Faculty of Business: Leisure, Sport and Tourism
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level: Undergraduate

Result Type: Grade and marks

Handbook description

This subject examines the application of environmental planning principles and practices to the level and quality of provision of facilities and settings for leisure and tourism experiences. The need for and role of environmental planning are defined in the context of leisure and tourism. Those aspects of state environmental planning legislation and practice that most directly impinge on leisure and tourism are examined in detail, in the context of achieving certain general aims and objectives. Environmental planning practices examined include plan formulation and preparation, processes and mechanisms of development control, including zoning and development standards, means of financing planning actions, and environmental impact assessment. While the focus is on the New South Wales planning system, this is primarily as an illustration of how planning affects leisure and tourism in practice, and some attention is paid to interstate and international examples.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. Identify the scope and purpose of various forms of environmental planning intervention as they apply to leisure and tourism.
2. Understand how environmental planning addresses certain contemporary issues that relate to the provision of leisure/tourism facilities and quality of leisure/tourism experiences.
3. Demonstrate a basic knowledge and understanding of state environmental planning legislation and practice as they apply to leisure and tourism development.
4. Critically assess and evaluate environmental planning instruments, policies, reports and practices relevant to leisure and tourism.
5. Establish and select appropriate planning strategies for the development of leisure and tourism facilities and places, the management of appropriate environmental settings and the resolution of related issues.

Contribution to graduate profile

Environmental Planning for Leisure and Tourism is a core unit in the Bachelor of Management in Tourism, Bachelor of Management in Leisure and Bachelor of Management in Tourism and Hospitality. The intent of this subject is to provide students seeking to develop management careers in tourism and leisure with an understanding of environmental planning principles and practices relevant to their field of study. In particular, the subject develops an understanding of how environmental planning shapes the quality and quantity of spaces, places and facilities which provide the settings for leisure and tourism experiences, and seeks to ensure that such provisions are compatible with and contribute to the sustainable development of communities, and tourism infrastructure and facilities.

Teaching and learning strategies

Teaching and learning strategies include: lectures, discussions/workshops based on prescribed readings, role plays and practical tasks, guest speakers, audio-visual presentations, student presentations and independent project work. Content for this subject will be supported by UTS Online.

Content

• Introduction to environmental planning
• Aims/objectives of planning
• The planning process
• The planning system
• Formulation/preparation of plans
• Development control
• Financing plans
• Environmental impact assessment
• The 'planning puzzle'.

Assessment

Essay (Individual)	30%
This addresses objectives 1 and 2.
Project (Group)	30%
This addresses objectives 2, 4 and 5.
Final Examination (Individual)	40%
This addresses objective 3.

The examination will be conducted under University examination conditions, and hence thoroughly address concerns regarding secure assessment. The group project will be secure through a combination of continually revising assessment tasks across semesters and peer verification of individual contributions. The individual essay will be secure through a combination of continual revising of topics across semesters and multiple topic choice within each semester.

Recommended text(s)

Student Reader containing key articles.

Indicative references

Allmendinger, P., Prior, A. and Raemakers, J. (2000). Introduction to Planning Practice. New York: Academy.

Daly, J. (2000). Recreation and Sport Planning and Design, 2nd edition. Champaign, Ill.: Human Kinetics.

Farrier, D., Lyster, R. and Pearson, L. (1999). The Environmental Law Handbook: Planning and Land Use in New South Wales, 3rd edition. Sydney: Redfern Legal Centre Publishing.

Gunn, C.A. and Var, T. (2002). Tourism Planning: Basics, Concepts, Cases, 4th edition. New York: Routledge.

Mason, P. (2003). Tourism Impacts: Planning and Management. Amsterdam: Butterworth-Heinemann.