Urban consolidation refers to policies aimed at increasing population densities within urban areas by promoting high- and medium-density housing like apartments and townhouses near existing infrastructure, in order to limit urban sprawl and make better use of resources. The benefits include reducing infrastructure costs and environmental impacts, while the downsides can include higher housing prices and congestion issues. Examples provided are of Sydney focusing density around transit lines and a proposal for Wagga Wagga to build more townhouses along certain streets instead of low-density sprawl.