Summary

The urban space surrounding our monocentric city structures is growing across the South East Queensland Region (and in general, the globe). Urban development is by far the most rapidly expanding land use type in South East Queensland, putting our towns and cities under increased pressure, resulting in urban sprawl; causing many societal and environmental problems.

A more balanced and sustainable pattern of development needs a better policy focus, not only on urban districts, but within the wider rural areas which surround them. A more integrated Australian level policy and funding system can enable and encourage integrated rural development at the local, regional and national levels. Saṃsāra, a community to house approximately 1100 residents, has the potential to be the leading urban development within a rural context which could potentially ensure our current developmental priorities are reassessed. Other community based developments will see rise as a new movement towards community based city hubs and polycentric development styles flourish.