Geography - Urban Dynamics

• Urban Dynamics

  • Urban dynamics refers to the way urban places change and grow, and it applies to all urban places. 
  • They reshape the morphology (the shape and land-use) of urban places 
• Suburbanisation

  • the movement of people, industry and facilities away from the inner city
  • In Sydney, this started with the introduction of railways, started along rail corridors.
  • Process is called Greenfield Development → not very sustainable
  • e.g. Leppington, Kellyville etc.
  • Suburbanisation is characterised by low-density housing
  • Urban sprawl is associated with suburbanisation
• Exurbanisation

  • The movement of people from an urban area to just outside the urban periphery
  • This is typically due to a change in lifestyle choices, (wanting horses, etc.)
  • e.g. Camden, Dural etc.
• Counterurbanisation

  • The movement of people from urban areas to rural areas
  • Older people may want to move to rural areas for change in place or slower pace of life 
  • Happened a lot in COVID, due to the increase in the efficiency of technology
• Decentralisation

  • dispersal of industry and people from inner city to other urban areas or rural areas
  • In Sydney, this happened with the decentralisation of government offices, which moved towards places like Dubbo
  • e.g. Murray Darling region
• Consolidation

  • increasing the population density of an urban area
  • Brownfield Development: making use of existing urban development, no new sewerage etc.
• Urban Decay:

  • the deterioration of the built environment
  • e.g. Pyrmont
  • In Sydney, Pyrmont is an example of urban decay. The existing infrastructure is very old – and is one of the lower socioeconomic areas in the city
  • Can't have renewal without decay  
• Urban Renewal:

  • the redevelopment of an urban area 
  • e.g. Pyrmont
  • Renewal has to come after urban decay 
• Urban Village

  • distinctive residential areas forming an identifiable community 
  • e.g. Chinatown, Leichhardt, Redfern (Indigenous art)
  • In Sydney, Leichhardt is an example of an urban village. It is a very Italian-style area, due to the settlement of Italian migrants 
• Spatial Exclusion

  • restricting spatial access to protect luxury lifestyles
  • Gated communities
  • Prevalent in Australia starting in the late 80s to 90s
  • Excluding people from public places relates to the restricted access of the public from public spaces
  • e.g gates that encompass around a town to make the land use exclusive to only the people that live there
  • Pyrmont: "for residents only", keeping undesirable aspects of the community out of exclusive areas