What is the impact of urban development on hydrological ecology in Western Australia?

1. This is Western Australia. Pretty big, right? (map of WA)

(thanks Google: https://maps.google.com.au/maps?bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.72676100,d.dGc&biw=1257&bih=702&dpr=1&sns=1&wrapid=tljp1407828338311016&q=map+western+australia&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x2a392a2e89f384d1:0x6e0e4adf3200a399,Western+Australia&gl=au&sa=X&ei=dcHpU7moDZPt8AW12oKACg&sqi=2&ved=0CBsQ8gEwAA)

2. This is the Perth Metropolitan area (map of metro)

3. The Australian bureau of statistics figures showed an increase in population of 2.9% for the year ending 2013 – that’s the fastest rate of growth in the country (stick figures all over metro), and these people are going to need places to live (houses popping up)

(Source: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/3101.0)

The focus of my report was how this growth, and the subsequent need for housing, impacts on wetlands in these areas. The Department of Water states that 25% of the Swan Coastal Plain (that’s the metropolitan area between Moore River in the north, and Mandurah in the south) is wetland. They categorise wetland as not only the obvious (lakes and other open water), but also:

4. The most important parts are protected, such as Harrisdale Swamp, and there are areas of Bush Forever and other protected areas throughout the region. (83 sites in 2000 according to http://www.planning.wa.gov.au/dop_pub_pdf/BushForeverVol2_partA_1.pdf, which also gives details of how sites were selected) But, if we’re not careful about how we build on the rest, the result could be: compromised hydrological systems (slide with what it is), subsidence (slide with what it is), Leakage of poisonous gasses (acid sulfate soil risk etc.), increased risk of flooding (link to news article, picture of the ark), fragmentation of ecosystems….

“SEASONALLY, INTERMITTENTLY OR PERMANENTLY WATERLOGGED SOIL”

WRC IN DEPARTMENT OF WATER, 2009

(retrieved from: http://www.planning.wa.gov.au/dop_pub_pdf/bush_forever_vol1.pdf p.2)

p97)

(p99)

(p168)

(p.169)

(p. 174)

(175)

(p. 193)

More information on Bush Forever sites can be found at: http://www.bushlandperth.org.au/bush-forever-overview or http://pbp.walga.asn.au/ProjectPrograms/PerthRegionPlantBiodiversityProject/BushForeverReferenceSites/BushForeverSite308.aspx (note: I could have written hundreds of thousands of words on bush forever sites alone)

http://www.bushlandperth.org.au/bushland-treasures/south-of-the-river/156-anstey-keane-dampland-copy

5. The impact on the areas that are being built on is being minimised by:

a. Water sensitive urban design (images)b. Ensuring that there are links retained between bushland areas so that fragmentation

doesn’t occurc. Rigorous planning stages prior to development.

What advice would I give students next year?

Before you start your assignments, review the examples! It can help you to gain context around what you’re supposed to be doing.

1) Technology issues. a. Presentation must be only 4 minutes in duration (+/- 15 seconds)b. Presentation size must be under 10 MBc. Single correctly named file in correct format (mp4, PP, prezi)d. Presentation successfully uploaded to BB site in the correct place

2) Reflection: (a) Address ONE of these questions related about your topic such as:

What new knowledge had you gained? What challenges did you face? What advice would you give to students taking IATW next year? What would be the best web 2.0 tool to take into your primary

classroom? What would be a star and a wish around this topic?

Project Pitch Here is my problem 2

This is what I have learnt 2

Here is why you should care about it? 2

Call to action- this is what we or others can do in relation to the problem

2

Technology Presentation length 4 mins +/- 15 seconds

1

Presentation size suitable (under 10 MB)

1

Single correctly named file in correct format (mp4, PP, prezi etc.)

1

Presentation is successfully uploaded to BB site in the correct places

1

Presenting Presentation is clearly communicated in standard English with correct grammar and spelling for written material

2

Effective use of images and text 2

Good use of media to display information

2

Answers ONE reflection question 2

TOTAL 20