Urban planning in Australia

This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article. (September 2011)

Urban planning in Australia has a significant role to play in ensuring the future sustainability of Australian cities. Australia is one of the most highly urbanised societies in the world. Continued population growth in Australian cities is placing increasing pressure on infrastructure, such as public transport and roadways, energy, air and water systems within the urban environment.

Urban planning is undertaken at all levels of Government in Australia. However, the Federal Government is playing an increasing part in setting policy^{[citation needed]} as part of an overall response to developing climate adaptation and mitigation strategies^{[citation needed]}. The local government has also been engaging with the community to make decisions on urban planning designs that help to promote social cohesion. Over the past few decades Australians have developed a respect for urban heritage places and community groups have fought hard to stop developers from destroying them.^{[citation needed]}