Australian strategic planning and socio-spatial vulnerability: the case of metropolitan Adelaide

This article explores the correlation between contemporary strategic planning and socio-spatial disadvantage, utilizing data from five censuses conducted within the Adelaide metropolitan region. To assess how these two dynamics manifest across Australian cities, we introduce a vulnerability assessment methodology. Taking a historical perspective, the study delves into how ongoing socio-spatial transformations have impacted the Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD) over several decades. Employing mixed methods, we analyse the temporal progression of the IRSD from 1991 to 2021 and interpret the implications in the context of contemporary strategic plans. The research findings reveal that strategic plans in metropolitan Adelaide have become linked to the establishment of five interconnected/consolidated regional centres, as well as the relocation of areas of disadvantage from the traditional inner cities to the middle and outer suburbs. This has led to residents experiencing enduring socio-spatial vulnerability for several decades. The investigation illustrates the evolving nature of urban disadvantage in post-industrial Australian cities. This article introduces an innovative method for evaluating strategic plans, specifically monitoring progress in achieving their objectives. This could guide future plans to uplift disadvantaged suburbs from a state of permanent vulnerability.