Presentation of the Challenges toward Sustainability of Brisbane. I prepared this presentation for an assessment of one of the courses of my Postgraduate Diploma in Governance and Sustainable Development
2. Presentation Outline
• Historical and Geographical Characteristics
• Economic Dimension
• Environmental Dimension
• Social Dimension
• Brisbane Population by age group
• Critical Issues towards Sustainable Development of
Brisbane City
• Natural Disaster (flooding)
• Increase number of private motor vehicles
• Is Brisbane Progressing towards Sustainable
Development?
3. Historical and Geographical
Characteristics
• Settlement in the area of Brisbane started as
early as 1824
• The city council was formed in 1925 with the
amalgamation of 19 wards.
• Brisbane is located at the South East
Queensland on Australia's east coast of the
South Pacific Ocean.
• Suburbs Moreton Bay in the north and
northwest, Ipswich in the southwest and
Redland in the south
4. Historical and Geographical
Characteristics Cont.
• Coordinates: 27o 28’
4.5” S, 153o 01’40”E
• Most populous city in
the state of
Queensland and third
populous city in
Australia
• As at 30 June 2012,
the estimated resident
population 1,110,473
Map of Brisbane
5. Economic Dimension
• Brisbane is considered as one of the rich cities of the
world
• Brisbane’s comparative Socioeconomic conditions
rated high in Australia
• In 2011 about 70% population income more than
AUD 400 weekly
• Unemployment rate in June 2013 was 5.7%
• In 2013 AUD 5.6 billion worth of new buildings were
approved
• In 2012 there were 115,472 registered small and
large businesses with turnover between AUD
100,000 – 2 million
6. Environmental Dimension
• As a developed country city, Brisbane has overcome
several environmental problems
• Council offers a wide variety of alternatives to
driving: buses, ferries, council cabs
• The city has a well established solid waste
management mechanism with a policy and strategies
• The City Council offers a range of environment and
sustainability related grants
• Increase volume of solid waste due to changing
lifestyle trends
• Emission from increasing number of private motor
vehicles
7. Social Dimension
• Brisbane has well established social services
• Social benefits from the Department of Human
services such as Medicare
• Aged care and early childhood education and care
services.
• The city has 315 schools and 44 hospitals
• Community Grants for arts, encourage historical,
cultural and physical events and activities
• Improve community safety through Suburban Crime
Prevention Program
• 6.6% most disadvantaged quintile and 40.4% least
disadvantaged quintile
• Average age of residents of the city is increasing
9. Critical Issues towards Sustainable
Development of Brisbane City
• The critical issues which challenge the
progress towards sustainable development of
Brisbane are:
1. Natural Disaster (flooding)
2. Increase number of private motor vehicles
3. Increase of volume and type of solid waste
4. Increase of ecological footprint
5. Changing character of development challenges
on water safety
• The first two may be the main issues
10. Natural Disaster (flooding)
• Cities are an integral part of the hydrological cycle,
they impact the daily and seasonal flows of water.
• The large amount of impermeable surfaces
contributes to the high levels of run off
• Brisbane is a city built on the flood plain of a river
with a history of flooding
• Flood records for Brisbane extend back as far as the
1840s.
• Some of the major floods were in 1893, 1974 and
2011
12. Natural Disaster Cont.
• Council spent AUD480M
on flood-related planning,
mitigation, awareness and
response initiatives
• The recovery cost of 2011
flood estimated AUD440M.
2011 flood
• The flood claimed life of one person and affected
number of people
• The flood affected the business community and
impacted the economy of the region
13. Increase number of private motor
vehicles
• Rapid increases in vehicle travel in developed
countries’ cities
• The growth of travel degrades air quality, impairs
water quality, and increases traffic noise
• Brisbane faces changing travel demand-higher car
ownership trend
• Brisbane’s population has grown by 2% annually but
there has been a significant growth in car ownership
• Further pressure is also expected from people
commuting to Brisbane from surrounding local areas
14. Increase number of private motor
vehicles Cont.
• Vehicle emissions account for 57% of all air
pollution and 70% of smog-forming emissions
in Brisbane
• The transport and traffic share of spending
has gone from 25% to 33%
• Less time for other activities with family and
friends.
15. Is Brisbane Progressing towards
Sustainable Development?
• O'Hare (2003): South Brisbane peninsula illustrates
the interrelationship between the supportive aspects
of inner-urban sustainability
• Brisbane may nearly satisfy most the 10 domains
stated in Capon & Blakely checklist
• Sustainable city: inflows of materials and energy and
the disposal of wastes do not exceed the capacity of
its hinterlands (Kennedy, 2007).
• Brisbane needs to maintain the measures started
towards sustainable city to support liveability
16. Bibliography
• Benton-Short & Short (2008), Cities and Nature -first edition, New York: Routledge
• Brisbane Community Profile- Queensland Treasury and Trade( 2013) [online] Available
from: http://statistics.oesr.qld.gov.au/bccstats/profiles [Accessed: 21 November]
• Brisbane Economic Development Plan Summary 2012-2031 – Brisbane City Council,
(2013) [online] Available from: http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/about-
council/governance-strategy/economic-development/economic-development-
program/index.htm [Accessed: 21 November 2013]
• Brisbane Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry, Initial Submission – Brisbane City
Council, (2011) [online] Available from:
http://www.floodcommission.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0020/8363/BCC__Brisbane
_City_Council_11.03.11.pdf [Accessed: 23 November 2013]
• Capon and Blakely (2007) Checklist for healthy and sustainable communities, [online]
Available from:
http://www.healthyplaces.org.au/userfiles/file/Miscellaneous/checklist%20for%20healt
hy%20and%20sustainable%20communities.pdf [Accessed: 30 October 2013]
• Defining an Ecosystem Approach to Urban Management and Policy Development:
UNU/IAS Report – United Nations University (2003) [online] Available from:
http://www.ias.unu.edu/binaries/UNUIAS_UrbanReport1.pdf [Accessed: 17 November
2013]
• Independent Review of Brisbane City Council’s Response – Brisbane City Council, (2011)
[online] Available from
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/2010%20Library/2009%20PDF%20and%20Docs/5.Com
munity%20Support/5.4%20Emergency%20management/Floods/emergency_managem
ent_Independent_Review_of_BCCs_Response_Final_Report_v4.pdf [Accessed: 23
November 2013]
17. Bibliography Cont.
• Kennedy, C. et al., (2007) The changing metabolism of cities Journal of Industrial
Ecology Volume 11, Number 2, pp. 43-59 [online] Available from:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1162/jie.2007.1107/pdf [Accessed: 12
November 2013]
• Lee (2006) Environment and Urbanization: Urban sustainability and the limits of
classical environmentalism [online] Available from
http://eau.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/18/1/9 [Accessed: 19 October 2013]
• Media Release: ABS releases measures of socio-economic advantage and
disadvantage - Australian Bureau of Statistics, (2008) [online] Available from:
http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/mediareleasesbyReleaseDate/AC5B96
7F97D4902ECA257B3B001AF670?OpenDocument [Accessed: 22 November 2013]
• Moreton Bay Regional Council, Our History - Redcliffe District: Settlement. [Online]
Available from: http://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/general.aspx?id=16473
[Accessed: 20 November 2013]
• O’Hare, (2003) Inner-Urban Sustainability: A Case Study of the South Brisbane
Peninsula [online] Available from:
http://eprints.qut.edu.au/136/1/OhareSASBE.PDF [Accessed: 19 November 2013]
• Transport Plan for Brisbane 2008-2026 – Brisbane City Council (2008) [online]
Available from: http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/traffic-transport/roads-
infrastructure-bikeways/ [Accessed: 23 November 2013]
In 1824, a party of soldiers and convicts settled in the Brisbane area. Non-convict European settlement of the Brisbane region was commenced in 1838. In 1840 work began on the first plan of Brisbane Town. Queensland was proclaimed a separate colony on 6 June 1859, with Brisbane chosen as its capital. In 1925 nineteen wards were amalgamated to form the City of Brisbane, governed by the Brisbane City Council (Moreton Bay Regional Council).
Brisbane is located in the southeast corner of Queensland, Australia. The city is centered along the Brisbane River, and its eastern suburbs line the shores of Moreton Bay. The greater Brisbane region is on the coastal plain east of the Great Diving Range. Brisbane's metropolitan area sprawls along the Moreton Bay floodplain from Caboolture in the north to Redland in the south, and across to Ipswich in the south west.
Brisbane is the most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland, and the third most populous city in Australia. As at 30 June 2012, the estimated resident population of Brisbane City Local Government Area (LGA) was 1,110,473 persons, compared with 4,565,529 persons in Queensland. The population of Brisbane City LGA increased by 20,594 persons between 30 June 2011 and 2012, which was a population growth rate of 1.9 per cent, compared with 2.0 percent increase for Queensland (Queensland Treasury and Trade, 2013).
The cities of the OECD nations exemplify the rich city (Lee, 2006, pp 11), as Brisbane is city of one of the OECD country it is considered as rich city.
Brisbane is Australia’s third largest capital city and the economic engine for Queensland. The broader metropolitan area has a population of over two million people, over one million jobs and generates 9% of Australia's Gross Domestic Product. Employment forecasts indicate that metropolitan Brisbane will grow by 443,000 jobs to reach total employment of around 1.5 million by 2031 (Brisbane City Council, 2013)
As per the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), which compare the relative social and economic conditions of cities, towns and suburbs across Australia, Brisbane is one of the advantaged areas in Australia. (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2008)
At the time of the 2011 Census, the region had 269,487 persons aged 15 years and over who stated that their total personal weekly income was less than AUD400, representing 31.5 per cent of all persons aged 15 years and over. The number of unemployed persons aged 15 years and over (based on a smoothed series) in the region in June quarter 2013 was 37,161. This represented an unemployment rate of 5.7 per cent.
In the 12 months ending 30 September 2013, there were 8,082 dwelling units in new residential buildings approved in the region, with a total value of AUD2,022.6 million. The total value of non-residential building approvals in Brisbane City LGA in the 12 months ending 30 September 2013 was AUD3,574.4 million. In 2011–12, there were 115,472 registered businesses in the region. Of these businesses, 110,015 were small businesses, 5,225 were medium businesses and 232 were large businesses. In 2011–12, the region contained 52,888 businesses with a turnover under AUD100,000, 54,854 businesses with a turnover between AUD100,000 and AUD2 million, and 7,731 businesses with a turnover of AUD2 million or more (Queensland Treasury and Trade, 2013).
Brisbane City Council has various rubbish collections for general refuse, green waste, recycling and the large item kerbside collections. In order to achieve our goal of Zero Waste, Council has set a number of targets which align with the Queensland State Waste Reduction and Recycling Strategy 2010-2020. Aiming towards a Zero Waste and minimize reliance on landfill the council developed a strategy with the clear goals.
Brisbane City Council offers a range of environment and sustainability related grants for community groups, non-profit organisations and individuals under the Lord Mayor's Community Sustainability and Environmental Grants Program 2013-14. The grants include Environmental Grant, Native Wildlife Carer Grant and Cultivating Community Garden Grant.
Developed country cities have successfully overcome several ‘traditional’ environmental problems, but are now experiencing a variety of emerging environmental challenges (United Nations University, 2003, pp 10). Some of the environmental challenges the city faces are related to the increase in the volume of solid waste and increase in private motor vehicles.
Brisbane, as a developed country city, has well established social services. As any Australian, communities of Brisbane access the benefits from the Department of Human Services such as Medicare, Centrelink and Child Support programs.
As at 31 August 2013, the region had a total of 653 early childhood education and care services. As at 30 June 2012, the region had 227 aged care services with a total of 11,718 operational places. As at 30 June 2013, Brisbane City Local Government Area (LGA) had 28 police stations, 22 ambulance stations, 21 fire stations, 315 schools and 44 hospitals. At the time of 2011 Census, the region had 523,706 persons aged 15 years and over with a qualification, or 61.2 per cent of the population in this age group. In 2011 the region had a total of 60,284 vocational education and training (VET) students. This was made up of 41,829 students commencing a VET course and 18,408 students continuing a VET course (Queensland Treasury and Trade, 2013).
Brisbane City Council's grants programs provide funding to help local non-profit community groups to develop and improve facilities and services in Brisbane. Grants are also given to individuals who require financial assistance to promote creativity and the arts, encourage historical, cultural and physical events and activities, take care of sick or injured native wildlife and help others in their community. The Suburban Crime Prevention Program provides funds to suburban businesses and not-for-profit community groups and sporting clubs for projects or services that will help deter crime and improve community safety.
As per Queensland Treasury and Trade, at the time of the 2011 Census, 6.6 per cent of the population of the region were in the most disadvantaged quintile, and 40.4 per cent were in the least disadvantaged quintile.
The five main issues that may challenge progress towards sustainable development of Brisbane city are:
Natural disaster, that is flooding
Increase number of private motor vehicles with the population and economic growth
Increase volume and type of solid waste related to trends in the packaging of goods, increase levels of consumption and changing lifestyle.
Increase of ecological footprint, population density in middle suburbs has remained relatively stable. By 2016, almost 50% of Brisbane’s population is expected to live in outer suburbs (Brisbane City Council, 2008).
Changing character of development challenges on water safety of the city, as Brisbane located within the catchment area of the source of water supply of the city, changing character of development might affect quality of the water supply of the city.
Cities are an integral part of the hydrological cycle. Cities impact the daily and seasonal flows of water. The large amount of impermeable surface, for example, means that when it rains run off levels spike dramatically (Benton-Short, L. & Short, J. R.,2008)
Flood records for Brisbane, held by the Bureau of Meteorology and Queensland, extend back as far as the 1840s. These records show that Brisbane is a city built on the flood plain of a river with a history of flooding (Brisbane City Council, 2011)
The flood volumes indicate the volume of the January 2011 flood event was almost double that of the January 1974 flood and similar to that of the February 1893 flood (ibid, pp 33)
Since 2004/2005, Council through its annual budget has spent (in 2010/2011 dollars) AUD481,597,000 on flood-related planning, mitigation, awareness and response initiatives. The Lord Mayor established a Recovery Task Group to coordinate the 2011 flood recovery. It was anticipated that the recovery phase to last 24 months at an estimated cost to Council of AUD440,000,000 (Brisbane City Council)
As a result of the 2011 flood event a number of suburbs were fully isolated and it was necessary to accommodate affected residents at unofficial evacuation centres that were established in church halls and local primary schools by members of the community and community groups. The business community and related commercial properties in the Central Business District (CBD) and suburbs suffered significant inundation, damage and interruption with the CBD for a period of five days. This impacted on the economy of the Brisbane region. The flood substantially damaged some of the City’s assets, essential services, and utilities (including power, telecommunications, gas, water supply and sewerage). Mud, silt and debris as well as the inundation of environmentally sensitive areas have resulted in damage to the environmental balance of the Brisbane River catchment area and Moreton Bay.
Rapid increases in vehicle travel have negatively affected the environment of developed countries’ cities in numerous ways. The growth of travel degrades air quality, impairs water quality, and increases traffic noise. Since 1970, per mile motor vehicle emissions have been decreasing as a result of vehicle emissions control systems and cleaner fuels. Increasing vehicle miles travelled, however, threatens to reverse this trend in the near future for carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, and particulate matter (PM10). Further, motor vehicles also release hazardous air pollutants (United Nations University, 2003, pp 11).
Brisbane’s population has grown by 2% annually but there has been a significant growth in car ownership and inbound traffic volumes have increased by as much as 9% (2002 to 2003) and motor vehicle purchases increased by 4.1% throughout Australia in 2007. In the past four years (2004 – 2007) there has been strong patronage growth on public transport. Bus patronage has increased by 41% and rail patronage by 28%. However, as car travel continues to increase with population and car ownership, the mode share change to public transport remains relatively low (Brisbane City Council).
The increased pressure on Brisbane’s air quality can be mainly attributed to growing vehicle emissions, which account for 57% of all air pollution and 70% of smog-forming emissions. One of the major challenges facing Council is the significant increase in construction costs. Over the past three years construction costs have risen by more than 33%. That is a sustained average increase of 10% per annum (Transport Plan for Brisbane 2008-2026).
More congestion means longer travelling time and less time for other activities with family and friends.
O’Hare (2003) argues that South Brisbane peninsula demonstrates important characteristics of triple bottom line sustainability. He argues that environmental, social and economic sustainability are all supported by the six characteristics he outlined.
Brisbane may satisfy most of the 10 domains stated in Capon & Blakely’s checklist. Although the city is facing challenges of rising waste and decrease
quality of air due to increasing number of vehicles, Brisbane has places where people can go and enjoy food and community places for recreation.
Brisbane has also high standard schools and educational institutions.
Sustainable development can be understood as development without increases in the throughput of materials and energy beyond the biosphere’s capacity for regeneration and waste assimilation (Kennedy, 2007, cited Goodland and Daly 1996).Given this definition, a sustainable city implies an urban region for which the inflows of materials and energy and the disposal of wastes do not exceed the capacity of its hinterlands. In order to progress towards sustainable development, Brisbane needs to maintain the measures started to support liveability.