About CURF

Canberra Urban and Regional Futures (CURF) is a new initiative jointly developed and managed by the University of Canberra Urban and Regional Planning Discipline, and the Australian National University’s Climate Change Institute.  CURF is located in the Urban and Regional Planning Discipline at the University of Canberra.

CURF had its origins in the realisation that urbanisation, population pressures, the impacts of climate change and an awareness of the environmental and social impacts of urban growth were driving an increasing interest in research for evidence based decision making on cities.  The overall objective of this research is to find new pathways for more sustainable cities and regions.

Canberra, as a planned national capital, largely developed since the 1950’s, provides an excellent example of many of the issues facing post World War 2 urban settlements, including being overwhelmingly car oriented and suburban in layout and design. As a city-region on our doorstep, Canberra presents an immediate opportunity to undertake original interdisciplinary research on ‘urban and regional futures’.