Urban Growth & Decline Australia has a high level of urbanisation (process whereby an increasing proportion of a region’s population becomes concentrated in urban areas). Sydney’s population is expected to increase by 1 million over the next 20 years. Much of the growth will occur in the new suburban areas on the city’s outskirts.

This growth is often in the form of low-density urban sprawl. CBD Urban Sprawl

Some of our richest agricultural land is lost. This type of growth comes at a cost. Some of our richest agricultural land is lost. Once pristine stream become polluted by stormwater runoff and sewage overflows. The habitats of native flora and fauna is destroyed. Traffic congestion worsens and air quality deteriorates. New landfill sites become difficult to find. Governments find it increasingly difficult to fund the required infrastructure (roads, schools, hospitals, public transport, water, gas, telecomunications

Urban Sprawl means increased costs and reduced efficiency. The cost of providing new infrastructure is very high Meanwhile the infrastructure of older, inner urban areas is often under utilised. Urban decline involves the deterioration in the general condition of an area. Often this is brought about by economic and technological change.

Many of Sydney's inner city, old industrial suburbs enter a period of decline as old factories close or relocate to new industrial estates on the outskirts of the city Elsewhere harbour side port facilities fell into disuse as a result of the introduction of larger ships and containerisation and the relocation of major port facilities.

Policies promoting urban renewal and consolidation are one way of addressing the situation. Urban renewal involves the large scale redevelopment of an urban area so that it better meets the needs of people. Urban Consolidation involves increasing populations in existing areas, by constructing medium- high density housing on abandoned industrial sites and land once occupied by low density detached housing.

Terms to know- Urban is an area with an increased density of human-created structures in comparison to the areas surrounding it. An urban area is more frequently called a city or town. Urban sprawl (also: suburban sprawl) is the spreading out of a city and its suburbs over rural land at the fringe of an urban area. Residents of sprawling neighborhoods tend to live in single-family homes and commute by car to work.

Urban decline/ decay involves the deterioration in the general condition of an area. Urban renewal involves the large scale redevelopment of an urban area so that it better meets the needs of people. Urban Consolidation The increase in population densities in existing urban areas.

Urban Decay Urban Decline Urban Renewal Urban Renewal Urban consolidation

Urban Sprawl