Do we need more housing choice?

 

Our shire is becoming rapidly urbanized and there are some arguments for a more diverse range of housing in Drouin and Warragul. Not everyone wants a ‘McMansion’ that takes up the whole block or a ‘squeezy unit’ at the bottom of a shared driveway. Low-density developments are often taken up with huge houses, sheds and concrete driveways. 

There is a tendency for our current patterns of development to destroy the character of our towns. Any semblance of distinctive or diverse architecture is coincidental. Often, there is little or no blending of the natural environment into our neighbourhoods.

Perhaps it is time for some properly planned mixed developments, particularly close to our CBDs, with well-designed medium density accommodation to combat the expensive infrastructural-sprawl that is consuming our beautiful rural landscapes, farmland and bush. 

Mixed density development Cranbourne South

The current pattern of many developments in Baw Baw, is for greenfield subdivisions of detached houses that require car-dependent families, often resulting in negative social, economic and environmental outcomes.

There is no doubt a need for a proportion of developments in Baw Baw to be of a dormitory nature, with many of the occupiers to be commuters to nearby cities and suburbs. This is only going to be the ultimate natural result of the near unprecedented expansion of Melbourne.

However, it takes little imagination to consider the values of some simple alternatives, for example cluster housing developments. Cluster housing means a number of dwellings grouped on one site to 1) take advantage of better building conditions, less gradient, etc, 2) to enable the appreciation of a view or outlook, 3) to create a larger area of open space, 4) to conserve an area of natural environment, 5) to enhance solar gain for all residences, etc.

Another option is for a greater choice of medium density residential housing that might include townhouses, terrace houses, semi-detached houses, duplexes, manor houses or small ‘apartment blocks’.  According to the 2016 census, just 7% of dwellings in regional Victoria were medium density. In Melbourne, medium density homes are at least 20% cheaper than detached houses. Low rise medium density housing developments use land more efficiently and when suitably located, they make walkability to retail centres and public transport highly valued to many occupants. Governments and planners should not be influenced by the ‘NIMBYism’ of residents in considering approvals for such developments.

There are other options too. The tiny house movement is gaining momentum in many places. 

Credit: thegoodtrade.com

 There would seemingly be multiple opportunities in Baw Baw to adopt some sustainable energy developments. There is an emerging biodiversity-sensitive urban design movement that would suit the supposed ‘green image’ of this region.

Credit: ggarradresearch

With some enlightened efforts on behalf of developers, planners and governments, environmentally sustainable, economical and engaging urban development design is achievable.

 

PLEASE NOTE

The views expressed in this post may not be held by all members of the Friends of Drouin’s Trees. You are welcome to make comment by clicking on the ‘COMMENTS’ label at the bottom of the post (on the website).

 

Does nature pay a price for economic growth?

There is an argument, that as economies grow, the resultant pollution, waste, land clearing and climate change causes nature to decline. And as economies grow, so does the consumption of resources and energy.

Our resources are finite and yet we in Australia seem happy to extract them and sell them to other countries, (and sometimes we even buy them back again!), all in the name of growing our economy.

In 2018, Australia exported 887 million tonnes of iron ore, about 80% being sold to China. In 2019 Australia imported steel, mostly from China, to the value of $6.2 billion. (In the 2019-2020 financial year, the value of Australian iron ore exports was over $101 billion.)

Mt Tom Price iron ore mine WA (Wiki Commons)

A little earlier this year, 2020, Australia became the world’s biggest exporter of liquid natural gas. The extraction, transportation and burning of LNG releases carbon dioxide and methane (the two worst greenhouse gases) into the atmosphere. Emissions from Australia’s gas industry alone far outstrip any gains we have made from shifting to solar and wind energy generation.  

Coal seam gas field Qld (Lock The Gate)

 (Recently it was announced that two gas terminals will be built in Port Kembla NSW and Crib Point Vic, to accept gas imports from Japan, USA and other countries!?)

Let’s not even start with coal.

Loy Yang coal-fired power station Latrobe Valley

The extraction and export of our finite natural resources in the name of growing the economy, puts a considerable burden on the environment. However, it is not hard to argue that if economic activity is curbed, jobs are lost and standards of living decline. So, what is the answer?

Some researchers say that the environmental protection sector is capable of itself contributing to economic growth.

Scientists, technicians, skilled and unskilled workers are needed for designing, constructing, installing and maintaining wind and solar generators. Someone has to design, build and maintain sewerage systems and water treatment plants. Some people already are becoming very rich inventing and producing electric cars, super storage batteries, etc. 

Wind turbines Wonthaggi

Clean and green environments attract developers (some of who then destroy the very resource that makes them wealthy). Clean air, pure water, healthy food and a balanced and sustainable natural environment all contribute to a healthy community which results in benefiting the economy rather than costing it.

Any decline in nature is not due to economic growth per se, but more to the lack of effective policy and planning strategies to properly manage the issue. Governments at all levels are responsible for this.

 

Biodiversity offsetting in Victoria

In Victoria, State and Federal regulations require the loss of biodiversity by the removal, destruction or lopping of native vegetation due to development, to be compensated for by offset actions that generate no net loss in biodiversity.

It is the view of many in the community that generated gains due to offsetting lack transparency or plausibility, and are often overstated. 

Main South Rd - proposed roundabout places trees under threat

 

Under the Victorian Planning Scheme provisions, there is a three step hierarchy that developers are required to adopt in relation to native vegetation; “1) avoid the removal, destruction or lopping of native vegetation; 2) minimise impacts from the removal, destruction or lopping of native vegetation that cannot be avoided; 3) provide an offset to compensate for the biodiversity impact due to the removal, destruction or lopping of native vegetation.”

Princes Way west - linear corridor connection disrupted

  

Being within the provisions of the Victorian Planning Scheme, this three-step hierarchy is a requirement of any permit granted in regard to native vegetation – developers, councils and government departments must enact provisions 1), 2) or 3).

A casual observer might wonder if any attention is paid to this requirement at all.

McGlone Rd - once had connecting canopy

 

In Drouin, we are losing areas of native vegetation and fertile farmland with every new mega-development – Weebar Rd, both sides of McGlone Rd, and watch out for Gardner-Holman Rd and Main South Rd. Our landscape vistas and impressive town gateways are modified almost daily. Every mature tree removed from a roadside corridor – Princes Way west, McGlone Rd, etc – contributes to loss of biodiversity and according to regulations must be 1) avoided, 2) minimised or 3) realistically compensated for. 

References:

DELWP - Native vegetation removal regulations

Australian Govt Dept Agriculture Water and the Environment - Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Vegetation Link - Offsets explained