PLANET is the continuing education programme for planners run by the Department of Planning and Community Development. AOS has just presented a course entitled “Sustainable Small Towns” held in Smythesdale, Victoria: one of Victoria’s best small towns.

http://www.goldenplains.vic.gov.au/page.aspx?u=990

http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/planning/theplanningsystem/PLANET

Drawing on our experiences with community groups across Golden Plains, including Smythesdale, we presented an approach that “Form Follows Function”.

Fifteen planners from all over the state participated. Through presentation of examples and workshop sessions they “discovered” that the key to success in small towns is:

-       to start with the role and function of the town: the “software”

-       to look at the network of activities and events within which the town sits

-       to identify new activities that spring from the locality and which serve local need first

-       to follow up with the form of any physical interventions that support the function and activities: the “hardware”

Only than do you look at the ‘urban design’ and make sure that improvements or growth fit the function.

One of the initiatives we proposed was the use of temporary or “pop-up” events or activities, so that ideas can be tried out with minimal initial cost. “Pop-ups” can be anything from parks to small markets, celebrations, cultural events and so on. They can often lead to more permanent improvements, and are an ideal way to engage the community.

Coincidentally, the Better Blocks organisation who take direct action, demonstrating possible uses for poorly activated areas, have recently been active in Melbourne. By putting temporary elements and facilitating events and activities in unloved spaces, they present a vision of the potential of a place.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/building-blocks-to-a-better-city-20130620-2olfn.html

http://betterblock.org

http://teambetterblock.com