The purpose of this paper is to develop theoretical aspects of a doctoral research question, ‘How can community environmental values be incorporated into a performance based planning approach to guide the provision of open space for urban residents?’

This paper explores the challenges surrounding climate change policy and suggests the adaptation and mitigation frames limit the scope of the policy debate and inhibit the development of local government climate change strategies.

After analysing patterns of transport fuel consumption and greenhouse emissions for Sydney, the paper examines potential mitigation strategies, including options for minimising travel demand, reducing oil and CO2 intensiveness, and shifting travel to more sustainable modes.

This paper considers an Ecological Footprint analysis of Aurora, a new residential estate in Melbourne’s north. The estate is being developed by VicUrban, with the expressed aim of creating a new benchmark in sustainable urban development.

Ecological Footprint analysis is gaining in reputation and credibility in its capacity to usefully inform governments, organisations and communities on the excesses of our society’s resource consumption and our population’s increasing pressure on diminishing natural resources.