Growth Area Authoritys Aurora Precinct Structure Plan - Assignment Example

Analysis of Growth Area ity’s Aurora Precinct Structure Plan in Light of Food Security, Climate Change and Population Growth Issues University Introduction Growth and prosperity of a country is directly proportional to its policies, effective implementation of these policies and achievement of the desired results. Being the sixth largest country in the world in total area, Australia is more susceptible to the changing environment, increasing population, food insecurity and housing needs due to its climate, topography, soils, culture and distinct behavior of its inhabitants (PMSEIC, 2010). The country is located in the Southern Hemisphere and is surrounded by Pacific and Indian Ocean. It has a temperate climate instead of a tropical one. As a result, it has less rainfall every year. The entire country is dry and its center is a desert where large cactus grows (About Australia, 2012). Due to extreme dry land conditions and infertility, the population density is only 2.8 inhabitants per square kilometer, which is the lowest figure in the world (Ibid, 2012). The phenomenon of global warming has significantly affected the world including Australia where the country’s frequency and quantity of rainfall has further declined. The dry parts of the country have little or no fertility that significantly affects food supply. Thus, the inhabitants are forced to settle down near the coastline to have continuous supply of food, water, rainfall and other benefits. Consequently, the cities are becoming heavily populated and overcrowded (Major Cities Unit, 2011). Likewise, the City of Whittleseas north area was known as Epping North. Due to the non-availability of infrastructure, services and high development costs, Epping North remains undeveloped (About Australia, 2012). One possible way to mitigate these issues is to develop development, structure and strategic policies that focus on the development and construction in the country. For instance, in 2001 and 2002, Victorian Government plan, known as VicUrban, decided to develop this land and got control of a massive piece of land which is now known as Aurora (Aurora Precinct Structure Plan, 2001). The Victorian Government developed its strategic planning and policy framework that comprises of various policies that aim at focusing on the development of Aurora. It initiated a master structure plan titled Aurora Precinct Structure Plan, which intends to provide provisions for the effective development and growth of Aurora. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Council evaluates each development in the city based on the well-established principles of planning for Transit-oriented development. Any structure development plan that is in contrast to the objectives set in the Aurora Precinct Structure Plan is rejected by the Council. Aim This paper aims to critically analyze the strategic plan titled Aurora Precinct Structure Plan in regard to its ability to approach the issue of climate change, food insecurity and population growth and to its adequacy to an analysis of future directions in planning. Objectives In order to achieve the aim of the analytical paper, the paper has following objectives: 1. To study the prevailing and threatening environmental issues that can affect the sustenance and growth of Aurora. 2. To study the Aurora Precinct Structure Plan. 3. To evaluate it in regard to the provisions and policies for the upliftment, improvement, stability and mitigation of the environmental issues that Aurora is expected to face in the next few decades. 4. To evaluate the adequacy of the strategic policy titled Aurora Precinct Structure Plan in regard to the future directions in planning. 5. To enumerate the potential risks and shortcomings of Aurora Precinct Structure Plan from the environmental perspective. Climate Change, Food Security and Population Growth Issues in Aurora According to the Climate Change Department of Australia, the country has observed climate change affect in three aspects. Firstly, the temperature of Australia has increased due to which the ratio of cold days and nights have declined (Climate Change, 2012). Secondly, the south-eastern and western Australia has experienced decrease in the frequency of rainfalls, which is home to 80% population of Australia (Hugo, 2010). Finally, the global sea level has risen and in 2010, the Gold Coast was flooded. As a result, the people had to move to the inland areas and live in floating island pods (Perry, 2010). The buildings in the Aurora city are below and some are above the sea level. There is no uniformity and proper check in place to ensure that the buildings are constructed above the sea level to avoid any future flooding of devastated type. The climate change has significantly affected the inhabitants of Aurora and created serious problems for them to live a safe and stable living. For instance, the Department of Climate Change has predicted that within this century, almost 150,000-250,000 houses built on the coastline will be flooded with the 1.1 meter rise in the sea level (Commonwealth of Australia, 2010). Likewise, in 2010, the Australian Government issued a report that highlighted that the prosperity of the country is threatened from the ageing population that is growing annually (Perry, 2010). The country has recently survived the global financial crisis and was saved by the Chinese buying the major resources of the country. However, the report pointed out that these effects will continue due to the ageing population growth in the country. In the year 2010, the number of people at the age of 85 and above has significantly increased as compared to previous years, which leveled up the possibility that this graph will continue to rise in the next few decades (Commonwealth of Australia, 2010). Another major reason for the growth in the Australian population is the increase in the migrants. According to ABS (2010), the net overseas migrants in 2008-09 were 298,924, whereas 66,598 people were onshore migrants. It has been projected that in 2031, the total population of Australia will be 28.8 million based on the percentage change and age (Hugo, 2010). Likewise, Moir and Morris (2010) highlighted that due to climate change and rising population, the indigenous communities in Australia are threatened in terms of continuous food supply and availability of basic food items. Coveney (2010) highlighted that remote and rural indigenous communities rely on single community food store, thus, creating food insecurity in the country. Analysis of Aurora Precinct Structure Plan and its Adequacy for Future Direction Planning in view of Climate Change, Food Insecurity and Population Growth The aim of Aurora Precinct Structure Plan is “to create diverse, compact and well connected communities that are affordable and rich in local jobs, transport access, services and culture. We must also protect our valuable natural and historic features and use land more efficiently” (PSP, 2001). According to this aim, Aurora’s population will grow rapidly. As Aurora Precinct Structure Plan reported that the Aurora’s population has crossed the 10,000. The report also highlighted that it is expected to rise to 25,000 in the near future due to the increased migration in the last five years. Therefore, the aim of Aurora PSP has a long sighted approach which has taken into account the rising annual migration rate and the growing ageing population in the metropolis. As a result, it qualifies as a viable source for providing planning policies for the growth and development of Aurora. Australian Conservation Founded highlighted that the increasing population in the metropolis is negatively affecting the environmental factors like climate change. With greater population the climate change will also worsen. Likewise, the primary goals of the Aurora Precinct Structure Plan are to focus on the rural and urban areas of the metropolis and to maintain its livability, business and recreation. Its scope is to provide directions for Aurora in terms of land use, housing, transport, infrastructure and maintenance of future growth (Aurora PSP, 2001). Importantly, the Victorian Government clarifies that the Aurora Precinct Structure Plan is an economic, environmental and community master structure plan for development. Therefore, it addresses the climate change, food insecurity and population growth issue. Consequently, its main focus area on housing and maintaining livability of the urban areas of Aurora has a direct connection to the climate change, population and food insecurity. The Aurora Precinct Structure Plan provides future directions for the constructors and developers to develop new housing societies and high rising buildings to accommodate the increasing population. Importantly, these buildings should only be developed in accordance to the threat of rising sea level, increasing population in the metropolis and ensuring that the food supplies are available to the communities. Nonetheless, Aurora Precinct Structure Plan address these issues in its policy directions upon which Aurora has to be developed and maintained in future years. The strategic policy Aurora Precinct Structure Plan focuses on compact city, better management of the growth of Aurora, providing networks to connect with other cities, livable and prosperous city, better transport links and better planning. These aspects carefully and comprehensively take into reference the food insecurity, climate change and rising population in the metropolis. Conclusion Aurora Precinct Structure Plan is a master structure plan that aims to maintain the livability of the metropolitan Aurora. However, it is adequate in terms of any future direction planning related to climate change, population and food insecurity. References About Australia (2012). Geography of Australia. [Accessed 19 April 2012]. Available at: http://www.about-australia.com/facts/australia-geography/ Aurora Precinct Structure Plan. Department of Planning and Community Development. Australia. [Accessed 13 April 2012]. Available at: Climate Change (2012). Government of Australia. [Accessed 13 April 2012]. Available at: Commonwealth of Australia (2010). 1950–2005: Australian Bureau of Statistics 3105.0.65.001 - Australian Historical Population Statistics, 2008–2010: projection from the 2010 Treasury Intergenerational Report. [Accessed 13 April 2012]. Available at: Coveney, J. (2010). “Community Food Security Issues in Australia”, Flinders University. [Accessed 13 April 2012]. Available at: Hugo, G. (2010). “Australia’s Future Population Growth: An Issue for All Australians”, Issues, Vol. 91, pages: 11-16. [Accessed 13 April 2012]. Available at: Major Cities Unit 2011. “State of Australian Cities 2011”, Department of Infrastructure and Transport, Australia. [Accessed 19 April 2012]. Available at: http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure/mcu/soac_files/00_INFRA1267_MCU_SOAC_2011_FA1.pdf Moir, B. & Morris, P. (2010). “Global Food Security: Issues, Facts and Implications”, Science and Economic Insights. [Accessed 13 April 2012]. Available at: Perry, M. (2010). “Australian Cities Must Transform For Population Growth”, Reuters. [Accessed 13 April 2012]. Available at: PMSEIC 2010. “Australia and Food Security in a Changing World”, The Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council, Canberra, Australia. [Accessed 19 April 2012]. Available at: http://www.chiefscientist.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/FoodSecurity_web.pdf Precinct Structure Plans. [Accessed 13 April 2012]. Available at: Read More