URBAN DYNAMICS

URBAN DYNAMICS

the urban dynamics of change: suburbanisation, exurbanisation, counterurbanisation, decentralisation, consolidation, urban decay, urban renewal, urban village, spatial exclusion

Suburbanisation the movement of people, employment and facilities away from the inner city towards outer urban areas.

Exurbanisation - a process whereby people, usually affluent, move from the city to rural areas but continue to maintain an urban way of life either through long distance commuting or technology.

Counterurbanisation - a marked decline in the total population, or growth of the population, of large metropolitan areas and the subsequent growth of smaller urban centres at their expense first identified in North America in the 1970s where counterurbanisation had replaced urbanisation as the dominant force shaping the nations settlement pattern.

Decentralisation the dispersal of activities and people from large urban centres to smaller urban centres and rural communities.

Consolidation policies that encourage higher population densities in established suburban areas, usually through planning regulations allowing more dwelling units on a given area of land through subdivision or strata title.

Urban decay the deterioration of the built environment. Urban infrastructure falls into a state of disrepair and buildings are left empty for long periods of time.

Spatial exclusion - refers to the defence of luxury lifestyles which have resulted in restrictions in spatial access and the freedom of movement of other urban dwellers. It is manifest in high security suburbs, walled estates and security conscious retail-business complexes

a case study of the results of the urban dynamics in a large city selected from the developed world including its

SYDNEY

social structure and spatial patterns of advantage and disadvantage, wealth and poverty, ethnicity

Social structure is the form or pattern of the interrelationships of people in a society. Social structure results I patterns of advantage and disadvantage. It can be influenced by: income, ethnicity, education levels and employment.

Income and poverty

Income is the amount of funds, goods or services received by an individual. There is a strong relationship between the income and wealth of an individual. The areas with the highest percentage of high income households are located around the waterways of Sydney, and the a broad sweep of most of the northern suburbs and areas in the north west such as Castle Hill. High concentrations of lower income households were found in major concentrations in the inner city, west and south west. The are also isolated pockets of poverty in other parts of the city.

The main reasons for the spatial patterns of high and low income levels are:

Suburbanisation high income and wealtht households mainly choose to live in the suburbs near natural waterways and higher altitudes. Low income households tend to be situated in the flatter and less attractive suburbs in the west and south west of the city.

Urban decay has resulted in areas that are less attractive to live in. These areas in the inner city provide affordable housing for low-income households.

Urban renewal particularly in suburbs near the CBD or waterways has attracted high income households into these areas.

Patterns of ethnicity

Large agglomerations of ethinic people are common in many of the worlds large cities. In the period following WW2 migration to Australia was dominated by people from Britain, Ireland and other parts of Europe. The main reasons for this migration were:

Higher living standards in Australia

Problems arising from WW2, such as homelessnes and social dislocation

Widespread poverty in southern Europe

From the 1980s migrants were mostly:

Refugee migrants from Indochina, the Middle East and Latin America

Professional and business migrants mainly from Southern, Eastern and South-east Asia

43% of migrants who enter Australia settle in Sydney. People from non english speaking backgrounds tend to settle into distinctive enclaves. This allows the migrants to shelter with family and friends, a feeling of security and support, a common language and customs and assistance in finding employment. An example of this is the location of Vietnamese migrants into the Cabbramatta area.

changing economic character, nature and location of residential land, commercial and industrial development

Changing economic character

As a result of Sydneys emergence as a world city in the new global economy, patterns of wealth and employment have changed. 17% of the population now works in finance and business services.

Nature and location of residential land

The nature and location of residential land in Sydney has been affected by the following factors:

the physical geography of the Sydney of the GSMR. The location of the harbour has divided the city into two broad areas, the hilly area to the north, which is the most attractive for residential development, and the area to the south and west, which is less attractive for residential development.

Suburbanisation has resulted in the sprawl of residential areas from the original settlement around the present day CBD.

Urban decay and renewal has resulted in the development of new residential areas closer to the CBD and gentrification.

Urban consolidation has meant that settlement in the inner city area has become more intense.

Exurbanisation

Commercial development

Sydney is now the location of regional headquarters, advanced producer services and financial services. As a result of the growth of Sydney there has been a suburbanisation of many comercial activities. Commercial centres include: North Sydney is now the location of regional headquarters, advanced producer services and financial services. As a result of the growth of Sydney there has been a suburbanisation of many comercial activities. Commercial centres include North Sydney and Parramatta.

Industrial development

Greater blobal competition has resulted in a loss of many of Sydneys manufacturing capacity in cars, clothing, textiles and chemicals.

Manufacturing could not compete with the increased land values and labour costs.

Increased share of import-export activities in transport, storage and wholesaling have stimulated air and road transport activity in the inner city area, resulting in the closing and relocating of manufacturing from traditional areas.

Demand for better quality housing has lead to gentrification of old industrial buildings.

culture of place as expressed in the architecture, streetscape, heritage architecture, noise, colour, street life, energy, vitality and lifestyles

Culture of place

Culture is the way of life of a group of people including customs, beliefs, morals, technology and art. The culture of place is reflected in its architecture, streetscape, heritage, noise, colour, street life, energy, vitality and lifestyles. It will be reflected in how people behave, how they look, their attitudes and perceptions and the nature of the built environment.

Sydney is made up of many distinctive places each with their own communities and culture. The following factors help to contribute to the culture of place in Sydneys CBD:

Architecture Sydney has many buildings with distinctive architecture. The best known are the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

Streetscape Originally Sydney was a small settlement with narrow streets. These unplanned streets now contribute to the culture of place in the Rocks and Woolloomooloo. Other parts of the city also have distinctive streetscapes.

Noise, colour, street life and vitality Noises range from heavy machinery to the gentle buzz of cafes. Different colours all over the city help to contribute to an artwork of design. Yellow brown of old sandstone and the green of grass. Sydneys vitality is often reflected in the noise and bustle of Darling Harbour, the Quay and special parades and ceremonies, such as Anzac Day.

Lifestyles the water of the beaches and harbour attract many people. The buildings support the lifestyle: the Opera House, the Entertainment Centre, cinemas and theatres. Restaurants and cafes, sporting facilities and diverse entertainment.

growth, development, future trends and ecological sustainability

Growth, development and future trends of Sydney

Sydney has grown at an undesirable rate. The population has not only been growing but ageing. Ageing places pressure on housing as the number of people per dwelling falls. Sydneys rapid rate of growth has resulted in the sprawl of suburbanisation and made Sydney very spatially large. This has created many problems in the following areas:

accomadating the growing population will be very difficult. It is expected that urban consolidation will cater for more than 30% of the future population. The remainder will be I new suburbs in the nrth-west and south-west.

Problems associated with increased traffic congestion and the provision of transport infrastructure. There are plans for increased mass transit facilities, with increased busways, railways and light railways.

Problems protecting the amenity of the biophysical and built environments.

Disposing of solid waste.

Disposing of sewerage and waste water

Maintaining air and water quality

Ecological sustainability

Development of a large urban area such as Sydney has major impacts on the environment, including the ecology of the environment. Such a large urban area has a huge demand for natural resources, obliterates the natural hydrological system within its area, produces waste products, reduces biomass and alters the variety of life in and around it, creates new land through reclamation and landfill.

The ecological footprint of Sydney does not just extend to the cities boundaries but covers most of NSW. For such a large city to operate it needs a large range of inputs including food, water and land. The ecologically sustainable development of Sydney and other large cities depends on effectively reducing resource inputs and waste outputs, while at the same time maintaining the liveability of the urban areas.

a case study showing one of the urban dynamics listed above, operating in a country town or suburb.

SUBURBANISATION IN MEDOWIE

Suburbanisation the movement of people, employment and facilities away from the inner city towards outer urban areas. Suburbanisation in Medowie has been occurring since the late 1970s. Originally a farming area north of Newcastle it has now become a mixture of farms, small acreages and residential blocks. This diverse land use has allowed a diverse range of residents to move into the area from different socio economic backgrounds.

In 1986 3140 people lived in Medowie. 2001 census data showed that 6806 people live in Medowie, a population double that of 14 years earlier. The population has since increased from this number. Many of the residents of Medowie have lived here less than 5 years. PSCs 2004 community profile based on the results of the 2001 census shows that 40% of residents lived at a different address 5 years ago. The profile believes that this growth is due to the new urban release areas in Medowie.

Earlier in the suburbanisation of Medowie new subdivisions were traditionally small acreages with some small house blocks. In recent years the amount of land available for development has decreased rapidly resulting in smaller house blocks as the dominant new development. This has also been a result of pressures from council and the cost of land developments. Pressure from the state government on local councils to create more land for housing to ease the growing population of Sydney has also impacted on the development of small house blocks.

The different land sizes has attracted different groups of people. Small house blocks are being purchased by young families. They are affordable and close to schools. Medowie is also in commuting distance of Newcastle so many families travel there or to the local RAAF base to work. The larger acreages target retirees from Sydney and families in the higher socio economic group.

Urbanisation in the area will continue with aims to increase the population to over 20,000 in the next 10 years.