The
town planning methods applied to the urban areas of Australia have
typically been applied to Aboriginal communities to create suburban
outposts in remote areas. This is a convenient methodology for planners
and engineers who seek straight lines and compact settlement forms
for cost-effective delivery of roads, pipes, and wires. However, it
does not always provide a design basis for sustainable development
or the lifestyle of the people. RADG is now conducting collaborative
community planning exercises on site to develop concept plans for future
settlement upgrades that involve the application of environmental technology.
For the short term MSP and CDEP work programs are prepared with costings
with a landscape master plan while in the longer term planning can
proceed towards larger scale physical infrastructure upgrades. Plans
have been prepared for Goodabinya in Marble Bar, Gnangara in the Northern
Perth Metropolitan area, the Mulark Community in Northam and Juwurlinjy
in the East Kimberley. 
Goodabinya
The town planning
methods applied to the urban areas of Australia have typically been applied
to Aboriginal communities to create suburban outposts in remote areas.
This is a convenient methodology for planners and engineers who seek
straight lines and compact settlement forms for cost-effective delivery
of roads, pipes, and wires. However, it does not always provide a design
basis for sustainable development or the lifestyle of the people. RADG
is now conducting collaborative community planning exercises on site
to develop concept plans for future settlement upgrades that involve
the application of environmental technology. For the short term MSP and
CDEP work programs are prepared with costings with a landscape master
plan while in the longer term planning can proceed towards larger scale
physical infrastructure upgrades. Plans have been prepared for Goodabinya
in Marble Bar, Gnangara in the Northern Perth Metropolitan area, the
Mulark Community in Northam and Juwurlinjy in the East Kimberley.
Gnangara
1999 Settlement Upgrade Concept Plan for the Gnangara, Nyoongah Community Nyoongah
Community at Gnangara, in the northern metropolitan area of Perth, was
the site of the annual student project in 1999 supervised by RADG staff
members. Final year students camped on site for the week and worked in
partnership with community members to develop a settlement upgrade concept
plan. The students consulted with community vice chairperson Brendon Anderson,
MSP Supervisor Warren Davis, community council members, and residents to
determine key issues and aspirations. The process resulted in a clear definition
of housing and infrastructure needs. Being a study in "Environmental Technology
Applications" the students provided a number of options in the areas of
housing improvements for thermal comfort and energy efficiency, waste management
and also infrastructure improvements. Road upgrade options were proposed
that simultaneously harvested rainwater and enabled revegetation. Current
programs such as the Ministry Of Housing Management Support Program were
found to be positive contributions to community development. This project
was made possible thought the financial assistance of Nyoongah Community
Inc and the Aboriginal Affairs Department. 
Mulark
The Noongar community established and organised a collaboration of students
and staff from Murdoch University and the University of Western Australia
in March 2000 to help design the Reserve as an Indigenous Cultural Centre
facility. Twelve Murdoch University Environmental Science students and
twelve University of Western Australia Landscape Architecture students
were involved in the project. The realistic outcomes of the project focussed
on a detailed and sensitive analysis of the environmental, cultural and
historical elements of the Reserve and surrounds. Key findings were integrated
into optional Draft Development Plans with supporting design details. In
good time, and as further community support and funding allows, the project
will be implemented! The development proposal was that the Reserve be developed
as an Aboriginal Cultural Centre for Northam. The plans incorporate culturally
and environmentally sensitive design solutions, with many of the community
facilities located in their historical locations. Facilities include:
- Historical
Museum
- Temporary
Stay Mia-Mias (Huts)
- Community & Recreation
Hall
- Caretaker
Mia-Mia o Performing Arts Stage
- Kumpa
Mia-Mia (Toilets) & Shower Facilities
- Play
Areas
- Carparking
Areas
One
of the aims of the Cultural Centre is to encourage the wider community
to visit the Reserve and appreciate an important educational place
rich in history and culture.
It's
good to talk about doing things out there but I'd like to see
people get out here and get it going. It would be good for NAIDOC
week.
I'd like to see it go ahead. We've come this far and battled
to get the land so it'd be good to see it all come together.
Alan Slater,
2000.
Juwurlinjy
Bow River is a cattle station in the East Kimberley which became Juwurlinji
Aboriginal Community in 1986. Mrs Mona Ramsey subsequently became community
chairperson where some 50 people live in 7 houses. Up to 100 Kija people
would be living there if the necessary facilities were available. At the
nearby Argyle Diamond Mine works community member Mr Chocolate Thomas in
the Community Relations section. In 2001 Argyle Diamond Mines enabled the
annual Environmental Technology student project to be conducted at Juwurlinji
under the supervision of RADG staff members. Argyle provided in-kind support
and funds for the Murdoch University staff and student travel as well as
funds for documentation. Students and staff camped on site for the week
in the old homestead and worked intensively all week with community members
and visiting agency representatives to develop a 3D model and 3 community
layout plan options. The planning was necessary to enable the implementation
of 3 new houses, 3 house upgrades, a water supply system upgrade, and a
power supply system upgrade. The community is also the place of well-known
painters and dancers. Kija elders Mona Ramsey, Remmie Ramsey, Freddy Timms,
Paddy Bedford, Freddy Timms and Rusty Peters are only some of those whose
paintings hang in major galleries and institutions of capital cities around
Australia. Juwurlinji community member Freddy Timms is also chairperson
of Jirawun Aboriginal Arts Corporation and has a vision for a gallery and
studio complex to be built at the community. These of course featured strongly
in the planning project. Again issues of sustainability as well as cultural
and environmental appropriateness were investigated by the students.
