The New Wollongong - Blueprint:
I propose to transform Wollongong into a sustainable city, located in New South Wales, Australia, 82 kilometres South of Sydney. It is a seaside city located in the Illawara region NSW, nearing the Pacific Ocean. Approximately 290,000 people are currently living in the Wollongong area with the potential to expand its population and become a new and improved urban sustainable city, which can also increase the tourism in Australia. Wollongong has a reasonably wet climate with warm to hot temperatures during Summer and cool to warm in Winter. The amount of precipitation is great for growing crops, and extending the amount of greenery to create a more natural environment for people to enjoy.
Relationship to Existing Urban Development:
Wollongong is famous for it memorable scenery, vast land of national park, and also it beautiful vast array of beaches. This city would be successful in producing an ecological city due to its existing foundation of infrastructure, available transport systems and sustainable technologies. Wollongong is situated very close to a water source, making it convenient and easy to provide for the population. The closest water source is Lake Illawara (also known as Lake Corde Aux). Wollongong is also much surrounded by natural landscapes, mostly being natural parks providing fresh air, a natural habitat for Australian wildlife and a place for exploration. By already having a large area of natural landscape, Wollongong already has benefits of these natural areas acting as an environmentally sustainable place to contribute to a healthy community. Beaches also provide another natural landscape and can act as a catchment helping to produce precipitation to water greenery by natural means to contribute to the production of food, plants and other resources needed to build a sustainable city. There are two airports near Wollongong acting as an easy access base to transport persons to domestic and international places using minimal energy and producing less harmful gases, which contribute to damaging the atmosphere. This is done by replacing the need for cars with direct routes by trains and buses (more public transport), which is easily accessible to cater for more people in cities.
Wollongong is famous for it memorable scenery, vast land of national park, and also it beautiful vast array of beaches. This city would be successful in producing an ecological city due to its existing foundation of infrastructure, available transport systems and sustainable technologies. Wollongong is situated very close to a water source, making it convenient and easy to provide for the population. The closest water source is Lake Illawara (also known as Lake Corde Aux). Wollongong is also much surrounded by natural landscapes, mostly being natural parks providing fresh air, a natural habitat for Australian wildlife and a place for exploration. By already having a large area of natural landscape, Wollongong already has benefits of these natural areas acting as an environmentally sustainable place to contribute to a healthy community. Beaches also provide another natural landscape and can act as a catchment helping to produce precipitation to water greenery by natural means to contribute to the production of food, plants and other resources needed to build a sustainable city. There are two airports near Wollongong acting as an easy access base to transport persons to domestic and international places using minimal energy and producing less harmful gases, which contribute to damaging the atmosphere. This is done by replacing the need for cars with direct routes by trains and buses (more public transport), which is easily accessible to cater for more people in cities.
Infrastructure:
Currently, the total area of Wollongong is 684 km (squared), the third largest city in Australia. With this amount of land, (mostly being costal beaches or national parks) it would be able to house a population of at least a million people with ease. The structure of the city is vastly spread out and poses an unsustainable way of living due to the length of travel required sharing the need for more cars and independent transport, which harms the environment. By condensing the city to commute to four main residential areas (ports/city centres) the need for transport can be easily reduced. The four main ports are to be situated in four current main locations of Wollongong; West Wollongong, North Wollongong, Central Wollongong and Coniston. These areas will all be modified to be filled with hundreds of high rise residential and business buildings to compact the city which will allow more people to live in city centres closer to work and shops. Business and communications will be drawn to these areas because of the large amount of people, making it easier for people to live daily life but instead in a sustainable matter.
Currently, the total area of Wollongong is 684 km (squared), the third largest city in Australia. With this amount of land, (mostly being costal beaches or national parks) it would be able to house a population of at least a million people with ease. The structure of the city is vastly spread out and poses an unsustainable way of living due to the length of travel required sharing the need for more cars and independent transport, which harms the environment. By condensing the city to commute to four main residential areas (ports/city centres) the need for transport can be easily reduced. The four main ports are to be situated in four current main locations of Wollongong; West Wollongong, North Wollongong, Central Wollongong and Coniston. These areas will all be modified to be filled with hundreds of high rise residential and business buildings to compact the city which will allow more people to live in city centres closer to work and shops. Business and communications will be drawn to these areas because of the large amount of people, making it easier for people to live daily life but instead in a sustainable matter.
Sustainable Technologies:
Greenery:
These high-rise buildings will each have their own vertical gardens running down the sides of each building (minimum requirement - 1 side of the building), which will produce fresh air in cities. Rooftop gardens will also be situated on the top of each building, growing crops and staples to be sold in any local grocery store. This will not only create a more visually appealing city, but it will produce more jobs for maintenance and act as an easy way to grow food.
Water Management and Energy:
Large rainwater tanks (5-6 per building) will be placed on rooftops as a natural water source for residents with parabolic panels to heat water (to a maximum of 400 degrees Celsius). Back up water pumps from lake Illawara will also be installed incase of minimal rain. These pumps will contain filters, etc for excellent quality water. Large solar panels will be fitted into the sides of each building as the main source of electricity in the city - a renewable source of energy. This will not only contribute to saving money from lesser coal to be mined, generated and bought, but creates a generally healthier environment in cities. Wind energy sources will also be set up in the central public environmentally friendly parks as a back up source of energy incase there is no solar energy to produce energy in the city.
Recycling:
Recycling chutes will be a compulsory asset in each building; making recycling and the reuse of materials easier for companies and more jobs in the industry can also be produced. These chutes will run from the top to the very bottom of the buildings, allowing every person to recycle their materials. Every apartment will have its own 'eco-friendly' balcony with rows of plants to maintain for flora and vegetables.
Design:
The design of buildings will improve the overall infrastructure of cities and Wollongong can become more sustainable in their ways of living. The main high-rise buildings in each main port (of the four) will be fitted closely together with narrow passageways between them to shade each other and create a generally cooler atmosphere. A large city square will be cleared towards the centre of each port (with surrounding buildings) as a public place for business to flourish, and residents to enjoy the natural beauty of the green-filled area (comprised of trees, park benches, paths for walking and riding, ovals, grass, and plants and flowers of diverse cultures).
Waste Management:
Confined in these centres will be both a recycling plant for old building materials and the general rubbish tip (containing a compost plant where biodegradable produce will be processed into fertiliser for plants in the large public park). Each council strip will be filled with trees and plants to flourish the streets and make cities even greener.
Greenery:
These high-rise buildings will each have their own vertical gardens running down the sides of each building (minimum requirement - 1 side of the building), which will produce fresh air in cities. Rooftop gardens will also be situated on the top of each building, growing crops and staples to be sold in any local grocery store. This will not only create a more visually appealing city, but it will produce more jobs for maintenance and act as an easy way to grow food.
Water Management and Energy:
Large rainwater tanks (5-6 per building) will be placed on rooftops as a natural water source for residents with parabolic panels to heat water (to a maximum of 400 degrees Celsius). Back up water pumps from lake Illawara will also be installed incase of minimal rain. These pumps will contain filters, etc for excellent quality water. Large solar panels will be fitted into the sides of each building as the main source of electricity in the city - a renewable source of energy. This will not only contribute to saving money from lesser coal to be mined, generated and bought, but creates a generally healthier environment in cities. Wind energy sources will also be set up in the central public environmentally friendly parks as a back up source of energy incase there is no solar energy to produce energy in the city.
Recycling:
Recycling chutes will be a compulsory asset in each building; making recycling and the reuse of materials easier for companies and more jobs in the industry can also be produced. These chutes will run from the top to the very bottom of the buildings, allowing every person to recycle their materials. Every apartment will have its own 'eco-friendly' balcony with rows of plants to maintain for flora and vegetables.
Design:
The design of buildings will improve the overall infrastructure of cities and Wollongong can become more sustainable in their ways of living. The main high-rise buildings in each main port (of the four) will be fitted closely together with narrow passageways between them to shade each other and create a generally cooler atmosphere. A large city square will be cleared towards the centre of each port (with surrounding buildings) as a public place for business to flourish, and residents to enjoy the natural beauty of the green-filled area (comprised of trees, park benches, paths for walking and riding, ovals, grass, and plants and flowers of diverse cultures).
Waste Management:
Confined in these centres will be both a recycling plant for old building materials and the general rubbish tip (containing a compost plant where biodegradable produce will be processed into fertiliser for plants in the large public park). Each council strip will be filled with trees and plants to flourish the streets and make cities even greener.
Transport Systems:
The city will have a transport system of mainly trains and buses with restrictions for motor vehicles (cars, motorbikes, trucks) to accommodate and prioritise walking and cycling. Buses will have a 1-minute frequency (no timetable) and pedestrians will always have priority over the roads. Hirable bikes will be provided at stations and as announced before the large community parks will also allocate for both walking and bike lanes. Direct train systems will connect each of the four main ports together for quick and easy travel to further destinations where buses will be widely provided to commute people from the inner city to suburban areas and train stations. Direct trains will be situated from Central Wollongong to take people directly to airports (both Sydney and smaller airports) replacing the need for cars and taxis. Trains will constantly run with approximately a 5-minute frequency. These improved transport systems will not only make travel quicker and easier, but it will be cheaper and more effectively sustainable for the environment.
The city will have a transport system of mainly trains and buses with restrictions for motor vehicles (cars, motorbikes, trucks) to accommodate and prioritise walking and cycling. Buses will have a 1-minute frequency (no timetable) and pedestrians will always have priority over the roads. Hirable bikes will be provided at stations and as announced before the large community parks will also allocate for both walking and bike lanes. Direct train systems will connect each of the four main ports together for quick and easy travel to further destinations where buses will be widely provided to commute people from the inner city to suburban areas and train stations. Direct trains will be situated from Central Wollongong to take people directly to airports (both Sydney and smaller airports) replacing the need for cars and taxis. Trains will constantly run with approximately a 5-minute frequency. These improved transport systems will not only make travel quicker and easier, but it will be cheaper and more effectively sustainable for the environment.
Sustainable technologies in Wollongong will help with the production of an environment and a life of sustainable living. These technologies include renewable energy (solar panels), organic agriculture (vertical and rooftop gardens), environmental technology (recycling, and waste management), and environmental economics (greenery). If these components were to all be favoured, Wollongong would be come a very healthy and sustainable area for communities. This basic blueprint covers the general layout of the new urban city that Wollongong is set to develop. These sustainable outcomes will produce a valuable city for the population of Wollongong and create a healthier, and generally better community.