Urban Planning Report: Housing Demand and Policies in Adelaide City

This report provides an analysis of Adelaide's urban development, focusing on housing demand, policies, and future plans. It begins with an introduction to Adelaide's geographical and demographic context, followed by a rationale for choosing Greater Adelaide as a study area due to its development opportunities and underutilized resources. The analysis covers Adelaide's history, transport arrangements, current urban form, water management, and integration of areas. It also addresses potential climate change effects and presents an overview of Greater Adelaide's economic significance. The report outlines a vision for the future, emphasizing the need to maintain a high quality of life and attract skilled migrants. Future plans include projecting housing demands, classifying housing types, adopting sustainable policies, specifying house and land policies, and maintaining affordable housing while defining the roles of local government and the housing industry. The report concludes by highlighting the importance of sustainable and competitive urban development for Adelaide's future.

ADELAIDE CITY
Student’s name
Course
Tutor’s name
Date, Year

Table of Contents
1. Introduction..............................................................................................................................3
2. Choosing Rationale..................................................................................................................4
3. Analysis....................................................................................................................................4
3.1. Brief History.....................................................................................................................4
3.2. Transport Arrangements...................................................................................................4
3.3. Current Urban Form..........................................................................................................5
3.4. Water use and Management..............................................................................................5
3.5. How the area Integrates.....................................................................................................5
3.6. Possible climatic change effects.......................................................................................6
3.7. Brief overview...................................................................................................................6
4. The overall vision for the future of area...................................................................................6
5. Future plans..............................................................................................................................6
5.1. Projecting housing demands.............................................................................................6
5.2. Rental, owner-occupied or public classification of housing.............................................7
5.3. Adopted Policies and Strategies........................................................................................7
5.4. Specifying House Policies................................................................................................7
5.5. Maintaining Affordable housing.......................................................................................8
5.6. Specifying the Local Government’s and Housing Industry roles.....................................8
6. Conclusion................................................................................................................................9

1. Introduction
Adelaide is located between the mount lofty low-lying ranges and Gulf of Vincent on the
Adelaide plains1. The city is also situated north of Fleurieu peninsula and has a length of 20km
from the foothills to the coast and 90km long at its northern extension from Gawler to the south
of Sellicks Beach. The metropolitan zone in Adelaide has lands totalling up to 870km2 whereas
the Australian Bureau of Statistics gives it much explained definition for Greater Adelaide total
statistical area as 3,257.7 km2. The city averagely rests above the sea at an elevated height of 50
meters. Mount lofty which is situated in the East of the metropolitan region of Adelaide within
the Adelaide Hills, is the tallest area in the south Burra state and city at an elevation of 727
meters. A huge population of the natural vegetation has been cleared and the traces are preserved
in the reserves. Numerous rivers and creeks flow through the Regions of Adelaide. The longest
rivers and creeks are Onkaparinga and Torrens catchments. Adelaide depends on Mount Bold
Reservoir and Happy Valley Reservoir as its main source of supplying water
Figure 1 illustrates shows the boundary of the Greater Adelaide2.
1 Bay, Steffen, Growing Compact, 81.
2 Eversole, Regional Development in Australia, 120.

Figure 2 above illustrates the Geographical Map of the metropolitan area of the city3.
2. Choosing Rationale
Greater Adelaide has established suburbs with development opportunities that can be utilized.
Additionally, its neighbourhoods offer convenient and close accessible by public means or by
foot. This paper identifies the Greater Adelaide by considering its urban areas whose
geographical resources are being underused and seeing the city's maps proved helpful. Greater
Adelaide's maps were large but less populated and this shows slow growth in infrastructure4.
Moreover, the areas have national reserves meaning the environment is favourable for diverse
living. These seem to be suitable conditions allowing possible redesigning.
3. Analysis
3.1. Brief History
Colonel William Light is the man behind the design plan of Adelaide city. The plan put Adelaide
city in a grid and at the centre of Adelaide with five squares and numerous park rings. Colonel’s
3 Girardet, Creating a Sustainable Adelaide, 40.
4 Dufty-Jones, Dallas, Housing in 21st-Century Australia, 5.

design made sure that the development of many road lanes was convenient from its initial stages.
The existence of grid layouts for convenient navigation and very broad green rings surrounding
the centre of the city served well the city walking lives and its transit. Adelaide has still
maintained vacant lands for possible developments in the future rather than enhancing its
architectural housing designs and additional transport5.
3.2. Transport Arrangements
Generally, the Adelaide travel particle is very technical due to people travelling for various
diverse reasons.
Figure 3 above shows the various reasons for travel6.
Personal cars are the domain means of travelling in Adelaide. Personal cars provide individuals
with the most convenient and reliable means of transport and are most probably the superior
mode in the nearby future. Public transport comes last on the list while walking is the second
convenient means.
5 Girardet, Creating a Sustainable Adelaide, 42.
6 Girardet, Creating a Sustainable Adelaide, 43

Figure 4 above shows the preferred travel options ratings7.
3.3. Current Urban Form
The Greater Adelaide total statistical area is 3,257.7 km2. Current usage of land practices
includes extensive production of livestock with low input that is conserving biodiversity in
Adelaide’s landscape. The average current population of Adelaide city is approximately 1400
persons per km2. Adelaide has five types of housing namely; detached, retirement village unit,
semi-detached housings, townhouses or home unit and apartments or flat. However, the detached
dwelling is the most common type of housing in Adelaide.
Figure 5 above shows Adelaide's type of housing and various year8.
7 Mark, Jury, Workforce Development Theory and Practice, 90.
8 Eversole, Regional Development in Australia, 121.

3.4. Water use and Management
Historically, Adelaide has been developing along busy rails and roads routes other than ports.
The suburbs and town region have been sprouting with industries and mass of people who try
using as little water as possible but still fail. Also, pollution has increased9. This has led to
conflicts arising between town dwellers and farmers in terms of the level of pollution and water
scarcity. Additionally, the industries and mines are using up most of the water resources if not
drying them out. What this means is that the increased population is affecting the rate of water
use from the rivers and reservoirs.
3.5. How the area Integrates
The investment by Adelaide into its transportation infrastructure has improved to a greater extent
in how people move around the city into the currently developing outer suburbs. This is
appealing to many private investors coming to those areas. Since a lot of persons would love to
live close to cities, Adelaide is being extended to accommodate these people. This has led to an
improvement in connectivity, reliability and affordability of services and goods.
3.6. Possible climatic change effects
The infrastructure and transport system of Adelaide is dominantly situated in the landscape
which has an impact on the nature of environment10. Effects and hazard environment including
vegetation, quality of water, contamination of sites, emitted greenhouse gases, biodiversity and
noise resulting from increased growth of industries. For instance, quarries lead to pollution.
Moreover, developing cities into rural places cause a reduction in the beauty of and tree covers in
9 Unnisa, Rav, Sustainable Solid Waste Management, 116.
10 Thomas, The Securitization of Climate Change Responses, 23.

Adelaide. This implies that reservoirs and rivers relied on could, in the end, dry up causing
lowering sources of water supply to the cities
3.7. Brief overview
According to (Joo and Steffen 2017)statistics indicate that the total area of Great Adelaide is
3,257.7 km2 and filled with numerous reservoirs and rivers to supply water. Being among
Southern Australia's states, Adelaide population is over 75%. Adelaide offers 80% employment
to its people and a home for approximately 1.3 million persons. Indigenous vegetation has been
cleared as well as the growth in economic states because of the environmentally friendly
business technology and enhanced technology on services and products.
4. The overall vision for the future of the area
The Greater Adelaide is a hospitable region for the most part of Southern Australia, therefore,
making up to 83% of the Australian economy11. This shows the importance of the inhabitants of
Adelaide to the future of the nation. On this note, Greater Adelaide should keep enjoying its
high-quality life. However, the increasing mobility of people shows a tougher competition. There
is competition for keeping the young generation, attracting skilled migrants and growing
industries that rely on training and knowledge. Thereby, increasing the liveability of and
vibrancy of the city for targeting the aim of integrating and land use and transport.
5. Future plans
5.1. Projecting housing demands
The evaluation and analysis presented indicate that the demand for housing will even be higher
than 25% by the year 2045 in South Australia according to the analysis by the dwelling data
count. The presumptions and predictions by statics are that lone house dwellers shall be
11Mark, Jury, Workforce Development Theory and Practice, 99.

increasing above 44%. The enormous counts shall be growing from 131,000 to 188,000 at the
conclusion of the year 2031. The projections also show that 85% of current housing is on
demand in Adelaide's metropolitan boundaries. According to the projection, the housing
demands shall be developed in Adelaide's urban areas by the year 2045. Additionally, the
analysis by the yearly data dwelling count establishes that more than 90% current housing have
been planning for the establishment of housing zone or township areas in Great Adelaide and
other sections close by Great Adelaide.
5.2. Rental, owner-occupied or public classification of housing
The proposed house plan does not consist of designated areas for rental housing or owner-
housing12. However, there exist areas allocated to the local population and public and special
places. There are also alternative types of housing in place with the inclusion of a large number
of detached houses. There are recreational areas, schools and parks in the neighbourhoods. The
metropolitan areas of Adelaide shall consist of 3 storeys that will facilitate the connection of the
suburbs to the city.
5.3. Adopted Policies and Strategies
The South Australian government should adopt policies and strategies for the implementation of
plans to transform and build Adelaide to be highly sustainable, liveable and competitive. The key
strategies should be adopted to enhance better project implementation which includes; the
establishment of 85% current housing in the developing of urban zones come 2045 and the
development of current housing in the adjacent places of Adelaide. This should be fulfilled
through the township and housing designated projects by the year projected. The government
must adopt specific policies of focusing at the city suburbs of Adelaide to attain a carbon-free
12 Eversole, Regional Development in Australia, 123.

city and produce communities that are healthy as well as aid in the economic growth
progression13. The government’s policies of development must consist of both mixed and
residential housing plans and the development of convenient communication system.
Additionally, among the crucial policies to be adopted by the government is that the railway
station systems should be adopted in a proper manner. The policy strategies should include;
providing sufficient housing to the citizens and increasing the economy of the city by building
houses. Various policies such as supporting the cultural environment whilst concentrating on the
entertainment and tourism industries. The government should aim at making Adelaide the centre
of banking legal and financial services14. The government can as well adopt these strategies is
through the constructing and building of public structures. It is already established that Adelaide
city will be developed according to the grid structures.
Grid patterns must be maintained even though, the government has plans to construct build parks
at the squares and roads for its people. The government should plan to enhance a variety of house
patterns in order to provide for the huge different population. The strategic policy shall be
adopted by innovative construction of houses according to the increasing demand of the current
Adelaide. The strategy shall involve buildings and housings that reflect numerous features of the
city while considering costs. The government should also implement the structures of building
houses for the project.
5.4. Specifying House and Land Policies
Greater Adelaide should ensure the local government lays down policies that relate to the
effective use of land. These programs, as well as policies within the landscape, entails protecting
13 Dufty-Jones, Dallas, Housing in 21st-Century Australia, 6.
14 Bay, Steffen, Growing Compact, 85.

the available primary land production. Protecting land is important in enabling the provision of
added value for increasing productivity. Thereby, recognizing and identifying the Adelaide
landscape that is made of rural support and production activities.
Planning effectively should be able to improve the products gotten from local districts of
Adelaide. Additionally, land use programs are able to create chances for developing local rural
villages through improvements of the living conditions other than offering small-scale
sightseeing and browsing of tourists15. This means that Adelaide’s ability to practice agriculture
from the well-conserved environment can be invested in time to bring tourists as well as offer
their cuisine made of nourishing food.
Numerous sites within Adelaide are designed to allow hosting tourists. This tourism
encouragement plan also helps in protecting the rural areas within Adelaide through the creation
of a balance between productive use of land and visual amenity. There is an encouragement of
low density and low scale styles during building structures for proper significance and allocation
helping in landscaping the historical location of villages.
Looking at the Greater Adelaide, its rural landscape I usually covered with wineries and
vineyards, the rural areas’ landscape have olive tree plantations hence presenting a great view.
Rural areas mostly have their agriculture focusing on timber orchards and wheat production. This
is being done in the hilly areas. Therefore there exists a large parcel of bare land that could be
replaced using by growing vineyards and olive trees. This different variety of plants increase the
value of the land. About 40% of the landscape in Adelaide is suited for agricultural activities
such as cropping and grazing. Greater Adelaide can, therefore, increase its farming activities so
that quality wine and food may attract more tourists in the area.
15 Eversole, Regional Development in Australia, 125.

5.5. Maintaining Affordable Housing and Transportation Means
Adelaide’s transport and housing affordability policy should concentrate on energy use,
generation of waste other than acknowledging the costs involved in accessing these amenities16.
Additionally, dwellings should be situated appropriately for easier access to hospitals and
schools, hence, facilities become more available to people. Considering the indirectly affordable
aspects, for example, electricity expenditure and employment areas, better walking and cycling
infrastructure should be enhanced for an affordable, easily accessed and liveable city.
5.6. Specifying the Local Government's and Housing Industry Roles
The government should be involved in playing a role in planning Adelaide’s development. For
example, in Southern Australia, the local governments are doing their part when developing
metropolitan cities. The local governments are getting involved in annual regional forums for the
development in the respective areas. The infrastructure provided comes from the government.
Proper transportation facilitates and connectivity between roads in other regions have been made
possible through the involvement of local governments. On the other hand, the state government
should also be participants for fine-tuning the strategies gotten from councils as well as
contributing to developing designs17. Both the local and state government have the capability of
helping increase the rate of employment if Adelaide.
The present housing authority has the responsibility of building a variety of houses as well as
incorporating affordable planning. This authority is also able to investigate the sustainability
designs and housing design for complying with government policies. When the government
decides to help in increasing the export rate or import rate in Adelaide, the business transactions
16 Dufty-Jones, Dallas, Housing in 21st-Century Australia, 8.
17Bay, Steffen, Growing Compact, 90.

within the region will also improve. The metropolitan local governments should be helping in
supporting transit-oriented developments within Adelaide18. Additionally, encouragement from
the local government for inhabitants to indulge in a green field and infill rural development.
Therefore, it can be identified that the local government or local council is crucial when
engaging to support creative ways of planning or delivering a compact city vision.
6. Conclusion
Hence, the document concludes by recommending that the planned design if implemented by
Adelaide’s political rule, will provide affordable housing within the city retain the city’s great
view and improve its economic trade in regards to other cities19. Additionally, the government
has been seen to be a key player when implementing city changes.
18 Girardet, Creating a Sustainable Adelaide, 45.
19 Dufty-Jones, Dallas, Housing in 21st-Century Australia, 10.

Bibliography
Girardet,
Herbert. Creating a Sustainable Adelaide. Sydney: Department of the Premier and Cabinet,
2015.
Bay, Joo, P., and Lehmann. Steffen. Growing Compact: Urban Form, Density and
Sustainability. Adelaide: Taylor & Francis, 2007.
Thomas, D. Michael. The Securitization of Climate Change: Australian and United States'
Military Responses (2003 - 2013). Adelaide: Springer, 2017.
Dufty-Jones, Rae, and Rogers. Dallas. Housing in 21st-Century Australia: People, Practices and
Policies. Sydney: Ashgate Publishing, 2015.
Eversole, Robyn. Regional Development in Australia: Being regional. Melbourne: Routledge,
2015.
Mark, Smith, and Angela. Jury. Workforce Development Theory and Practice in the Mental
Health Sector. Darwin: IGI Global, 2016.
Unnisa, A. Syeda, and Rav. Bhupatthi. Sustainable Solid Waste Management. Adelaide: CRC
Press, 2012.