Preface

Susan Thompson and Paul J. Maginn

The second edition of Planning Australia: An Overview of Urban and Regional Planning provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary view of the major issues and principal activities that constitute urban and regional planning in Australia today. While not a ‘how-to-do-it’ manual, the emphasis is on contemporary practice, informed by theoretical developments in the discipline. The book does not advocate or adopt a singular ideological stance. Instead, it adopts a broad conceptual model of planning that is holistic, interdisciplinary and, most importantly, underpinned by the principles of sustainability and social equity. The contents reflect the breadth of different authors’ planning expertise, theoretical positions and practical experiences.