Urban sprawl refers to the expansion of a city into surrounding rural or undeveloped land, often with heavy reliance on transportation, large housing areas, and city infrastructure stretching long distances. In Perth’s case, the city limits have been expanding across greenfield sites along coastal plains and into outer suburban districts, where services and utilities must cover greater distances.
By 2050, an estimated 3.5 million people will be living in the Perth and Peel regions. Keeping our city livable into the future will mean striking the right balance between increased housing diversity and density and protecting the things that make a place feel like home.
More houses need to be built with a growing population. Yet it is very important to manage this increase in housing sensibly.
What causes urban sprawl?
-There is a growing population along the coastline and outer suburbs pushing demand for housing further from the Perth city center.
-Land is more affordable in greenfield areas making building in Perth in these areas cheaper, even while considering travel costs.
-There is insufficient infill development in established suburbs in Perth. Only roughly 29% of new housing in Perth & Peel in 2021 was infill, despite a target of 47% according to ABC News.
-Zoning and planning policies that have historically favored greenfield development.
What impact does it have?
-Extended pressure on infrastructure: Longer roads, extended water/sewer networks, and more investment are needed to serve outlying suburbs compared already developed suburbs.
-Transport & commuting: Naturally residents further away from city center needs to commute further adding to strain on road and traffic congestion.
-Environmental loss: Unfortunately, it often means a loss of bushland and natural areas having a negative environmental impact.
-Housing affordability: It often seems cheaper to live in bushland areas, but depending on various factors, costs for travel, utilities and maintenance are much higher.
-Service delivery & amenities: Schools, healthcare, retail, public transport and community infrastructure are less efficient when spread out.
What is the solution?
Here are some of the most common solutions to curb urban sprawl.
-Increase infill development by focusing on redeveloping lots that are not in use within existing suburbs.
-Aim for higher density housing around centralized transport hubs.
-Focus on building more housing and mixed use near METRONET stations and frequent public transport corridors to reduce car dependence
-Increase minimum dwelling density in new suburbs so that greenfield expansion is more compact.
Some interesting facts
-Greater Perth already stretches 120km from Mandurah to Yanchep and has a footprint comparable to Los Angeles with a fraction of its population.
-The average new home in Perth is 30% bigger than those built 30 years ago.
-Currently many new homes are being built on the urban fringe, leading to further sprawl.
-A recent RAC survey revealed 55 per cent of residents felt a greater amount of urban infill development should be built in existing areas to help manage congestion across Perth.
-The survey also confirmed that many Perth home owners still prefer single homes on single blocks.
“It took 180 years from the development of the Swan River Colony for the population of the Perth and Peel regions to reach two million people.”
Read more: https://rac.com.au/home-life/info/state-accommodating-perths-growing-population