Strategic uses of rural residential development : the effectiveness of rural residential development as a means of separating urban areas

Abstract

This thesis will examine the strategic uses of rural residential development, particularly in the separation of urban areas in both a physical and visual sense. The region of South East Queensland is utilised as the study area to ascertain the effectiveness of rural residential development in this regard.The subject under discussion is important to urban and regional planning because of the high rate of population growth expected in South East Queensland and associated with this, the concerns regarding the potential for urban sprawl to occur in the region. This has implications for the manner in which urban and regional planning measures can accommodate such population growth, and the impacts that this could potentially have on the region. The South East Queensland region covers the geographical areas of  Brisbane City, Gold Coast to the east, Beaudesert to the south, Noosa to the north and Toowoomba to the west. The population in this region is expected to increase by 1.12 million by the year 2011(SEQ2001, 1993c).In South East Queensland the area designated for rural residential development is greater than that allocated for urban development. It has been estimated that rural residential development occupies approximately 20% of the developed land which comprises both urban and rural residential(SEQ2001, 1993e). Rural residential development has also caused concern because of the lower densities of the land use, and therefore the need for adequate provision of land in the future for urban residential purposes. It is acknowledged that priority should be given to urban development to accommodate the expected population increase in the South East Queensland region, however the function that rural residential development could provide in this scenario also warrants significant attention.Rural residential development needs to be examined with regard to the effectiveness of the land use in the prevention of the merging of urban areas and the containment of these urban areas in SEQ. The study will examine the region of South East Queensland, canvass in detail the issues applicable to rural residential development, and in particular the manner in which these issues impact on the strategic use and effectiveness of rural residential development in separating urban areas. In particular a case study will be utilised to determine the effectiveness of rural residential development in the Caboolture Shire. The Shire of Caboolture is to be examined because of the significant amount of rural residential development which has occurred in the Shire, its proximity to Brisbane and the potential for the separation of urban areas by such a land use in the Shire.The utilisation of rural residential development in separating urban areas in the South East Queensland region could be achieved and maintained with the assistance of a greater emphasis on proactive and strategic planning approaches to rural residential development. Rural residential design principles will be outlined which could assist in the maintenance of an open rural character, emphasise amenity and environmental considerations, and thus contribute to the separation of urban areas.The effectiveness of the strategic use of rural residential development in separating urban areas will be reviewed and inferences drawn to whether this is singularly an effective land use or, whether the assistance of a mix of land uses can provide a more effective result. Although the problems associated with rural residential development need to be canvassed, the examination of the strategic use of rural residential development in separating urban areas should be analysed to ascertain whether this land use can assist in dealing with the problems of anticipated population growth and urban sprawl in the South East Queensland region.