‘This is a wonderful book that should be on the desk of every architect and planner. It shows how

Procedural due process principles [Chapter 13]
If everyone has an inviolate right to sustainability and genuine democracy, all people should 
have ‘standing’ to object to unfair processes and outcomes – whether affecting themselves, other 
communities, future generations or perhaps even other species. Remarkably, most legal systems 
only allow immediate stakeholders the right to object to environmental decisions that will affect their 
future democratic and constitutional rights. Again, neither the agenda nor ‘rules of the game’ should 
be changed midstream without consensus. Meetings should not become a ratification of partisan ex-
camera deals. A written agreement to abide by due process principles and attribute sources of ideas 
or work is an indicator of good will. On smaller projects, a constitution for decision-making might 
appear as a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between project partners. On larger projects, 
the constitution would be part of a formal contract. Thus some considerations are that:
•
Participatory democracy and substantive public engagement in development planning,
design and decisions, and subsequent management, require that pre-agreed due process
principles are built into project development and operations.
• 
Transparency includes the requirement that group members report any ‘ex-camera’
negotiations or discussions aimed at influencing decisions. Reasons for controversial design
and planning decisions should also be in writing and contestable.
• 
Collaborative design processes (eg charrettes) can prevent future conflict, and provide creative
contributions, while including a broad range of diverse input from a cross-section of
interests, not restricted to the immediate stakeholders.
• 
Participants should have the right of veto if it can be shown that a design proposal violates
agreed sustainability principles. Good design should be able to meet almost any legitimate
objections within a sustainability framework.
• 
A sustainability ombudsman should be included in the planning and design process, as
financial stakeholders cannot adequately represent future generations in decisions affecting
the means of survival (eg even indigenous or green groups can be ‘bought off’).