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Dr. Megan Farrelly, Research Fellow

Dr Megan Farrelly

Given the scale of change required to achieve sustainable cities and rural landscapes, it is increasingly important to understand how to generate the appropriate conditions for supporting such change such as inclusion, reflection and adaptation.

Despite the enormous gains achieved in scientific understanding regarding our natural and built environment; technological advancement; and, the growth in an environmental consciousness amongst broader society, the institutions supporting key decision-making processes for environmental management (in urban and rural contexts) are yet to reflect these advances. Sustainability scholars argue for the need to embrace more adaptive governance modes which will require a significant transformation in our current, every day practices. My research interests actively explore the current governance arrangements for a range of environmental and natural resource management issues, in an attempt to contribute towards transforming our city and rural landscapes.

Research fields of interest

Current research

I am currently involved in a number of projects with the National Urban Water Governance Program, which investigates appropriate governance models for achieving ‘Water Sensitive Cities’ in Australia. Examples of current research projects include:

  1. Adopting decentralised urban water supplies: overcoming professional risk perceptions.
    a. This project is undertaken with assistance from the CSIRO’s Water for a Healthy Country Flagship program.
  2. Exploring the role and significance of demonstration projects in transforming urban water management practices.

Current teaching

Undergraduate

GES3250 Environmental Assessment and Decision-Making (Semester 1)
ENV3011 Environmental Analysis and Decision-Making: Pt 2 (Semester 1)

Postgraduate

ENV4050/5050 Environmental Governance and Citizenship (Semester 2)

Publications

Please email me for copies of any articles you cannot get from your library.

Journal Publications

  1. Brown R. R. and Farrelly M. A. (2009). Delivering Sustainable Urban Water Management: a review of the hurdles we face. Water Science and Technology, 59(5): 839-846.
  2. Brown, R. R. and Farrelly, M. A. (2009). Challenges ahead - social and institutional factors influencing sustainable urban stormwater management in Australia. Water Science and Technology, 59(4): 653-660.
  3. Brown, R. R., Farrelly, M. A. and Keath, N. (2009). Practitioner Perceptions of Social and Institutional Barriers to Advancing a Diverse Water Source Approach in Australia. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 25(1): 15-28.
  4. van de Meene, S. J., Brown, R. R., Farrelly, M. A. (2009) Exploring sustainable urban water governance: a case study of institutional capacity, Water Science & Technology, 59(10): 1921-1928.
  5. Farrelly, M. and Conacher, A., (2007) Integrated, Regional, Natural Resource and Environmental Planning and the Natural Heritage Trust Phase 2: a case study of the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council, Western Australia. Australian Geographer,38(3): 309-333.
  6. Farrelly, M., (2005) Regionalisation of Environmental Management: a case study of the Natural Heritage Trust, South Australia. Geographical Research, 43(4): 337-453.

Book Chapters

  1. Farrelly, M., (In Press) Community Engagement in Natural Resource Management. In: Lane, M., Robinson, C. and Taylor, B., (Eds) Contested Country: Local and Regional Natural Resource Management in Australia. CSIRO Publishing, Canberra.

Peer-Reviewed Conference Papers

  1. Brown, R and Farrelly, M. (2008) Sustainable Urban Stormwater Management in Australia: Professional Perceptions on Institutional Drivers and Barriers. In:Ashley, R.M. (Ed) Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Urban Drainage, Edinburgh, Scotland, 31st August - 5th September 2008, CD-ROM. PDF (200KB)
  2. Farrelly, M. and Brown, R. (2008).  Professional Perceptions on Institutional Drivers and Barriers to Advancing Diverse Water Options in Australia. In: Ashley, R.M. (Ed) Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Urban Drainage, Edinburgh, Scotland, 31st August - 5th September 2008, CD-ROM. PDF (288KB)

Other Conference Papers

  1. Farrelly, M., Brown, R. and Davis, C. (2009) Can demonstration projects act as a mechanism to support a transition? In: Proceedings of the 6th International Water Sensitive Urban Design Conference and Hydropolis #3, 5-8th May 2009, Perth Western Australia.
  2. Farrelly, M., Brown, R. and Davis, C. (2009) Practitioner reflections on learning from demonstration projects. In: Proceedings of the 6th International Water Sensitive Urban Design Conference and Hydropolis #3, 5-8th May 2009, Perth Western Australia.

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