Going better than planned
by Andrew Bull
Roger
Freeman, a planner with Planning SA and an alumnus of The South
Ausralian Institute of Technology (SAIT), one of UniSA’s former
institutions, was recently made a Fellow of the Planning Institute
of Australia (PIA).
As a graduate engineer in the early ‘70s, Freeman worked for the Engineering and Water Supply Department (now SA Water) before moving to the Coastal Protection Board as a technical officer.
When the scope of the work changed from pure engineering to a more planning-based approach, Freeman returned to SAIT part-time to gain his planning degree, completing his studies in 1983 and becoming a member of the Planning Institute in the late ‘80s.
The PIA is a nationwide industry body representing some 5000 qualified urban and regional planners. The Fellowships recognise members who have made a significant contribution to planning as a profession and to the Institute. Nominations are reviewed and awarded by the federal body.
"In my case, it came from the people I work with in the assessment branch of Planning SA who took some initiative and thought ‘Roger is worthy of some recognition’," Freeman said. "It was a surprise for me because a lot of the things I do, I just do because it’s the work you get paid to do. I always look at other people who get Fellowships as doing a lot more additional work and outside work."
While he humbly downplays the significance of his Fellowship, saying it’s not the same kind of achievement as completing a PhD, Freeman concedes his long career in planning and his support for many of the PIA’s functions probably earned him a nomination.
"It is an honour. I guess it’s reasonably rare."
Freeman says the PIA doesn’t have the same public profile as some other professional associations such as the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, which he says is probably due to the visibility of the profession.
"With a lot of planning work, people don’t see the sum results of it. Things like the North Tce precinct have been coordinated through our department and people can see those sorts of things but some things you don’t see," Freeman says.
Perhaps – but Freeman has been involved in visible planning work and policy development projects in all areas of the state, including writing the policy documents for the foundation of Roxby Downs, the planning policy for the Mintaro heritage area and on the recent development for the Port Adelaide waterfront.
Freeman’s current role is as principal planner with the assessment branch of Planning SA and he devotes a lot of his spare time to running his church as a live music venue. Several acts performed there at last month’s Fringe Festival, keeping him busy with a different kind of planning.