Department of Planning and Environment

A changing world Presentation to Future Focus – Planning Connects

Gary White, Chief Planner Department of Planning and Environment 21.11.18

- Mark Twain

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Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do

As a practicing planner of 40 years, I have not previously experienced the rate of change that is

now occurring at all scales. Unquestionably, the world is being transformed at a breathtaking

pace, fuelled by a highly complex set of megatrends which are deeply changing the way we live.

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Global change is increasingly driving local impacts

Demographicmegatrends

Technologicalmegatrends

Geopoliticalmegatrends

Economicmegatrends

Environmentalmegatrends

(Megatrend Watch Institute 2018)

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At the national level the CSIRO has identified seven megatrends that are / will impact the future.

1. More from

less

Increasing

demands for

limited

resources

2. Planetary

pushback

Protection of

biodiversity and

the global

climate

3. The silk

highway

Rapid economic

growth and rise

of the middle

class

4. Forever

young

An aging

population and

changing

patterns

5. Digital

immersion

An increasingly

technologically

connected

society

6. Porous

boundaries

Technology and

globalisation are

changing global

relationships

7. Great

expectations

Rise of the

individual

consumer

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For instance: Smart cities

Key - 1. More from Less 2. | Planetary Push Back | 3. the Silk Highway | 4.Forever Aging

5. Digital Immersion | 6. Porous Boundaries | 7. Great expectations

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1

1

2 2

4

4

5

5

5

7 5

5

5

5

1

5

7

7

5

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Addressing change

Selected trends that impact

your business and markets

A sub-layer of trends that

have wide ranging impacts

Visualising the roadmap of these critical

forces through scenario building and

macro economic forecasts

How might a plan need to

respond

MACRO MICRO

TECHNOLOGIES

- Determine/ Change

Stakholders

- Must Respond

MEGATRENDS

- Influence

Collaboration between all stakeholders is essential to achieving smarter strategies.

7

A strategic led, outcomes focused planning system has better capacity to address change as it is more flexible and

responsive.

The Greater Sydney Metropolitan Plan and Commission is transformative and will help build capacity to manage

change into the future.

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Four elements of a competent planning system

Informs a selection of planning

tools and infrastructure delivery

Alignment of levels of assessment

to strategic intent and outcomes

Plans are influenced by higher

levels of planning - a ‘Line of Sight’

Investment across sectors should

align to the strategic framework,

delivering the intent.

Gary.White@planning.nsw.gov.au