Australian Cities Are Feeling Growing Pains
Environment report finds urban areas are feeling a strain on resources.
Environment report finds urban areas are feeling a strain on resources.
Australia’s cities are becoming hotter and more congested beneath the strain of population growth, which is having a significant impact on the environment.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has unveiled the 2021 State of the Environment report — prepared for the previous government but withheld since last year.
The report, which is focused on the damage occurring to the nation’s natural world and wildlife, it also indicates the health and conditions in urban landscapes.
According to Ms Plibersek, the report is damning.
“It tells a story of crisis and decline in Australia’s environment and a decade of government inaction and willful ignorance.”
In summary, the document — which complies the scientific assessments of a five-year period of time by 30 leading experts — reveals most of Australia’s eight major cities are growing at faster rates than many other developed cities internationally.
The largely unmanaged growth has led to greater urban heat, congestion, rising pollution and waste, putting greater pressure on resources.
The report finds population growth is the major driver of environmental issues within cities, according to the report.
Here, Sydney has lost 70% of native vegetation cover due to development. Further, the infrastructure across the city has created pollution hotspots in Sydney Harbour that is 20 times greater than the pre-human disturbance.
“Waste going to landfill in New South Wales increased by 10% over past 10 years, with hazardous waste almost doubling,” according to the summary findings.
This stylish family home combines a classic palette and finishes with a flexible floorplan
Just 55 minutes from Sydney, make this your creative getaway located in the majestic Hawkesbury region.
Spring Hill Enviro-Cottage is the ultimate fairytale of old meets new, an architectural marriage of two distinctly different eras that seamlessly come together in 21st-century Brisbane.
The Isaac Street home is one of Spring Hill’s original workers’ cottages that in 2010 was expertly transformed into a uniquely sustainable home with all the modern-day must-haves and plenty of boxes ticked on the wish list too.
While preserving the classic Queenslander, the 286sqm property has been reimagined to deliver an innovative and eco-friendly address.
Kitchen joinery has been crafted from reclaimed timber, there is environmentally friendly paint, a suite of energy efficient appliances, solar power, underground water storage, and an Eco Plunge Pool.
Although the charming period facade remains, the rear of the house has an ultra contemporary backdrop of patterned Corten steel privacy screens that minimise heat and create dappled light across the interior spaces. At night, the unique partition’s geometric laser-cut design provides a star-like feature in the main bedroom suite.
The considered passive design principles extend to the strategically located louvres, doors and windows that draw in cooling breezes, while a vast skylight over the dining area and kitchen allows for plenty of natural light in winter. Burnished concrete floors keep the ground cool and grand walls of glass peel back to reveal a seamless flow to the outdoors with a grassed and landscaped private courtyard.
Although the ground floor has been designed for everyday living and entertaining, the multi-purpose front room with ensuite is an ideal guest retreat or even a perfect ‘work from home’ space complete with a separate entry via the front patio.
Upstairs, a mezzanine lounge provides another breakout area for families, and the two first floor bedrooms open out to the traditional full-width balcony overlooking the street. These bedrooms have built-in wardrobes and desks with a shared family-friendly bathroom.
At the rear of the footprint, a freestanding two-storey pavilion features yet another living space next to the pool with an integrated bar. Above the space the top floor main bedroom has an ensuite and walk-through wardrobe.
A long list of bonus features include ceiling fans in all bedrooms and living areas, a thermostat-controlled whirlybird to extract excess heat, a 5kW solar system with a SMA Sunny Boy inverter, a 20,000L rainwater tank, a filtering and UV disinfection system and a solar hot water system with 450L storage tank.
Although there is a lock up garage, this city-fringe home is within walking distance of Roma Street Parkland, Roma Street Station and Victoria Park. Brisbane Central State School is also only two streets away.
In keeping with Queensland consumer law, properties going under the hammer cannot carry advertised price guides.
This Brisbane home at 32 Isaac St, Spring Hill is on the market with Ray White New Farm with an auction date set for November 30. For details contact agent Samuel Angus on 0411 044 949.
This stylish family home combines a classic palette and finishes with a flexible floorplan
Just 55 minutes from Sydney, make this your creative getaway located in the majestic Hawkesbury region.