinator), Jake Schapper and Matthew Burnett.
