Welcome to Precinct Governance
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A whole-of-life guidance on precinct governance for decision makers
This site contains the ingredients for successful precinct governance. You will find useful tools and insights to develop new precincts or recalibrate existing ones. The contents have been developed in collaboration with the NSW Property Council of Australia’s Precinct Committee between 2023 to 2024
Precinct Maturity Roadmap
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The Precinct Maturity Roadmap is a guide for the standardisation of the stages that a precinct may be in at one time or another. This enables us to clearly communicate to one another about a precinct, as well as provide a roadmap for best practice precinct governance that should be in place along the maturity lifecycle. Standardising precinct maturity is similar to how businesses and projects are standardised.
Precinct Governance Structure
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The building blocks for best practice precinct governance are the elements that make good decisions possible. This section defines Precincts and Governance first before breaking down precinct governance into parts.
Precinct Governance Matrix
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Find what you are looking for to improve your precinct. The matrix contains a detailed identification of best practice for specific governance topics within specific stages of precinct maturity.
The definition of a precinct:
A precinct is a geographically bound area of improved land that shares a common vision and benefits from the agglomerated value multiplier effect of governed operating principles upheld by the non-residential constituents.
Why have a definition?
The purpose of having a definition is to facilitate common understanding. The term ‘precinct’ is used widely and can be confusing. For example, a homeowner’s association without a significant non-residential constituents is simply a housing development. Whereas an organised high street of shops or a university campus and adjacent businesses can work together to increase visitation, innovation, and attractiveness of the precinct. The definition also ties the important criteria of vision and benefits of agglomeration.
‘Precinct’ can be used interchangeably with ‘district’.
A successful precinct must have good governance.
Good governance includes:
A shared vision and objectives of the precinct
A structure for issue escalation & the forums that meet and decide/ endorse,
The information management to support decision makers,
The independent assurance for objectivity and transparency on investments and alignment with objectives,
The artefacts that articulate policy,
The precinct managers that support decision making, and
The actors / roles, stakeholders, and community that represent the precinct. Precinct governance is not a static or fixed concept.
It is dynamic and evolving, requiring regular monitoring and adaptation to changing circumstances and emerging opportunities. Precinct governance is not an isolated endeavour and always involves people from diverse professional and personal origins.
Invest in good governance
A good precinct has the benefit of an enduring multiplier effect on that geographic location. An enduring multiplier is a continuous improvement to the things that are the precinct; the quality of the environment, the value of the land, curation of experience, the success of the businesses, and the overall enjoyment of the place by residents and visitors. Calling an area of a city a precinct does not guarantee this benefit. The benefit is a product of sound investment decisions by an organisation behind the precinct that makes it possible (including the funding to make the organisation itself possible.) The governance of that organisation is a framework of the way in which all decisions are made.
Defining for ourselves what good looks like sets the light on the hill that we can use to navigate and reduce the number of prescribed rules and legislation. To do this we synthesise what we learn and recalibrate as an industry. This way all ships rise with the tide.
Precinct governance is not a recipe, it’s a system of ingredients that enable good decision making, a framework.
Precincts are dynamic organisations of people and place. Precincts exist in a myriad of forms, they include many different stakeholders, they curate different experiences for their inhabitants and visitors. Precincts also endure levels of success or decline. Good governance sustains the vision and resilience of a precinct.
Economic, Social, and Environmental Benefits of Precincts
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Economic Benefits
Stimulating Economic Growth: Integrated precinct design can stimulate economic growth. This is often achieved through the creation of jobs and the support of liveable communities.
Resilience to Economic Downturns: Precincts can offer greater resilience to economic downturns². This is because the diverse range of businesses and industries within a precinct can help buffer against sector-specific downturns.
Leverage of Government Investment: Precincts can better leverage government investment in major assets. This is because the co-location of businesses and industries can lead to synergies that amplify the impact of government investment².
Creation of Quality Jobs: Precincts can lead to the creation of higher wages and quality jobs for workers. This is due to the high-value industries that often locate within precincts.
Higher Productivity: Precincts often exhibit higher than average productivity. This is due to the concentration of resources and talent, which can lead to more efficient and innovative practices.
Increased Tax Revenues: Successful innovation precincts can lead to higher tax revenues for the government.
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Social Benefits
Connecting People and Places: Precincts can help connect people and places, fostering a sense of community and belonging. They can unite people where they can live, work, and play in one area.
Creating Vibrant Communities: Precincts can create vibrant and attractive places that foster a cohesive and vibrant community experience.
Improving Quality of Life: By providing easy access to work, school, healthcare, entertainment, culture, and shopping, precincts can improve the quality of life for residents.
Fostering Community Bonds: Building a precinct involves more than bricks and mortar. Precincts can help us feel more connected and part of a group in a world that can often feel disconnected². The concentration of people in a centralised area creates opportunities for social interaction, collaboration, and shared experiences. Fostering Community Bonds: Building a precinct involves more than bricks and mortar. Precincts can help us feel more connected and part of a group in a world that can often feel disconnected². The concentration of people in a centralised area creates opportunities for social interaction, collaboration, and shared experiences
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Environmental Benefits
Reducing Carbon Footprint: Precincts can reduce the carbon footprint of our cities by using renewable energy, encouraging public transport use, attracting talent and investment, and increasing the use of shared spaces.
Enhancing Local Environment: The local environment can be enhanced through the protection of water and soil resources, retention and/or enhancement of the green network, and protection and/or restoration of fauna habitat. Enhancing Local Environment: The local environment can be enhanced through the protection of water and soil resources, retention and/or enhancement of the green network, and protection and/or restoration of fauna habitat.
Promoting Sustainability: Precincts can promote sustainability through passive environmental design measures, water-sensitive urban design, enhancement of the green network, harnessing opportunities for renewable energy sources, and precinct-wide energy savings.
Adaptive Reuse of Existing Structures: Precincts can promote the adaptive reuse of existing structures where feasible, which can contribute to sustainability. Adaptive Reuse of Existing Structures: Precincts can promote the adaptive reuse of existing structures where feasible, which can contribute to sustainability.
