In the view of the authors, Governments have an obligation to utilise community consultation to inform policy decision-making and to establish strategic planning proposals. Increasingly these consultative processes utilise digital renders and 3D visualisations to enhance the community and stakeholder interpretation of these complex planning issues. However, such visual representations are not always accurate depictions of the intended outcomes and may be argued to bias consultation efforts and decision-making.

This study explores the use of system thinking design approaches to assist in the scoping and analyses of complex urban issues. The authors argue that these methods help establish more rigorous insights and offer a design methodology for more precise digital renders and 3D visualisations. Such outcomes will result in increased government, community, and industry confidence in urban proposals, policy consultation and decision-making.