Strategic planning in regional cities: new conceptions

Using the example of the regional Victorian city of Bendigo, this paper discusses new drivers for change in planning for regional cities. Key challenges are associated with environment, global relationships, urban amorphism, water security, sustainable growth, application of new planning policy, the clash between heritage and modernism, and calls for participation in local democratic processes by community interest groups. The paper describes the features of Bendigo, the challenges it faces, its 'new conceptions' for addressing change, and the ways in which it is applying influences absorbed from elsewhere into conscious strategic planning practice.