Urban trends and the issue of urbanisation

Urban trends and issues of urbanisation

Urbanisation: The process by which an increasing proportion (%) of the total population of a country lives in towns and cities.

Counter-urbanisation: The process of moving from an urban environment to a rural environment.

Gentrification: Where old substandard housing is bought, modernised and occupied by wealthy families.

Counter-Urbanisation in Sydney Australia

·      Many leave due to congestion, crumbling infrastructure, expensive real estate prices and soaring rent prices.

·      25% of Sydney residents are looking to leave

·      In New South Wales government created a $3.75 million campaign to lure Sydney residents to ‘Evocities’ such as Bathurst and Orange. The campaign included billboards along congested city roads.

·      The current population of Sydney is 4.5 million and is expected to reach 5.7 million by 2030.

·      A June 2020 survey said 50% of people needed an annual income $100,000 to live comfortably in Sydney. Only 15% of those surveyed had such an income.

·      In 2010 Sydney was one of the least affordable cities to live in the world.

·      Sydney’s annual house price in June 2010 was $700,000 compared to Evocity prices of $300,000.

·      60% of those that pay rent in Sydney pay over $350 per month – in Evocities only 20% pay this.

·      Evocities are said to have good education, healthcare, transport and opportunities for new businesses.

·      On average a Sydney resident only has 10% of their income left to spend on leisure – In Evocities it’s 25%.

·       A Large Evocity (Wagga Wagga) has around 58,000 people