Banksia Plains

A regional-planning challenge exploring the tensions and connections between environmental health, community wellbeing and economic development.

Banksia Plains regional landscape with a town, river, coast, farms and renewable energy

Planning a region as a connected system

Banksia Plains asks students to make development decisions for a fictional region while tracking their effects across environmental, economic and community indicators.

Rather than treating sustainability as a single correct answer, the simulation makes trade-offs visible. Students must consider how choices affect biodiversity, carbon storage, water quality, infrastructure, employment and quality of life.

Systems thinking

Students see that changes in one part of a region influence many others.

Authentic trade-offs

Development choices rarely produce simple wins, encouraging careful justification.

Classroom discussion

The simulation creates shared evidence for debate, reflection and explanation.