As part of their Unit 4 Geography studies, our Year 12 ATAR Geography students recently swapped the classroom for the city, undertaking a day of fieldwork focused on planning sustainable cities. The fieldwork explored one of the major challenges facing Perth as it continues to grow: urban sprawl and transportation. In particular, students investigated transit-oriented development (TOD), an approach to urban planning that concentrates housing, employment, services and public spaces around major public transport hubs.

Throughout the day, students visited Cockburn Central, Wellard and Subiaco, three areas where transit-oriented development principles have been implemented in different ways. At each location, students collected observations and compared the design and function of the area, considering factors such as access to public transport, housing density, walkability, access to services and public spaces.

We were also fortunate to be joined for the fieldwork by Professor Alan Johnstone from Murdoch University, who chairs the undergraduate majors in Sustainable Development and International Aid & Development, as well as the postgraduate courses in Sustainable Development and Development Studies. Professor Johnstone shared his expertise with students throughout the day, providing valuable insight into sustainable urban development and encouraging students to think critically about the opportunities and challenges involved in planning for Perth’s future.

The fieldwork provided students with an excellent opportunity to apply the geographical concepts and theory studied in the classroom to real-world examples. The observations and data collected across the three sites will now support students as they evaluate the effectiveness of transit-oriented development as a strategy for creating a more sustainable and liveable Perth.

Mr Sule Alagic
Teacher