Urban and Regional Planner
What the work is
Develops and implements plans and policies for the controlled use of urban and rural land, assesses development, and advises on economic, environmental and social factors affecting land use.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Conducts research and analysis to assess current land use patterns and trends
- Inspects sites to assess compliance with land use regulations and policies
- Consults with stakeholders such as government officials, community groups and developers, to gather input and feedback on land use plans
- Advises governments and organisations on urban and regional policy and resource planning
- Undertakes development assessments and prepares, reviews and evaluates environmental impact reports, incorporating digital spatial information to inform decision-making
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a local council planning team deciding how land in a growing town is used. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A messy argument at a community meeting ends with a plan the room can live with
- A vacant lot becomes a small park because you found a way to make it work
- A resident says thank you for being straight with them, even when the answer was no
Hard days
- A packed meeting where nobody has read the plan but everybody has an opinion
- A developer pushes for a quick yes while the neighbours want a firm no
- A pile of applications on your desk, each one with real people behind it
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 241331, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.