Elizabeth O’Brien, GES, Arts, Monash University
One of my concerns is that the housing developments springing up at the interface of metropolitan and rural areas do not have the necessary infrastructure and local employment opportunities for future prosperity and sustainability. 
Senior Lecturer
Director, Regional and Urban Planning Program
BA (Hons) Anthropology: Australian National University (ANU), 1989
Master Urban and Regional Planning, Sydney University, 1993
PhD Geographical Sciences: Urban Research Program, ANU, 2002
Fields of interest:
- Strategic, statutory and spatial planning
- Economic development
- Sustainable communities
- Planning communication and qualitative research
- Affordable housing, retirement villages
- Population ageing
- Cultural diversity
- Community safety and crime prevention
Overarching research theme:
My current research activities fit within the overarching cross-disciplinary theme: sustainable spatial planning within a global context. I aim to produce critiques that are theoretically informed, reflect an in-depth understanding of industry practice, and contribute to research-led teaching.
Primary research themes:
I focus on the following primary themes: ‘strategic planning and the future sustainability of cities’, ‘economic development in coastal locations and growth areas’ ‘planning for sustainable communities’, and ‘delivering affordable housing’.
- Strategic planning and the future sustainability of cities
I examine the critical role strategic planning has in the future sustainability of cities; and am particularly interested in developing a holistic understanding of sustainable development that integrates the economic, social, cultural and environmental aspects of spatial planning. Strategic planning that proceeds from this holistic understanding of sustainable development has greater chance of delivering both prosperity and social justice and meeting the needs of existing and future generations. One of my concerns is that the housing developments springing up at the interface of metropolitan and rural areas do not have the necessary infrastructure and local employment opportunities for future prosperity and sustainability. Greater attention to the economic development of these areas is required, with an appropriate level of involvement from all levels of government.
- Economic development in coastal locations and growth areas
I explore the theory and practice of sustainable economic development, strategic approaches to economic development at the national, state, regional and local levels, associated social and environmental goals, and the roles of the public and private sectors in stimulating economic growth. Key areas of investigation include globalisation and structural change, structural adjustment from declining to productive industries, and economic diversification to strengthen local economies and provide resilience. I examine a range of economic development strategies aimed at identifying and strengthening competitive advantage, developing export-oriented sectors, attracting new income from outside to generate further exports, fostering consumption led growth, providing strategic infrastructure, facilitating investment, encouraging innovation, and reducing the leakages of income by decreasing both imports and the investment of local savings elsewhere. Appropriate actions and priorities are determined by an analysis of the economic structure of the local area, its export performance, investment patterns and trends, demographic diversity, strategic infrastructure, market efficiency and impediments to growth, such as a lack of supportive infrastructure.
- Planning for sustainable communities
I investigate the key role planners have in delivering sustainable communities; and the ways in which planning can make a positive contribution to community capacity and cohesion, to a sense of place, and to quality of life. Sustainable communities rely on a place-based and collaborative approach to planning; embody the principles of sustainable development and community involvement; and reflect the integrated pursuit of a variety of planning imperatives, including housing affordability, job opportunities, adequate local infrastructure and services, and a healthy and safe environment. I challenge the notion that an isolated approach to any of these imperatives is effective or efficient, and argue for greater facilitation of cross-government, cross-agency approaches, whereby people share knowledge and expertise and work together in coherent and farsighted ways.
- Delivering affordable housing
I analyse the breadth of historical and contemporary issues that impact on housing affordability, including federal and state government actions (budget outlays, tax expenditures and market regulation); land release programs, approvals and infrastructure funding arrangements; land use planning, in particular policies that control, approve and supervise building development; the supply of low-cost private rental and public housing stock; and the provision of housing assistance for home ownership, rental investment, and private / public rental. Reform in all these areas is required to achieve affordability across the different tenures in Australia. In the case of public housing, I argue for far greater government investment in this sector to realise its full potential and ensure its future economic and social viability. The considerable financial value of the sector has been progressively denuded by various policy decisions related to funding levels and the purpose for which funds were used; property sales, the subsidisation of these sales and the use of sales proceeds; and rental levels, rebates and losses. These decisions resulted in conflicting public housing objectives, and detracted from the sector’s capacity to: build up stock levels, assemble a differential stock of rental properties over the years, generate sufficient income from rent, and provide for a downturn in economic circumstances.
Related planning research themes:
I have also undertaken research on related themes, including planning communication, qualitative research, population ageing, cultural diversity, community safety and crime prevention, and the ethical and political aspects of planning.
Teaching: Core major in regional and urban planning
- RUP1000 Strategic Planning
- RUP1001 Statutory Planning
- RUP2000 Professional (Second Year) Planning Internship
- RUP2001 Spatial Planning
- RUP2002 Sustainable Communities
- RUP 3000 Professional (Third Year) Planning Internship
- RUP 3001 Economic Development Planning
- RUP 3002 Planning Communication
Recent reports and publications:
Monash University (2007) Retirement Villages and Their Impact on Existing Communities: A Literature Review, Report for Convivia Development Management Pty Ltd, Contributors include Elizabeth O’Brien, Monash Research for an Ageing Society: www.monras.org
Monash University (2007) Aged Care Services as an Integral Part of Ageing in Place in Retirement Villages: A Literature Review, Report for Convivia Development Management Pty Ltd, Contributors include Elizabeth O’Brien, Monash Research for an Ageing Society: www.monras.org
Monash University (2007) Supporting Positive Ageing in the City of Kingston, Prepared for the City of Kingston by Carol Morse and Rosalind Lui, Health and Well Being Research Unit, Monash University: Peninsula Campus, Contributors include Elizabeth O’Brien, Monash Research for An ageing Society: www.monras.org
NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (2005) Economic Development Strategies in the NSW Coastal Regions, prepared by Elizabeth O’Brien for the Comprehensive Coastal Assessment, Socio-Economic Working Group (report subject to peer review)
Murphy, P.; E. O’Brien and S. Watson (2004) ‘Selling Australia, Selling Sydney: The Ambivalent Politics of Entrepreneurial Multiculturalism’, JIMI/RIMI, Volume 4, Number 4, pp 471-498
Judd, B.; R. Samuels, E. O’Brien and J. Barton (2004) Final Report - Linkages between housing, policing and other interventions for crime and harassment reduction on public housing estates, Australian Housing and Research Institute, www.ahuri.edu.au
Professional history:
My professional planning background includes economic and social planning consultancies for the NSW and ACT governments; sessional and guest lecturer, Faculty of Built Environment (FBE), University of NSW (UNSW); senior research associate, UNSW/University Western Sydney (UWS) Research Centre, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute; and Community Relations Officer, ACT Planning Authority. I also engaged in planning related research projects for the FBE, UNSW; Urban Frontiers Program, UWS; and School of Geosciences, Newcastle University. Prior to this, I held managerial positions in the public sector, at the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Training, Australian Archives, Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies and the Australian Industry Development Corporation.
Public policy expertise:
My public policy expertise includes framing, evaluating and implementing policy. I have in-depth understanding of the policy process at the local, state and Commonwealth government levels in Australia, and overseas. This understanding has been gained through my professional background in government, research analysis of historical and contemporary government policies, and examining the outcomes of policy approaches during housing related fieldwork in NSW, SA, QLD and Victoria.
Professional affiliation:
Member, Planning Institute of Australia (MPIA)
Professional and community roles:
PIA Victorian Division Committee Member:
- State representative on PIA National Education Committee and PIA National Policy Committee, and representative to Women’s Planning Network
South East Education Forum Steering Committee Member
University Positions:
Berwick Academic Heads Committee Member
Berwick Research Committee Member
Address
Room No: 168, 1st Floor, Building 902, Berwick Campus
Office Phone: +61 3 9904 7428
Mobile: +61 400 187 864
Email: elizabeth.obrien@arts.monash.edu.au