How to become an Urban and Regional Planner

Personal requirements for an Urban and Regional Planner

Interested in social, economic, environmental and cultural issues
Good oral and written communication skills
Able to produce detailed and accurate work
Good analytical and problem-solving skills
Patient and logical

Education & Training for an Urban and Regional Planner

To become an urban and regional planner you usually have to study urban, regional or environmental planning at university. You may also consider other degrees that emphasise related fields such as architecture, economics, environmental management or science, geography and sociology. To get into these courses you usually need to gain your Senior Secondary Certificate of Education. Prerequisite subjects, or assumed knowledge, in one or more of English and mathematics are normally required. Universities have different prerequisites and some have flexible entry requirements. Contact the institutions you are interested in for more information.

Duties & Tasks of an Urban and Regional Planner

Urban and regional planners:

Develop long-range objectives to cope with growth and change, in consultation with affected communities
Perform surveys and site inspections
Compile and analyse information on physical, economic, social, legal, political, cultural and environmental factors that affect land use
Discuss plans with local communities, private companies and government organisations
Consider new developments or re-developing areas and advise state and local governments about planning issues for projects such as new suburbs, transportation links, industrial estates, retail complexes and housing developments
Draw up plans for development or re-development and evaluate proposals in terms of benefits and costs, recommending how schemes can be carried out
Prepare urban and rural subdivision plans, taking into account various land uses, including residential, public open space, schools and shops
Prepare and coordinate economic, social and environmental impact studies
Provide evidence for appeals in planning disputes
Consult with, and act as an advocate for, community groups or developers
Assist developers to obtain planning permits
Design strategies to guide land and resource use and development in particular locations
Recommend a course of action that ensures local and regional needs will be met, by taking into account factors such as amenity, community facilities, access to employment, retail housing and transport
Supervise and work with associates and technicians.

Tasks

Staying up-to-date with changes in building and zoning codes, regulations and other legal issues
Devising and recommending use and development of land, and presenting narrative and graphic plans, programs and designs to groups and individuals
May speak at public meetings and appear before government to explain planning proposals
Reviewing and evaluating environmental impact reports
Advising governments and organisations on urban and regional planning and resource planning
Compiling and analysing data on economic, legal, political, cultural, demographic, sociological, physical and environmental factors affecting land use
May serve as mediators in disputes over planning proposals and projects
Conferring with government authorities, communities, Architects, social scientists, Legal Professionals, and planning, development and environmental specialists

Working conditions for an Urban and Regional Planner

Planners work closely with professionals in other fields (such as surveying, urban design, architecture, engineering, environment and conservation, property development, community services and transport planning). There is a high level of public contact as planners spend a lot of time in meetings and discussions. Time is also spent on field visits, writing reports and performing research. Planners are required to prepare documentation of decisions for independent review and are often called upon to appear as expert witnesses before appeal hearings.

Employment Opportunities for an Urban and Regional Planner

The majority of urban and regional planners work in metropolitan areas and regional centres. However, the number of opportunities available in country areas is growing.

Specializations

Transportation Planner

A transportation planner balances public and private transport to avoid congestion in cities.

Urban and Regional Planner

Urban and regional planners develop policies and plans for the use of land and resources. They advise on the economic, environmental, social and cultural needs of particular localities or regions as they relate to the built environment and the community. They also work on large-scale projects such as new suburbs, towns, industrial areas, commercial and retail developments, urban renewal projects and transportation links. Planning is a broadly based discipline and it is possible to specialise in a wide range of fields, including strategic planning, urban design, environmental impact assessment, residential planning, commercial and industrial planning, heritage planning, tourism planning and social planning.

Average age
39
Future Growth
Positive
Gender Share
46% female
Average full-time
40 hours
Weekly Pay
$2,036
Skill level rating
Very high skill
Unemployment
Lower unemployment
Full-Time Share
81%
Employment Size
19,000
Employment by state
ACT: 1.1%
NSW: 32.3%
NT: 0.6%
QLD: 20.3%
SA: 5.6%
TAS: 1.5%
VIC: 26.8%
WA: 11.9%
Age brackets
15-19: 0.1%
20-24: 6%
25-34: 31.5%
35-44: 29.3%
45-54: 19.3%
55-59: 6.4%
60-64: 4.6%
65 and Over: 2.8%
Education level
Advanced Diploma/Diploma: 5.9%
Bachelor degree: 47.9%
Below Year 10: 0%
Certificate III/IV: 3%
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate: 36.8%
Year 10 and below: 0.8%
Year 11: 0.6%
Year 12: 4.9%
Years 11 & 10: 0%