Developing an urban freight planning course: A scoping study

This project is a scoping study to identify opportunities to improve urban freight planning tertiary education in Australia. The project will research and evaluate the current status of tertiary education offerings in urban freight planning and propose a range of innovative curriculum options to improve education outcomes for freight logistics in the future.

Key industry, government and higher education stakeholders will be consulted to identify improvements in current urban freight planning education and the scope of a potential course.

Participants

• Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications
• Queensland University of Technology

Project background

A key action to implement the National Urban Freight Planning Principles (the Principles) is to upskill planners in urban freight planning through tertiary education programs. This will ensure that planners have the requisite skills and knowledge to adequately consider freight impacts in their land use planning decision-making.

Lack of education among planners on urban freight planning was identified as a key issue in stakeholder consultations from the Inquiry into National Freight and Supply Chain Priorities and public consultations on the Principles.

Additionally, the development of an urban freight planning course was strongly supported by a range of participants, including the Australian Logistics Council and Deakin University. Deakin University research noted that of the 26 Planning Institute of Australia accredited courses, none incorporated education relating to freight in the planning system.

Identifying options for improving tertiary urban freight planning education is a key action to bridge the identified knowledge gap and support the implementation of the Principles. Improved urban freight planning education will ensure that future planners have a firm understanding of the Principles and how to incorporate freight concerns into urban land use planning.

Project objectives

The overarching objective of this project is to identify opportunities to improve knowledge of urban freight planning issues in tertiary education.

The key objectives of this project are to determine the following:

1. The need for an urban freight planning course.
2. The requirements of a potential course.
3. How a potential course could be developed and integrated into tertiary education programs, such as Urban Planning, designed for professionals interested in developing their knowledge and practical skills to become effective planners.

Please note …

This page will be a living record of this project. As it matures, hits milestones, etc., we’ll continue to add information, links, images, interviews and more. Watch this space!