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To develop your understanding of the suburb of Waitara and deepen your knowledge of the HSC Geography Syllabus, especially the urban dynamics operating in a country town or suburb dot point, you must complete the modules and all activities within each. Record your answers on the worksheet. Ensure that you discuss with your teacher if they would prefer to complete and submit a hard or digital version of the sheet.
Click on the Google Docs icon to make a copy of the worksheet
Geographic Inquiry Questions
Which urban dynamic is demonstrated in Waitara?
How has the suburb of Waitara changed over time?
How can maps, statistics, graphs and photographs be used to demonstrate the process of urban consolidation?
What decision making process led to the policy of urban consolidation in Waitara?
Module One
Module One
A brief introduction to Waitara
A brief introduction to Waitara
Waitara, highlighted on the map inside the red outline, is an upper north shore suburb of Sydney, NSW, located in the Hornsby Local Government Area. It is 18 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district. Throughout the 20th century, the suburb was a low rise, low density community of mainly single dwellings surrounded by gardens. The suburb was part of the early northern suburbanisation of Sydney. It has seen significant changes in the last 20 years due to the process of urban consolidation, the increase in density of population.
History
Its Maori name comes from a town in Taranaki Province New Zealand meaning hail, pure water or wide steps. As European settlement pushed northwards across the north shore to Hornsby, the land was used originally used for timber cutting and then for orchards and plant nurseries, which extended into the neighbouring suburb of Hornsby. Eventually Waitara was subdivided for housing and it became a popular commuter suburb on the north shore line. The suburb has a substantial business district, specialising in car sales yards, some hotels and light industry. South of the railway line, a number of exclusive private schools are located.
To develop a deeper understanding of the people that make up Waitara, explore the data collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in the 2016 census by clicking here.
Module Two
Module Two
Key Planning Challenges for Sydney - Putting Waitara in context with the greater metropolitan area of Sydney
Key Planning Challenges for Sydney - Putting Waitara in context with the greater metropolitan area of Sydney
The urban consolidation of Waitara is part of a NSW 'Department of Planning' strategy to increase the population of Sydney around key transport nodes in order to limit urban sprawl and create a more compact city. All local government areas must show evidence of how they planning to increase densities in their LGA. As Sydney's population increases, a number of challenges must be overcome. To tackle these challenges, the NSW Government developed the Metropolitan Plan 2036 in 2010. Waitara's urban consolidation is part of the plan to increase densities in already established suburbs. Find out more about the plan below.
Metropolitan Plan 2036 | YouTube | NSW government - Department of planning - Metropolitan Plan 2036 (7:41 min) | Transcript "Metro Plan 2036"
View the video to answer the first set of questions for this module.
Outline some of the pull factors of Sydney people suggested.
How long will the project last and how many people will be living in Sydney by 2036?
As a percentage of Australia's GDP, what is Sydney’s contribution? Thinking about world cities, why is development/investment in Sydney important?
Outline at least 4 key ambitions/targets of the 2036 plan.
Describe how a “City of Cities” alleviates some of the concerns of future growth and development
Describe the “Global Arc” and explain why it’s important in Sydney’s growth.
Where will 70% of the new homes needed be located? Why is this important?
How is Sydney's population density different from cities such as London, Vancouver, and Munich?
Describe the changes in demographics and explain the significance of this transition.
The Metropolitan Plan 2036 strives to locate Sydney's growing population in areas where people want to live, with a focus on increasing densities around key transport nodes.
The growth in Sydney continues at the rate of approximately 100,000 people per year (although the Metropolitan Plan 2036 comments, "50 - 60,000" people move to Sydney, the figure has been revised to the more significant number). This exponential growth led to the development of a second strategy/vision, three business districts. View the video, “A Metropolis of Three Cities - the Greater Sydney Region Plan” and answer the following questions:
What areas will make up Western City? What is the expected population of this area?
What areas will make up Central City? What is the economic focus of this area?
What areas will make up Eastern City? What is the economic focus of this area?
What is the economic corridor? Explain their importance to Sydney and Australia. What other name is the corridor known by?
Outline some of the positive social benefits of this plan.
Outline some of the positive economic benefits of this plan.
Outline some of the positive environmental benefits of this plan.
Explain the meaning behind the term, “thirty minute cities”
To find out more about the plan, visit: https://www.greater.sydney/metropolis-of-three-cities
A Metropolis of Three Cities |YouTube | Greater Sydney Commission (4:27 min) | Transcript "A Metropolis of Three Cities"
Sydney faces several key planning challenges. This section of Module Two will further explore these challenges.
Planning Challenges
Planning Challenges
Busy Sydney streetImage source: Wallpaperflare
A Growing Population
A Growing Population
The first of these challenges is a growing population. As introduced in the previous videos, by 2036, Sydney’s population is expected to be 6 million (one-fifth of all Australians). However, this figure may be reached well before this date. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the population of Sydney in 2018 was 5,230,330 (ABS); therefore, the target of 6 million may be reached well in advance of 2036. The additional population will require over 770,000 new dwellings. Currently, the average occupancy is 2.51 people per dwelling compared to over five people per household 120 years ago. Subsequently, even more, dwellings are required to house Sydney’s growing population.
Employment
Employment
Another challenge for planners relates to employment. As the population grows, so too does the need to provide the requirements for jobs. The additional population will require over 760 000 jobs as Australia has undergone significant economic restructuring in the latter half of the 20th century and early 21st. There has been a reduced focus on the primary and secondary sectors of the economy, and an increased concentration on creating opportunities for jobs in the tertiary and quaternary sectors.
Colliers International Real Estate advertisement for commercial space adjacent to the Waitara urban consolidation precinct.Source: Colliers International social media advertising
Sustainable and Affordable Housing
Sustainable and Affordable Housing
Providing sustainable and affordable housing represents a third challenge. Average dwelling sizes are increasingly taking up more space (e.g. McMansions). These large houses also reduce biodiversity and require increased energy consumption. Furthermore, Sydney’s housing is expensive for many, especially lower socio-economic groups. According to the property website, Domain, the median house price in Sydney in 2020 (June 2020) is $1,143,012 and units $735,417 (Dr Nicola Powell, 2020).
Public Transport
Public Transport
It is unsustainable to encourage everyone who lives and works in Sydney to drive their car. Sydney planners face an additional challenge, providing efficient transport, the new jobs and housing should match transport capacity. This public transport comes in the form of light rail, trains, buses, ferries, or metro (underground trains).
Electricity towerImage Source: Sergi Ferrete on Unsplash
Infrastructure
Infrastructure
In addition to the mentioned hurdles Sydney must overcome, planners must ensure that they provide efficient infrastructure such as; electricity, water supply, sewerage, stormwater management systems, and communication systems for the modern era.
Global Competitiveness
Global Competitiveness
Maintaining global competitiveness represents the penultimate challenge facing Sydney’s development. Sydney provides one-quarter of Australia’s GDP and must compete with other cities in the Asia Pacific region for investment, capital and labour. Therefore more land is required for commercial land use close to the CBD.
Worldwide network of connected citiesImage source: Wallpaperflare
Earth supported by green hands.Image source: pxfuel (Cropped)
Ecological Sustainability
Ecological Sustainability
Finally, is the consideration of ecological sustainability. Our environmental footprint measures sustainability; the land a city requires to provide its raw materials and deal with its waste. Sydney’s footprint is 7h/a per person, and three times the global average. If the entire world had the lifestyle of the average Sydney person, we would need approximately five planet Earth’s to sustain this lifestyle. Effective town planning can help manage environmental issues like air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, waste disposal, water scarcity and biodiversity loss.
Sydney’s planners must plan for an increasing population and promote sustainable urban design to protect the environment and ensure a high quality of life. Some strategies include mixing jobs and housing (mixed-use zoning), building new housing near transport centres and providing more parks.
In your own opinion, classify the planning challenges in the order of priority/importance to town planners. Justify your decision.
Select at least three challenges planners in Sydney face and summarise them using your own words.
Explain the role the challenges pose for planners when designing a city for the 2020 and beyond.
Module Three
Module Three
Using secondary data to examine Waitara's urban consolidation
Using secondary data to examine Waitara's urban consolidation
1. Examining urban consolidation through historic maps
SIX Maps is a NSW Government website which allows users to compare birds-eye images between 1943 and the present. Through SIX Maps, users can display and view multiple geospatial features and digital images and pan and zoom across different layers of information such as road names, suburbs, lots, points of interest and topographic features.
Observe how Waitara has changed over time by using online tools such as Six Maps and entering Waitara in the suburb box on the left. Click ‘Looking for 1943 images’, you can zoom into the suburb and drag the slider up and down to move between 1943 and today.
Screen shot of Current aerial image of Waitara Source: Six Maps
1943 aerial image screen shot of Waitara Source: Six Maps
To access the 1943 image, click on Basemaps (top right hand corner), then Looking for 1943 imagery? then Sydney 1943 imagery.
Screen shot of Waitara mapSource: Six Maps
To access street names and locations, click on NSW Map.
Answer these questions in your workbook
How do the changes in dwelling types demonstrate the process of urban consolidation in Waitara between 1943 and 2020? Specifically refer to the block bordered by Romsey Street, Orana Street, Edgeworth David Avenue and Alexandria Parade.
How much green space is available for the residents of Waitara in 2020 compared to 1943?
What has been the change in land use to the south west of Waitara Train Station between the railway line and the Pacific Highway between 1943 and 2020?
If you're stuck and need help, click here for answers.
Screen shot of Six Maps websiteImage Source: SixMaps
Aerial view of Waitara looking south Image Source: courtesy of sydneyimages.com.au
2. Using Oblique aerial photography to examine Waitara's urban consolidation
This oblique aerial photograph of Waitara is taken facing towards the south. The angle of the photograph highlights the height of the new unit blocks. The railway line and Pacific Highway run through the centre of the image. Waitara's commercial zone lies between the two.
This photograph was taken mid-morning because the shadows are to the South West of the buildings.
Aerial view of Waitara consolidation precinct facing eastImage Source: courtesy of sydneyimages.com.au
This photograph is taken facing East. Urban consolidation can clearly be seen to the North of the train line.
What time of the day was this image taken? (Hint, the shadows are to the south of the trees and buildings).
Aerial view of Waitara looking south Image Source: courtesy of sydneyimages.com.au
This photograph is taken facing South. The oval is called Mark Taylor Oval. The area to the West of the oval (right side of the photo) has been redeveloped into high density living.
The area to the East of the oval is still predominately single storey dwellings. This area has also been zoned for high density living and will be redeveloped into unit blocks by 2036.
3. Examining Waitara through a virtual tour - 'A drive through Waitara'
Inquiry Question - How can maps, statistics, graphs and photographs be used to demonstrate the process of urban consolidation?
The film clip, A drive through Waitara, demonstrates the different land uses in the area north of Waitara station in 2020. (A Drive through Waitara - Transcript)
You will observe areas of urban consolidation, as well as streets where housing is yet to be consolidated.
You will also observe differing land uses; housing, transport corridors, commercial/retail, recreation and educational.
Watch the film clip 'A drive through Waitara', and using the street map of Waitara in the student worksheet, mark the land use on either side of the road on the map as you "drive" through Waitara.
Extract of Waitara mapImage Source: Map of Waitara, NSW 2077 - Census Demographics - Melway, Sydway, Brisway, Ausway, Street Smart
4. Using ABS Census data to examine Waitara's urban consolidation
The Australian Bureau of Statistics is an Australian government department that gathers and analyses demographic data on all Australians every four years.
This information is collected in a nation wide survey called the Census. (The latest census date was September 2020 but has not gone ahead due to Covid).
The data is used by governments, businesses and other organisations to plan things like new different types of housing, schools, parks, shopping centres, business ideas and social support.
Examine the primary data collected by the ABS on the demographics in the suburb of Waitara between 2001 and 2016.
Complete the activities below in your workbook. This will give you a summary of demographic change due to urban consolidation between 2001 and 2016 in Waitara for your study notes.
Links to ABS Data
2001 census data
2016 census data
Australian Bureau of Statistics logo Image Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
The suburb of Waitara, in the Local Government Area of Hornsby in Sydney's north, has seen significant changes in the last 20 years due to the process of urban consolidation.
Complete the chart on the worksheet to compare ABS statistics between 2001 and 2016.
Complete the paragraph on the worksheet to give you a summary of how primary data demonstrates urban consolidation in Waitara
5. Using graphs and statistics to examine Waitara's urban consolidation
Inquiry Question
How can graphs and statistics be used to demonstrate the process of urban consolidation?
Population and household forecasts, 2016 to 2036, prepared by .id the population experts, February 2019.Source: Hornsby Shire Council https://forecast.id.com.au/hornsby/residential-development
Primary data can be used in graphs and tables to demonstrate the nature of migration into Waitara.
What was the total number of dwellings in Waitara in 2017?
What is the forecast number of dwellings in Waitara in 2036?
What percentage change will that be?
Population and household forecasts, 2016 to 2036, prepared by .id the population experts, February 2019Source: Hornsby Shire Council https://forecast.id.com.au/hornsby/residential-development
In 2016-2021, which age bracket is forecast to be the biggest migrating into Waitara.
By 2026-2031, is it forecast that the forecast age of migration into Waitara will be older or younger?
Explain why the bulk of migration into Waitara is in the 25-39 year old age brackets.
Module Four
Module Four
Why and how was urban consolidation implemented in Waitara
Why and how was urban consolidation implemented in Waitara
As Sydney's population increases, a number of challenges must be overcome, including where will people live in the future. Two alternatives include allowing Sydney to sprawl on the fringes (urban sprawl) or increasing density in already established suburbs (Urban Consolidation). To tackle these challenges, in 2005, the NSW Government (through the Department of Planning) developed the Metropolitan Strategy.
The Metropolitan Strategy provides a broad framework to facilitate and manage growth and development over the next 25 years. It is driven by projections which identify the need for 640,000 new homes and 500,000 more jobs across the Sydney Metropolitan area by 2031. The Metropolitan Strategy arranges Sydney into ten (10) subregions. Hornsby Council (including Waitara) has been grouped with Ku-ring-gai Council to form the North Subregion. Under the Metropolitan Strategy the North Subregion is required to provide opportunities for an additional 21,000 dwellings and 13,5001 new jobs over the next 25 years.
Waitara was one of a number of strategic growth areas chosen in Hornsby Shire due to the proximity to public transport (Waitara Station), and its closeness to the commercial hub of Hornsby.
Benefits of Urban Consolidation
Urban planners believe that Urban Consolidation has economic, social, and environmental benefits, for the greater Sydney metropolitan area. The following module explores these categories and the impacts the dynamics have made on both Sydney and Waitara.
Economic Benefits
In Greater Sydney:
It is costly for the government to build infrastructure for new homes on the city fringes.
It is cheaper to fill in (backfill) existing underused suburbs and upgrade existing infrastructure.
It costs 30% less to house a family in an existing suburb than in new suburbs on the edge of the city.
In Waitara:
Infrastructure such as water supply, sewage, electricity and public amenities were already in place
Upgrading existing infrastructure was cheaper than building new infrastructure.
Infrastructure in greenfield areas is expensive it build making housing 30% more expensive on average.Image source: Raphaël Biscaldi on Unsplash
New Apartments at 35 Romsey St Waitara - Infrastructure like water, sewerage and electricity were already in place, reducing the cost to developers.Image Source: Hornsby Shire Council Archives, https://hornsbyshire.recollect.net.au/
Social Benefits
In Greater Sydney:
Urban consolidation in already established suburbs provides homes closer to existing employment and leisure centres and can reduce social problems in poorly planned suburbs like isolation, boredom, crime, unemployment or loss of social time traveling to work.
The demand for housing continues to grow with demand from growing demographic groups like Yuppies, DINKS and other high income earners (employed in the Quaternary Sector) as well as Empty Nesters.
In Waitara:
The location on a major transport line and a 55 minute commute to the central business district, and other employment areas like Hornsby (5 mins), Chatswood (34 mins), North Sydney (42 mins) and the global arc, is attractive to middle and high income earners who work in these areas. It is also close to leisure activities and services.
Waitara is also popular with families due to its closeness to high quality schools.
Environmental Benefits
In Greater Sydney:
Urban sprawl creates environmental problems.
Clearing land for new suburbs leads to deforestation, less biodiversity and loss of productive farmland leading to increased food miles.
Suburbanisation creates air quality problems through increased traffic and increased water consumption and waste generation.
In Waitara:
Increasing the population in suburbs like Waitara helps to slow urban sprawl.
Areas such as Waitara were targeted for Urban Consolidation due to their proximity to transport connections and local shopping ares. The urban consolidation precinct is 1km from Hornsby Westfield, and a short walk to local schools, shops and recreational facilities.
Apartments were set back from the street to allow quieter public frontages and protection from excessive traffic noise, as well as providing areas for natural vegetation. Development applications require 50% landscaping to improve the quality of the built environment.
The new Orara Park has a water quality basin, storage tank and large Gross Pollutant Trap that will remove large pieces of garbage from the stormwater system. The water quality basin will provide a vegetated area that further filters stormwater to remove nutrients before entering Hornsby Creek. The storage tank holds 100,000 litres of cleaned stormwater to irrigate Mark Taylor Oval.
How was urban consolidation implemented in Waitara?
How was urban consolidation implemented in Waitara?
An advertisement selling one acre blocks as part of the original subdivision of Waitara. Image Source: Hornsby Shire Council Archives, https://hornsbyshire.recollect.net.au/
Early 1900’s.
Early 1900’s.
From the early part of the 1900's land at Waitara was subdivided and sold for residential housing. Waitara developed into a suburb, through the urban Dynamic of suburbanisation, into a low rise, low density community of mainly single dwellings surrounded by gardens. The suburb was part of the early northern suburbanisation of Sydney.
A detached Bugalow at 38 Romsey St Waitara in the 1930's.Image Source: Hornsby Shire Council Archives, https://hornsbyshire.recollect.net.au/
1900’s - 2000
1900’s - 2000
Housing spread across the suburb throughout the 20th century as Waitara developed as a mainly dormitory / commuter suburb for middle class and wealthy people. Generations of families would have bought, renovated and sold houses in the area giving Waitara its reputation as an affluent 'bushland' suburb on the city's northern fringe. by 2000, the suburb consisted of single and two story brick detached dwellings (inter war period bungalows) with some townhouses and villa developments.
Apartments being built in 2000 in the urban consolidation precinct north of the Waitara train station. Image Source: Hornsby Shire Council Archives, https://hornsbyshire.recollect.net.au/
2000’s onwards
2000’s onwards
Around 2000, land north of the Waitara train station was rezoned for medium density housing. Waitara was targeted in the 1998 Hornsby Shire Housing Strategy as an area where urban consolidation should take place, due to its proximity to transport nodes such as Waitara station. This strategy was the result of recommendations in the Hornsby Shire Local Environment Plan 1994 ,which called for greater urban consolidation. Developers negotiated with existing property holders to buy blocks of land. These were joined together, and development applications were lodged with Council.
From 2000 - 2020, the suburb has seen significant changes in this precinct due to the process of urban consolidation. The Urban Consolidation process (dynamic) has again been mandated by the NSW Government through the 2005 Metropolitan Strategy which requires local councils to increase housing in selected areas. Hornsby Council is required to provide sufficient zoned land to facilitate the provision of an additional 11,000 dwellings
As a result of this plan, the area to the east of Mark Taylor Oval, still predominately single storey dwellings, is being rezoned for high density living, and will be redeveloped into unit blocks by 2036.
Module Five
Module Five
Negative impacts of increased density
Negative impacts of increased density
Whilst many town planners promote urban consolidation as a way of reducing the economic, social and environmental problems of a sprawling city, some people oppose urban consolidation because of the perceived negative impacts urban consolidation has on established suburbs, particularly if the developments are poorly planned and promote extremely high densities.
The acronym NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) is sometimes used to describe people with this alternative viewpoint.
Arguments against urban consolidation include traffic congestion, pollution and loss of bushland and heritage resulting from ill-considered planning impositions.
Find out more about the arguments against urban consolidation at: Save our Suburbs
Tall apartment in suburban areas can cause traffic congestion, overcrowding and loss of views and privacy for surrounding residents. Source: Pip Christie on Unsplash
Module Six
Module Six
Extended Response
Extended Response
Having completed the previous five modules, use the information you have collected to answer the following questions:
Which urban dynamic is demonstrated in Waitara?
How has the suburb of Waitara changed over time?
How can maps, statistics, graphs and photographs be used to demonstrate the process of urban consolidation?
What decision making process led to the policy of urban consolidation in Waitara?
You are encouraged to visit Past Papers by clicking here to understand where previous students did well and needed to improve. Further, you should include previous papers as part of your study routine to develop and consolidate your learning.
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