Sustainable Urban Places
Population forecasts for continued and accelerating growth or urban areas have a range of implications for sustainability.
Sustainability is development that meets the needs of the present population without endangering the capacity of future generations to meet their needs. Indicators of sustainability in urban areas include air and water quality, biodiversity, integration of green building initiatives, health and well being measures, employment rates, transport infrastructure and access to employment.
Implications of growth of urban areas include loss of agricultural land, habitat areas and open space, increased pressure on transport infrastructure resulting in heavy flows of commuter traffic and traffic congestion.
Planning for the future growth of urban centres in Australia needs to address the provision of:
Sustainability is development that meets the needs of the present population without endangering the capacity of future generations to meet their needs. Indicators of sustainability in urban areas include air and water quality, biodiversity, integration of green building initiatives, health and well being measures, employment rates, transport infrastructure and access to employment.
Implications of growth of urban areas include loss of agricultural land, habitat areas and open space, increased pressure on transport infrastructure resulting in heavy flows of commuter traffic and traffic congestion.
Planning for the future growth of urban centres in Australia needs to address the provision of:
- public transport,
- more efficient use and upgrading of existing infrastructure and the provision of additional infrastructure,
- land-use and infrastructure planning which takes into consideration equitable access and reduction in carbon emissions,
- provision of green and public space,
- creation and support of employment centres