The impact of urbanisation and

changing lifestyles

Urbanisation

• Related to the development of towns and cities ( including residential areas).

• 2% of Australia is urbanised• Effects of the processes since European

settlement have been enormous. • Australia is rural.• We prefer to live in towns and cities

In the Past

• Access to inland Australia is limited.• Cities have more opportunities. • 1840 1/3rd of the population lived in Sydney.• Today: 90% of the population live in cities.• Settlers migrated to Aust with the hope of

owing land.• Rapid growth in the 1880’s

Growth

• Growth caused: • development of extensive housing estates• Building frenzies• Extinguishing nearly all the signs of the

natural environment.• Good agriculture land was used for urban

development

• No planning• Situated around railway stations.• Public amenities: running water, sewage treatment

were in scant supply ( or non-existent)• Up until 1830’s water had to be collect from heavily

polluted streams.• In Melbourne waste was carried along open gutters

into the Yarra River.• Continued into the 20th Century.

Impacts• Habitat loss – through clearing of vegetation and

excavation.• Land clearing• Mining• Erosion of creeks and other watercourses• Lack of dead wood and other forest little• Introduction of weeds• Loss of topsoil

Impacts• Local waterways were dumping grounds for waste.• Decline of species• Increased siltation• Rising salt levels• Loss of stream vegetation • Chemical run-off such as pesticides, fertilizers and

herbicides• Water was undrinkable

Research exercise

• When was your town or suburb established?• What groups initially inhabited the area?• What is the major industry or employer in the area?• How has the population changed over time?• What issues have influenced this change?• What natural features remain in the area?• Where does the town’s water supply come from?• Where does wastewater and other refuse go to be treated?