Creation of an Australian knowledge town: a case study of Sippy Downs

Abstract

This chapter presents an Australian case study of the planning and implementation of a new university town (Circa, 1994). It aims to evaluate the effectiveness of normative urban/regional planning practice applied locally to create a regional knowledge hub. The evaluation process surveys key stakeholders’ perceptions about the town’s development using traditional methods (e.g.: SWOT) and alternative methods from the Futures Studies field (Causal Layered Analysis). The case study shows that a regional governance framework with collaborative partnerships focused on place management and infrastructure delivery is needed to realise Sippy Downs’ vision as a knowledge hub. It also demonstrates that a holistic policy framework for the town’s development is also needed to leverage the drivers of successful knowledge-based urban development.