SUSTAINABLE CITIES Assignment 2 Learning & Communication – Online Informational Rescource

By: Diane James

Tabitha Watson

CONTENTS

Introduction

Diane

Diane

Going Dutch – Cycling

in the Netherlands

Sustainable Water

Solution in Adelaide

Conclusion

INTRODUCTION

Sustainability, eco-friendly, climate change! So much negative press abounds about the horrors we face without humanity changing its attitude towards the

environment.

We are mother’s and we are conscious of the state of the world and what will inevitably be our family’s and future generation’s inheritance if the world does not

embrace sustainability especially in our cities.

BUT We are in no way experts on the issues!!!

We are keen to highlight some of the positive changes being embraced and experimented with around the world; turning our cities globally into

(more) sustainable cities.

GOING DUTCH – CYCLING IN THE NETHERLANDS

A 2009 report by the Dutch Ministry for Transport and Water (http://www.fietsberaad.nl/library/repository/bestanden/CyclingintheNetherlands2009.pdf) asserts that cycling is the cleanest most sustainable, let alone the healthiest and most relaxing transportation method. It is quiet and, by all accounts, cycling puts the cyclist in a good mood in preparation for the work/school day.

Cycling has become so successful and so widely accepted in the Netherlands that the Dutch now actively support and promote cycling to other countries around the world because of its sustainability as a method of transport.

I really wanted to embed this YouTube clip from the Netherlands ‘Rush hour in Utrecht’ but it’s not working, sorry, the link is below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-AbPav5E5M&playnext=1&list=TL0qLRgzT2fdQ

GOING DUTCH – CYCLING IN THE NETHERLANDS

The report goes on to further discuss the evolution of cycling in Holland, claiming the Dutch became advocates of cycling originally not because of the positive effects on the environment but rather the Netherlands, in places, has an environment and layout conducive to cycling with cities and urban hubs built on flat terrain creating ideal cycling environments.

However an article in the Guardian Newspaper (UK) says the shift to cycling in urban centers in the Netherlands occurred in the 1970’s as backlash against a ‘child-killing car centered policy’ http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2011/oct/27/bike-blog-going-dutch-lanes

GOING DUTCH – CYCLING IN THE NETHERLANDSNow other cities looking to promote sustainable methods of transport look

to the Netherlands and rightly so. The lessons learnt in the Netherlands are applicable across the world, if cycling is to be promoted then

governments must have a strong cycling policy that is ‘pro-cycling’. Policy must also include development and maintenance of good cycling

infrastructure, paths, roads and signs easy for cyclists to see etc.

As far as the sustainability of the economy there was fear that cyclists would contribute little to the economy, especially within

the retail sector compared to someone driving a car. This has been found true per purchase transaction but over time cyclists frequent retailers more often so the difference in spending per

transaction is accounted for.

GOING DUTCH – CYCLING IN THE NETHERLANDS

Cycling ticks many sustainability boxes, and more offering relaxation and promotion of good health. Something to pursue in most cities (even hilly

Sydney, maybe not San Francisco). In Australia on weekends especially, many cyclists can be seen out and about.

One downside in Australia is covering the distance between major cities. Perhaps stronger public transport links could be developed to connect cyclists from major city to city, there is no scope in the assignment to discuss how.

SUSTAINABLE WATER SOLUTION IN ADELAIDE

Predominantly Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia, receives water from the Murray River and Mt Lofty Ranges catchment http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2007/s1903154.htm. However, councils within the city of Adelaide have created ways of obtaining water from other sources to meet rising water demands within their council areas.

South Australia has what is termed a ‘Mediterranean Climate’ and historically has seen very hot summers matched with very cold winters. Rain on average has fallen in the winter months and occasionally during summer time

One such working example is the Water Proofing the West program put in place by the City of Charles Sturt who developed and implemented a system of Aquifers that lie beneath sections of the Old Port Road median, a road that runs from Adelaide city westward towards Port Adelaide. The projects aim:

‘...Water Proofing the West – Stage One Project is creating the first stage of a region-wide system that harvests, treats and stores stormwater and distributes recycled water through western Adelaide sustaining a growing economy and enhancing our natural environment.’(http://www.charlessturt.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Old_Port_Road_Fact_Sheet.pdf)

SUSTAINABLE WATER SOLUTION IN ADELAIDE

The City of Charles Sturt Council identified a sustainable opportunity to capture storm water run off which will be stored in limestone aquifers under the western plains (http://www.charlessturt.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=609) & (http://www.waterforgood.sa.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/part-4-managing-our-water-future.pdf ).

The water once harvested will be classified as ‘recycled water’. Currently recycled water is used for: Irrigation Industry Groundwater replenishment Non-drinking residential purposes

(e.g. garden irrigation, toilet flushing) (http://www.waterforgood.sa.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/part-4-managing-our-water-future.pdf )

SUSTAINABLE WATER SOLUTION IN ADELAIDE

CONCLUSION

Sustainable cities are the way of the future, perhaps the distant future, but it is clear there are aspects of sustainability that many developed countries are exploring and incorporating. The limit of this assignment has only allowed us to touch briefly on the topic of sustainable cities and we have not been able to fully explore both the positives and negatives involved in each of the different topics discussed. Or discuss how long we have before it is too late to make a change to be 100% sustainable across the world.Our focus instead was on the highlighting some positives, like the water policy in Adelaide. And as we said in the beginning, we are just two mums conscious of the state of the world and anxious to provide our children and generations to come, with a future.