Involving Local Communities in Defining Town Character in Victorian Coastal Towns
Chief Investigator: Dr Ray Green
Funded by: ARC Discovery-Project grant 2003-2005
Many Australian coastal towns are experiencing rapid growth from tourism. In such places it is common to hear residents complain that the 'character' of their town is being lost due to inappropriate development. Local planning authorities are now attempting to respond to these concerns by undertaking studies to define what it is people feel is being lost. This project will involve local communities in defining town and neighbourhood character in affected rural coastal areas of Victoria. Questions concerning residents' conceptualisation of town character and relationships between psychological and biophysical attributes associated with the notion of town character will be explored.