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This paper addresses all the issues that come with the establishment of Sydney’s urban form and proposes changes in the city’s structure needed to achieve urban sustainability. It is based on Sydney issues in 2010.
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Guillermo Umaña
Macquarie University
October 2010
Sydney Urban Issues, Changes and Solutions
World’s urbanisation has been increasing and cities have turned to be the centre of human
activity. Capon (2007: 187) states that “2007 is the year in which, for the first time in history, we
have reached the point when more people live in cities than in the countryside”. Globalization has
made people mobilize to urban centres looking for employment opportunities, better education,
health and consumption options. Urban development has come accompanied by a higher
environmental footprint and other issues related to urbanisation. To reach urban sustainability,
Sydney, as many other global cities, requires action from the private and public sectors to manage
its urban growth. This paper addresses all the issues that come with the establishment of Sydney’s
urban form and proposes changes in the city’s structure needed to achieve urban sustainability.
Until recent decades, Australian cities were growing in a very unsustainable way. Sydney and
Melbourne, Australia’s biggest urban centres have remained unchanged in their provision of
services since the 19th century (Troy 1996: 4). The CBDs have remained the centre of power while
very low density suburbs have grown around them. Although he Commonwealth of Australia and
the different states have put a big effort in recent years in making Australian cities more liveable,
the costs in infrastructure and environmental footprint keep growing (Troy 1996: 1). To make
Sydney a more sustainable city, prominent changes in governance and urban structure have to be
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done. Policy makers have to be aware that managing a city as complex as Sydney needs a
renewable resource policy and the acceptance of uncertainty (Walters and Hollings 1990). When
there is an acceptance that nature is unpredictable, urban management becomes a more realistic
practice.
In the first part of the 20th century, Sydney’s government tried to implement the theory of the
garden city. This attempt to create urban sustainability dealt with public health and housing issues
and tried to separate industrial, commercial and residential spaces to ensure life quality. Now it is
known urban planning should make cities compact instead of spreading them to decrease time
and energy consumed by travelling. The new concept of urban sustainability was born in the 80s.
Culture, politics and environment are now seen as part of a network in which social justice is
essential for solving environmental issues (Braun 2005). The city has to be understood as a human
and non-human structure (Hubbard 2006). To ensure sustainability in Sydney, policymakers have
to be aware that the city is a place in which nature and humans interact and that this relation has
an impact on society and the economy. This paper puts Sydney’s contemporary issues in an eco-
centric perspective.
Population Issues:
An important urban issue affecting Sydney is the Australian ageing demographics. The baby
boomers from the post-WWII period are close to retirement but the population replacement in
the work force is still below the retirement rate, which will put pressure on the pension scheme
and on the dependency ratio in the future.
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The consequences of this are a reduction in the urban GDP and the need to increase the urban
population to fill the places in the workforce to support the retiring population. Immigration
towards Sydney and a change in fertility and mortality would moderate the fall in employment
growth but would bring environmental and infrastructural issues to the city (DEH 2003). An older
population would also put pressure on the city’s infrastructure, health and housing systems. The
city government has to plan ahead to prevent economic decline, environmental degradation and
infrastructural costs of an ageing population.
DEH (2003) argues that the provision of opportunities for the mature workers to stay in the
workforce after they reach their retirement age is a solution for the problem, but this is an effort
that the public sector has to take in combination with the private sector. Carrying out career
planning programs which acknowledge that mature workers can provide experience and
knowledge to their companies would benefit the city.
Urban Transport Issues:
The car has shaped our understating of the space for many years. Since the beginning of the 20 th
century, many cities have sacrificed public spaces to build roads for private automobiles. The
desire for autonomy when moving has sacrificed environmental, infrastructural, and economical
potentials (Merriman 2009). Sydney has grown in such a large extent because the car has allowed
people to live a long distance from their jobs or shopping centres (Capon 2007).
Dependency on the car is a synonym of dependency on oil prices. The rise in the global price of oil
in recent years has been translated in an increase of the price of gas in Australia (Dodson and Sipe
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2006: 8). This affects peoples´ economic autonomy and the Sydney’s economic activity. The city
has to put more effort in transforming today’s car-dependant city into a non car-dependant, non
oil-dependant and more compact city. This would reduce waste of resources such as time and
energy and the emission of pollutants.
A study made by Dodson and Sipe from Griffith University (2008: 13) reveals that people who live
close to CBDs are less dependent on their car because there is better provision of public transport
and travelling distances are walking or cycling distances. This is valuable information for
policymakers and politicians, who have to deal with urban issues related to transport. Sydney
government should put more effort in making public transport more affordable for low income
households as well as enlarging the coverage of the rail and bus systems across Sydney region.
Promoting the use of bicycle and creating pathways for people to walk instead of taking their cars
out are changes that have to be done soon to create environmental and social sustainability in the
region. In the future, auto-mobility should let public places be public again (Sheller et al 2000).
Housing and Land Use:
Sydney’ housing crisis has affected the low income households in particular. According to Yu
(2005), there is a need for government policy change and public education regarding property
investment in Sydney. Many people are moving to the coastline getting away from the high prices
of housing in the inner city, creating a spread of urbanization (Capon 2007). Unevenness between
land supply and demand has to be addresses by the government through urban policies that
provide housing affordability and stop Sydney’s unsustainable urban sprawling.
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Graph A. Sydney Land Supply vs. Land Price
Graph taken from: UDIA. (2006). The 2006 UDIA State of the Land. Retrieved April 26, 2009, Urban Development Institute of
Australia: Reports and Submissions, page 14: http://www.udia.com.au/resource/UDIA%20Land%20Supply%20Study.pdf
Graph A reveals that, to stop housing affordability decline and create more compact urban
environments at the same time, benefiting the urban community and the environment, there has
to be a big change in political will (UDIA 2006:14). Water supply, infrastructure, community
programmes and transport are easier to manage in more compact areas. The problem is a
continuous demand for spacious housing and cars, which make changes harder to implement
(Troy 1996). A solution would be enhancing peoples´ identity and commitment with Sydney’s
urban issues by building public spaces like parks, community centres and pedestrian areas. A clear
set of urban boundaries and an inclusion of built-up rural areas into the city would provide more
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comprehensible guidelines for good management and would make people recognize their area as
theirs (ABS 2005).
On the other hand, housing and transport have a crucial relation which has to be acknowledged.
Dodson and Sipe (2006: 19) argue that Sydney […] has failed in providing high quality public
transport services in suburban areas. New South Wales government should promote the creation
of suburban centres and reduce the importance of the CBD in providing jobs and services, this way
people could live and work in a particular suburban centre, reducing travelling impacts and
enhancing social and economic benefits of a multi-centric city. Sydney government has to promote
sustainable housing, sustainable transport and more friendly public spaces. People´s choice of
housing depends on this relation.
Health and Public Spaces:
Urbanization in developed countries has created sedentary cities, excess of food intake, reliance
on cars for transport and a consumer culture, all which have contributed to serious health issues
(Capon 2007). Obesity, diabetes, cancer, respiratory diseases and depression (which could lead to
suicide) are the main health issues that concern Sydney today. Australia has one of the highest UV
radiation levels on earth, Sydney government must promote sun protection to avoid massive
health issues related to skin cancers. Hot summers are also dangerous for the city’s vulnerable
population. Promoting good nutrition and preventing eating disorders is desirable to create a
healthy urban environment. According to ABS (2005) suicide accounts for a great proportion of
deaths in younger ages, the protection of the young population is essential to create a healthy
urban environment; education institutions play a special role in this prevention. On the other
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hand, Sydney should provide sport facilities, encourage people to use public transport and put a
pressure in programs that enhance good nutrition and social contact.
Bushfires:
Bushfire-related issues are a particular problem in Australia. Gillen (2005) argues that a large
percentage of Sydney’s metropolitan population has been affected by fires during the summer
because an increase in the frequency of this events, related to global warming, and a demographic
pressure in risky areas. This is an unavoidable issue and the government has to ensure protection
of biodiversity and people, because there is a tendency to avoid bushfires as an important issue
until they affect human populations (Gillen 2005). Sydney government must understand that
nature is also part of the city and its protection is essential for the city’s sustainability. Prevention,
training and risk management are the answers to this issue.
Reduction of Sydney’s Environmental Footprint:
Cities’ role in the world’s ecological footprint is enormous. Policies that would reduce human
environmental impact are especially effective in urban areas because the high concentration of
people within them. Australia has been making important efforts in this matter. Recently $24.2
million were spent on a package to research on pollutants, a national Water Efficiency Label was
created and regulations on air quality, waste management and fuel quality were enforced
(Environment Australia 2003). “New South Wales, for instance, was the first state to require all
new residential development be built to an energy standard 40% more efficient than similar
existing housing stock” (England 2008).
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In the future, there has to be a reinforcement of mitigation and adaptation strategies to make
Sydney ready for climate change. Sydney has to become a city with more water and energy
efficient appliances, more use of public areas rather than private areas and more efficient
transport (Capon 2007). Recycling is another urban strategy that is simple to implement. In 2006,
52% of Australia’s waste was recycled and 99% of households engaged in some form of recycling
(Australian Government 2010). In the future, new policies should increase recycling and more
strategies that involve the community in taking action should be promoted.
Current Actions: The Metropolitan strategy
Although there is a lot to change to turn Australian cities into completely sustainable cities, there
has been a major change in political will in Australia to create more sustainable policies (England
2008). The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, provides a framework
for Australian cities to manage and enhance their environment and heritage, preserving
biodiversity (UDIA 2008). One of its innovations is that it was reviewed by stakeholders from
different backgrounds and was open for public comment, which promoted general engagement in
the issue. In Sydney, the Metropolitan Strategy, which is reviewed every 5 years, is a local example
that the government has taken action and the city is moving towards a more sustainable future.
Table 1 shows the main point of the strategy. A Metropolitan Development Authority and a
Transport Plan were created with this document.
Table 1. Sydney’s Metropolitan Strategy Main Points
Metropolitan Strategy Discussion Points Sydney’s Urban Issues
Planning for a growing population Sydney’s population is expected to reach 6
8
million in 2036, an increase of 1.7 million since
2006 census.
Making Sydney climate change ready Sydney’s footprint in 1999 was 6.67 hectares
per person, in 2004 it was 7.21.
Integrating land use with transport The use of private car is a main contributor to
infrastructural and environmental costs for the
city.
More jobs in the Sydney region Sydney will need 760,000 more jobs in 2036
than 2006.
Growing Sydney's value The is a need to place Sydney in a global
context and give economic value to its people
and infrastructure
Meeting changing housing needs Sydney will need 770,000 more homes in 2036
than 2006.
Balancing land uses on the city fringe A need to create balance in Sydney boundaries,
making the city more compact.
Information on Table 1 from: New South Wales Government. Sydney Towards 2036 discussion paper, metropolitan strategy,
http://www.metrostrategy.nsw.gov.au/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=K3OvHZ6LP-I%3d&tabid=286&language=en-AU
The will to address Sydney’s urban issues is greater today than a decade ago. The main problems
that are attached to the city’s urban form are now openly discussed. Including the broader
community in Sydney’s urban issues would make changes faster and more effective. In the future
there has to be a closer bond between government and non-government actors to deal with
Sydney’s urban issues. Hopefully the changes proposed by Sydney’s Metropolitan Strategy will be
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accomplished as shown in Picture 1. Different private and public stakeholders have to actively
work to successfully tackle the main issues discussed in this paper.
Picture 1. Sydney urban Changes proposed by the Sydney’s Metropolitan Strategy
Before:
After:
10
Images from: New South Wales Government. Sydney Towards 2036 discussion paper, metropolitan strategy,
http://www.metrostrategy.nsw.gov.au/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=K3OvHZ6LP-I%3d&tabid=286&language=en-AU
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