Notes from the editors.
Hefferan, Mike ; Wilson, Bruce
This edition of the journal again highlights the diversity of
regional science and the disciplines and sub-disciplines that make up
that entire body of research. It draws case study examples from various
Australian regions and, in one case, provides an important international
example which would be of high relevance and interest to Association
members and others.
The Editors recognise with thanks the high quality of these papers
and the efforts of the contributors, drawn from a wide range of
institutions and discipline areas.
In the international case study, drawn from Papua New Guinea,
Blazey and Perkiss reflect on the often adverse impact on traditional
(customary) landholdings, communities and societies; of foreign
development investment supported by wider government economic
development policy.
The Dollery Ors. paper consider models for the provision of
services, particularly for smaller local authority areas. This is
particularly relevant given the ongoing trend towards local authority
amalgamations across Australia. Perhaps not unrelated is the paper by
Grant and Woods which considers new fiscal arrangements that could be
applied through a more regionalised revenue raising base.
An aging demographic is a now well recognised characteristic of
many Australian regions. The paper by McDonald and Ors. considers an
interesting and contemporary aspect of those challenges--that being the
take-up and use of digital communication to the benefit of those
individuals and communities.
Another important delineation of all regional environments and
their economies is the movement in and value ascribed to property assets
in each particular region. Small and Ors. paper considers the effect of
such property market movements and their impacts on the wider regional
economy and community as value rises and, almost invariably in regional
areas, falls.
Finally, this edition includes a paper on migration. There are
considerable debate and opinion pieces written on migration into
Australia--but they are arguably insufficient on the significant
internal migration patterns within the country and the effect upon the
regions involved. The paper by Vidyattama and Ors. considers this issue
using the case study of population shifts in the Murray-Darling Basin
prompted by recent drought conditions in that region.
Editors:
Professor Mike Hefferan
Professor Bruce Wilson
