This paper seeks to quantify the capacities for compact growth and to use these measures as frameworks for understanding the urban design opportunities embodied in such responses to climate change.

Compact city policies such as Melbourne 2030 have been established in Australia for a range of reasons including climate change. It is now clear that the Melbourne 2030 policy has not been effective – with new development mostly on the urban fringe. This policy failure has often been sheeted home to resident and local government...