CIVIL & STRUCTURE DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING & BUILT ENVIRONMENT

THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MALAYSIA

REPORT OF PROJECT SUSTAINABLE URBAN PLANNING

SEMESTER II
SESSION 2014/2015
KKKH4284 SUSTAINABLE URBAN PLANNING

Assignment Title:
TASK 5
LOCAL AGENDA 21
Lecturer:
PROF. IR. DR. RIZA ATIQ ABDULLAH BIN O.K RAHMAT
Student Name:
MUHAMMAD NUR AIMAN BIN ROSLY

A138221

You are given a task by the mayor of your hometown to evaluate and give suggestion on how
to plan the town in accordance with Local Agenda 21. Write a brief report on your evaluation
and suggestion.

Agenda 21 is a global action plan for sustainable development into the 21st century.
Sustainable development is a process that aims to meets the needs of the present generation
without harming the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It is not only about
particular environmental issues such as species extinction and pollution but also about
economic progress which meets all our needs without leaving future generations with fewer
resources than we enjoy. It can be seen as a way of living from nature's income rather than its
capital account. Sustainable development is not easy to achieve; it often demands changes in
lifestyle particularly if we continue to use up non-renewable natural resources, as we do at
present, if we ignore the plight of the poor or if we continue to pollute and waste, then we can
expect a decline in the quality of life.
For wealthy nations, achieving sustainable development means adopting and
implementing policies concerning issues such as recycling, energy efficiency, conservation
and rehabilitation of damaged landscapes. For the developing nations it means policies for
equity, respect of the law, redistribution of wealth and wealth creation. The Local Agenda 21
needs cooperation of many parties. It includes society, private sector and local authorities. So
each party has their basic own role. These are some of the elements:
1. Managing and improving the local authority's own environmental performance
Evaluation
The involvement of multiple agencies and departments in urban management
had made it difficult to coordinate many actions and in turn affects the

effectiveness.
The various roles that are expected of these local authorities to attain a
liveable city with a high quality of living had put pressure on those authorities
to acquire a strong organisation. The pressure is left more intensely by small
and medium sized local authorities that lack finance, manpower, skills and
equipment in providing the expected services.

Suggestion

The challenges that been facing require the respective parties be more focused

in undertaking each and every responsibility in urban development.

Good urban administration and management need to take into consideration
the capability of each local authority as each local authority has differs in
terms of manpower, skills and financial capacity to provide good service for
its population.

2.

Integrating sustainable development aims into the local authority's policies and
activities
Elevation

The sustainable development are less in these area.

The large number of private vehicle ownership puts pressure on the capacity
of the existing road network. The inefficient public transportation resulted in
the tendency for the urban population to optimize for private vehicles instead
of the public transport. In the long term, this will have negative impact on the
competitiveness and the attraction of those cities to draw local and foreign

investors.
Rapid urban development has contributed to the degradation of environmental
quality especially the quality of water, air and noise. Many rivers which are
major sources of water have undergone degradation in water quality due to the
pollution from domestic waste, industrial effluents, suspended particulates
from soil erosion and heavy metal pollution from factories. Air pollution has
also increased due to emission from motor vehicles, industrial development
and use of non-environmental friendly products. Moreover, increased human
activity and high population density have also generated noise pollution in
urban areas.

Suggestion

The development of an urban system needs to be based on clear system of

hierarchy so that the provision and distribution of facilities and
infrastructure will be more efficient, thus, preventing wastage of national
resources.

Urban development needs to be carried specified area to ensure urban

sprawl is avoided. Towards this end, land use development should be
based on the adopted development plan and comply with all policies,

programmes and action plans proposed by the respective plans.

Urban development should be implemented in accordance with the
principles of smart growth with emphasis on redeveloping suitable areas
especially in urban centres and brown field areas for recreational purpose
and conserving environmentally sensitive areas.

3. Awareness raising and education

Good access to high quality public, social and cultural facilities will
contribute a great deal to the improvement of the quality of life of the
resident. The government can provide good governance by recruiting
the participation of residents in the improvement of their living

environment.
The public participation should assist in achieving sustainable
development in optimal utilisation of available resources environment,

should be promoted and enhanced.

The public should also be encouraged to adopt the 3R concept of
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Such programmes can be organised at a
neighbourhood level. The policies that have been formulated and
guidelines to be drafted, shall form the basis for a comprehensive
framework to guide, control and manage new development and
improvement works.

4.

Consulting and involving the general public

Elevation

This element has been implemented through the area. They may
included residents/tenants associations, youth club, senior citizen
group, sports club, activity/hobby societies, environment/ conservation
organization.

Suggestions

All parties should be more innovative, transparent and efficient in

promoting and working urban development in terms of quality, healthy,

competitive and progressive.

The concept of eco-partnership, which places emphasis on the
concerted efforts of various stakeholders such as private enterprises,
various government agencies and community based and nongovernmental organisations to carry out study activities aimed at
increasing public awareness on sustainable environment, should be
promoted and enhanced.

5. Partnerships

Partnerships should have concrete value addition to the implementation

process and should be new that is, not merely reflect existing

arrangements.
Partnerships should bear in mind the economic, social and
environmental dimensions of sustainable development in their design

and implementation.
Partnerships should be based on predictable and sustained resources
for their implementation, include mobilizing new resources and result
in transfer of technology.

6. Measuring monitoring and reporting on progress towards sustainability

Those who choose to register their partnership should provide

transparent, participatory and credible information and reporting,
focussing on their contribution to the implementation of goals,

objectives and targets of Local Agenda 21.

The policies that have been formulated and guidelines to be drafted,
shall form the basis for a comprehensive framework to guide, control
and manage new development and improvement works.