Urban Sprawl
In most Australian cities, urbanisation brings about urban sprawl, one of the many impacts of increased urbanisation. Urban sprawl is the migration of residents from a heavily populated city centre to a low density (an area that is not effective in housing many people) housing development vicinity which is constructed upon rural land. Owing to the pressure of population increase cities and local communities expand past their borders and into undeveloped land. The distribution of suburbs and the city itself across rural land is due to the need of accommodating more residents, thus dispersing farther and farther from the city centre.
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This procedure diminishes natural environments, agricultural lands (market gardens) and isolated areas on the fringe of the city in order to make way for new development. These untouched areas will eventually be diminished if urban sprawl continues. Natural and endangered species may also die out due to lack of natural environment, thus altering the cultural and natural value of the area. For instance, between the 1997 and 2009, the Australian Farm Institute reported that the agricultural fertile land of Australia was reduced by 11 percent. In the duration of those 12 years, 53 million hectares from 462 million hectares was cleared to make way for residential purposes due to urban sprawl. The majority of Australia’s fresh fruit and vegetables are farmed on the fringes of the city; however they now have the potential to be diminished due to urban sprawl.
Urban sprawl also complicates efforts to ensure access to health facilities, education, sanitation, water, food and energy and other facilities to residents of urban sprawl, which are mostly located in the heart of the city. Thus, private automobiles will increase on roads due to the need to reach employment areas (mostly in the city). Vehicles consume fuel, composed of fossil fuel, are nonrenewable sources of energy and also create more pollution in the air.
Modern dwellings in the suburbs are also low-density and are larger than city apartments. Therefore they require more energy for heating during winter and air-conditioning in the summer which can escape though external walls. Whereas city apartments are more efficient in housing a great population as the heating and cooling systems are more efficient as it is more difficult for the air to escape through multiple apartment walls, ceilings and floors.
Looking at the economic aspect, it will cost a large sum of money to obtain materials to construct infrastructure such as houses, roads, power lines etc. to fulfil living requirements. Residents of the suburbs will also have higher bills on energy than residents in the city dues to the longer distance travelled to reach facilities of the city i.e. schools, grocery shops, health care etc.
Urban sprawl also complicates efforts to ensure access to health facilities, education, sanitation, water, food and energy and other facilities to residents of urban sprawl, which are mostly located in the heart of the city. Thus, private automobiles will increase on roads due to the need to reach employment areas (mostly in the city). Vehicles consume fuel, composed of fossil fuel, are nonrenewable sources of energy and also create more pollution in the air.
Modern dwellings in the suburbs are also low-density and are larger than city apartments. Therefore they require more energy for heating during winter and air-conditioning in the summer which can escape though external walls. Whereas city apartments are more efficient in housing a great population as the heating and cooling systems are more efficient as it is more difficult for the air to escape through multiple apartment walls, ceilings and floors.
Looking at the economic aspect, it will cost a large sum of money to obtain materials to construct infrastructure such as houses, roads, power lines etc. to fulfil living requirements. Residents of the suburbs will also have higher bills on energy than residents in the city dues to the longer distance travelled to reach facilities of the city i.e. schools, grocery shops, health care etc.
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Urban Sprawl in Sydney:
To some, Sydney is referred to as the heart of urban Australia. The population of the city is predicted to increase to 5.6 million by 2031. 545,000 new homes will be constructed to house the residents of the growing urban sprawl and 625,000 new jobs will be available. These houses are planned to be built on the west. The Sydney Greater Metropolitan Region even extends to some communities of the Blue Mountains which vary from 129 km to 132.7 km (depending on the route), which is an indicator of how urban sprawl has affected Sydney. Geographers can use ecological footprints to predict the effects of a human population on the surrounding vicinity. The urban ecological foot prints provide approximate numbers the amount of land a city requires and areas to dispose of waste. From this information, the amount of resources to sustain the area can be determined. In 2005, it was predicted that 49 percent of New South Wales was the city area of Sydney and if urban sprawl continued, 95 percent of New South Wales would become the city of Sydney by 2031. As Sydney has a high ecological foot print (measures of human impacts on surrounding ecosystems), it displays that Sydney encompasses a low-sustainable population compared to other countries. The ecological foot print indicates unsustainable intake trends and impacts upon the environment.
With new houses on the build, transportation services must be accessible to link residents from one destination to another, meaning that stations must be built in peaceful suburbs. However opposing parties fear that these communities will be the brunt of the decision as the communities will alien to the sudden arrival of hustle and bustle.
To some, Sydney is referred to as the heart of urban Australia. The population of the city is predicted to increase to 5.6 million by 2031. 545,000 new homes will be constructed to house the residents of the growing urban sprawl and 625,000 new jobs will be available. These houses are planned to be built on the west. The Sydney Greater Metropolitan Region even extends to some communities of the Blue Mountains which vary from 129 km to 132.7 km (depending on the route), which is an indicator of how urban sprawl has affected Sydney. Geographers can use ecological footprints to predict the effects of a human population on the surrounding vicinity. The urban ecological foot prints provide approximate numbers the amount of land a city requires and areas to dispose of waste. From this information, the amount of resources to sustain the area can be determined. In 2005, it was predicted that 49 percent of New South Wales was the city area of Sydney and if urban sprawl continued, 95 percent of New South Wales would become the city of Sydney by 2031. As Sydney has a high ecological foot print (measures of human impacts on surrounding ecosystems), it displays that Sydney encompasses a low-sustainable population compared to other countries. The ecological foot print indicates unsustainable intake trends and impacts upon the environment.
With new houses on the build, transportation services must be accessible to link residents from one destination to another, meaning that stations must be built in peaceful suburbs. However opposing parties fear that these communities will be the brunt of the decision as the communities will alien to the sudden arrival of hustle and bustle.
How to manage Urban Sprawl
Urban consolidation is an essential measure in reducing urban sprawl. This counteractive measure involves the planning of creating houses in urban areas (buildings, roads, open spaces etc.) that have been deserted and are rehabilitated for resident use. By achieving this, the distribution of residents into the suburbs out skirting the city will begin to decline, thus stopping action of urban sprawl. Urban consolidation also increases housing density in residential areas. By building large apartment blocks that are multiple storeys is a very effective way of housing a large population in a confined space.
Society
Urban consolidation can decrease the difficulties of accessing public transport from suburbs to the city as many suburbs are not very well equipped with transport systems or facilities. Therefore highways are needed to link the residents from destination to destination. But due to the thousands or even millions of people using these highways, traffic congestion becomes a major issue. Public health becomes a concern as a lot of time is spent sitting in cars while waiting to get to work and fumes from vehicles participate in polluting the air with greenhouse gas emissions. It costs families more money to purchase petrol and less time is spent with families and friends which is an important factor of quality of life for many people.
Environment
Urban consolidation also means that less private vehicles will be used as a source of transportation, thus decreasing the fumes that are erected into the atmosphere. It prevents vast areas of agriculture or green spaces being removed to accommodate the rising population and urban consolidation stops the displacement or dying out of species. High-density buildings (action of urban consolidation) also reduce energy consumption as less energy is required to heat or cool apartment blocks compared to low-density houses in the suburbs.
Economy
This planning strategy allows the Government to allocate money for housing purposes in the city or other planning projects instead of building infrastructure for new suburbs. Suburbs require intricate infrastructure like sewerage, power, internet and telephone lines, gas and roads and transport must be developed to link these destinations together. Facilities for daily purposes also must be planned and executed like schools, playgrounds etc. Urban consolidation prevents the detailed planning and execution of these suburbs which save the Government a large sum of money.
Urban consolidation must happen in the short term future and continue to happen over the lifespan of Metropolis in order to sustain population growth and make Metropolis sustainable and liveable for future generations to come. Accommodating residents in high-density buildings within the city area is a priority as effectively housing thousands of residents will reduce urban sprawl and discontinue the removal of agricultural and fertile land. This will also ensure that citizens have access to facilities and services within the city and are able to enjoy a great living experience.
Society
Urban consolidation can decrease the difficulties of accessing public transport from suburbs to the city as many suburbs are not very well equipped with transport systems or facilities. Therefore highways are needed to link the residents from destination to destination. But due to the thousands or even millions of people using these highways, traffic congestion becomes a major issue. Public health becomes a concern as a lot of time is spent sitting in cars while waiting to get to work and fumes from vehicles participate in polluting the air with greenhouse gas emissions. It costs families more money to purchase petrol and less time is spent with families and friends which is an important factor of quality of life for many people.
Environment
Urban consolidation also means that less private vehicles will be used as a source of transportation, thus decreasing the fumes that are erected into the atmosphere. It prevents vast areas of agriculture or green spaces being removed to accommodate the rising population and urban consolidation stops the displacement or dying out of species. High-density buildings (action of urban consolidation) also reduce energy consumption as less energy is required to heat or cool apartment blocks compared to low-density houses in the suburbs.
Economy
This planning strategy allows the Government to allocate money for housing purposes in the city or other planning projects instead of building infrastructure for new suburbs. Suburbs require intricate infrastructure like sewerage, power, internet and telephone lines, gas and roads and transport must be developed to link these destinations together. Facilities for daily purposes also must be planned and executed like schools, playgrounds etc. Urban consolidation prevents the detailed planning and execution of these suburbs which save the Government a large sum of money.
Urban consolidation must happen in the short term future and continue to happen over the lifespan of Metropolis in order to sustain population growth and make Metropolis sustainable and liveable for future generations to come. Accommodating residents in high-density buildings within the city area is a priority as effectively housing thousands of residents will reduce urban sprawl and discontinue the removal of agricultural and fertile land. This will also ensure that citizens have access to facilities and services within the city and are able to enjoy a great living experience.
Urban consolidation in Melbourne:
The docklands in Melbourne were once used for the bringing in of ships carrying goods. It has now been redeveloped with high-density housing, buildings and entertainment facilities, decreasing the need to build suburbs outside the city. The reality television show, the Block, also redevelops rundown buildings into modern apartments which provide more residents with homes in the city.
Urban consolidation will ensure future growth and sustainability of Metropolis by reducing urban sprawl. Rundown buildings and deserted areas will be refurbished to provide new high-density homes instead of allocating money and constructing new suburbs that require complex infrastructure and are inefficient in housing a growing population. The rate of demolishing agriculture and fertile land will decline due to housing people in the city centre, access to facilities will be easier for residents to reach and greenhouse gas emissions will lessen due to use of public transport and walking to facilities on foot due to the close proximity of facilities in the city centre.
The docklands in Melbourne were once used for the bringing in of ships carrying goods. It has now been redeveloped with high-density housing, buildings and entertainment facilities, decreasing the need to build suburbs outside the city. The reality television show, the Block, also redevelops rundown buildings into modern apartments which provide more residents with homes in the city.
Urban consolidation will ensure future growth and sustainability of Metropolis by reducing urban sprawl. Rundown buildings and deserted areas will be refurbished to provide new high-density homes instead of allocating money and constructing new suburbs that require complex infrastructure and are inefficient in housing a growing population. The rate of demolishing agriculture and fertile land will decline due to housing people in the city centre, access to facilities will be easier for residents to reach and greenhouse gas emissions will lessen due to use of public transport and walking to facilities on foot due to the close proximity of facilities in the city centre.