The sting in the tail of rapid urbanization

Population growth can provide employment and a boost to the local economy (at least temporarily). Regrettably, population growth can also put huge pressures on infrastructure.

But what of the natural environment? The benefits to the community of a healthy natural environment are well documented. Of what value is a healthy economy if we have an unhealthy  population?

Pakenham (Barry Plant Real Estate)

In 1999, our federal government estimated Australia’s population to reach 23 million by 2050. Here we are more than 30 years away from the middle of the century and our population is already 25 million! Current estimates by demographers suggest that by 2050 our population should be more like 40 million. LINK

All current environmental indicators are recording deterioration of Australia’s natural environment. LINK

Most leading ecologists suggest that factors associated with population growth – urbanization, land clearing, atmospheric pollution, degraded waterways, etc – is one of the leading causes of the loss of biodiversity.

Weebar Rd Drouin

Melbourne is Australia’s fastest growing city and on current trends is set to have a greater population than Sydney within 8 years. Concerns are being expressed about its ability to feed itself with continued loss of arable land due to urban sprawl. LINK  

Weebar Rd Drouin

Melbourne’s population is set to be greater than Sydney’s within 8 years. Only about 6% of Australia’s total land mass is considered suitable for food production. 

Urban sprawl is economically, ecologically and socially damaging.  Somehow, we need to strike a balance and to explore ways and means of maintaining a more sustainable expansion of our population centres.

Some links for further reading...

New developments to contain a proportion of multi-unit structures?  (58% of new developments in NSW are for townhouses or apartments. In Victoria, this figure is just 39%) LINK

More readily attainable solar power and hot water? LINK

More readily accessible, convenient and integrated pedestrian and bicycle paths? LINK

Greater encouragement to construct passive solar developments? LINK

Integrated wetland designs? LINK

Less concrete, more greenery? LINK

Community gardens? LINK