ABSTRACT
The second Domain of the Built Environment is Public Open Space. Chapter 8 makes an urgent case for the prioritisation of public open space provision in Australia’s urban areas. These vital places promote many elements of human health. They provide the setting for physical activity, social interaction and healthy food production, and they are instrumental in the protection of biodiversity and mitigation of environmental risks. We discuss the need to understand the interface between private and public open space in Australia recognising that careful management of this shifting interface is key to promoting harmonious use and equitable access. We cover various ways to assess demand for public open space provision, emphasising the inadequacy of purely quantitative standards. The chapter concludes with reflections on the changing nature of public open space in Australian cities, which are densifying. Our public open spaces are increasingly in demand, and urban planners have a critical role to play in their protection.
