Narrative based new media innovations, such as digital stories, computer gaming, and location based scenarios can enrich community engagement in the urban planning process. Community derived stories of the past and future can thereby inform policy and modelling to preserve heritage and yield more sustainable cities.
A research team comprising creatives, new media specialists, educators, and urban planners have researched, developed and evaluated suite of creative outputs and allied planning prototypes in two urban locations: Kelvin Grove and Noosa.
This project supports new media creativity and literacy in two Australian communities. It helps people participate in the urban planning process. It assists in improving a sense of belonging and fosters human talent and socio-cultural values favourable to creativity and innovation.
By empowering people to bring about change within their local community, the project re-invigorates a more contemporary interpretation of community values in a knowledge society. Australia’s capacity to interpret and engage with its urban environment is also enhanced by raising our awareness of the socio-cultural background, heritage and future aspirations of local community members.