Valuing diversity in urban renewal : who values, seeks and consumes diversity in Australia

  • Emilie Baganz

Western Sydney University thesis: Doctoral thesis

Abstract

This thesis aims to critically and empirically examine whether - and if so, in what way - economic, social, demographic and cultural diversity adds value to urban neighbourhoods. Whilst planners and a range of - especially public - stakeholder believe in the (social) value of diverse cities and neighbourhoods, it has proven difficult to get investors and public treasuries to invest in diversity when it comes to urban renewal projects. The theoretical concepts applied to explore the value of diversity are super-diversity, reflecting the human complexity found in neighbourhoods, as well as public and shared value, conceptualising how the public and private sector can and should create societal value. The empirical part of the thesis consists of a case study and a survey. The new-build suburb of Docklands in Melbourne served as a case study to examine the role diversity plays in urban renewal. Interviews with five key informants showed that whilst diversity is valued by the public as well as the state and local government, no mechanisms are in place to implement it in an urban renewal project that is market-driven and dominated by private investors - for example, in the form of a quota for affordable housing. The objective of the survey was to ascertain if urban residents value diversity, and what aspects of diversity they value. 513 participants were recruited from the most diverse and sought-after suburbs in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The analysis reveals which forms of diversity are valued most - ethnic diversity - and least - economic diversity. Additionally, the analysis sheds light on the demographic characteristics of so-called diversity-seekers - a group who actively seeks to live in a diverse neighbourhood - who are most likely to be male, below 55, tertiary-educated and on a relatively high income, working as a professional or manager and have an Asian ethnic background. This is in accordance with findings from other studies and Florida's creative class theory, and confirms that the taste-for-diversity phenomenon exists in Australia. Interestingly, the demographic profile of the diversity-seeker conforms to the demographic of the people who live in urban renewal projects such as Docklands. The overall contribution of the thesis is to demonstrate that urban residents value diversity in its many different forms. Furthermore, the research has shown that the diversity-seeker phenomenon, as identified by previous research in the US (Allen 1980, Florida 2002) and the Netherlands (Blokland & van Eijk 2009), is evident in Australia.
Date of Award2018
Original languageEnglish

Keywords

  • city dwellers
  • attitudes
  • urban renewal
  • city planning
  • social aspects
  • cultural pluralism
  • multiculturalism
  • Australia

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