Built Environment

The built environment includes all human-made physical spaces where we live, take leisure and work. These include housing, public spaces, healthcare facilities, schools, markets and shops that people need for a healthy and thriving society. As with any setting, the built environment influences aspirations, sense of self-worth, safety and security.

As land continues to be returned to the Traditional Owners, deficiencies in existing infrastructure need to be addressed. People take pride in maintaining the buildings in homelands and outstations. Non-housing buildings can serve multiple purposes however, some communities must travel great distances to access essential services. What ideas can you come up with, in partnership with the community to provide culturally appropriate and sustainable structures in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities?

18. Purpose-built structures

Structures on land handed back to the Traditional Owners of Cape York are often ageing cattle stations (farmsteads or ranches). Retrofitting old buildings is common, however, buildings may not be culturally appropriate, fit for purpose or structurally sound. In discrete indingeous communities a lack of housing, investments and underestimations in census data can result in significant overcrowding. Approximately two-thirds of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in regional and remote communities can live in overcrowded dwellings. What ideas can you come up with for culturally appropriate and purpose built structures to support Traditional Owners access and to stay on areas of Country?

19. Infrastructure accessibility

Due to the lack of access to formal mainstream education and essential or end of life healthcare or work, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may have to live in or relocate to discrete communities, regional towns or cities, and lose physical connection to Country. Families are able to access government supported public primary schools in discrete communities. However many indingeous high school students have to leave remote communities on Cape York to attend boarding schools far away from Country. Can you come up with any ideas to increase access to essential services so people can keep their connection to Country?

20. Remote construction

Ranger bases need essential utilities for Rangers to spend long periods of time on Country. The remoteness of Cape York can be challenging for transporting materials. Ranger bases can be constructed from shipping containers that can be transported by trucks and barges. Can you come up with any ideas for modular or easy to transport structures to aid construction in remote areas?

11. Plastic problems [*1]

[*1] This project spans several design areas

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