Human Settlements
Page 17
Table 2: Change in dwelling structure in the City of Port Adelaide Enfield (1991-
2001
Dwelling Type
1996 Census 2001 Census
2006 Census
Separate house
28,308
30,446
31,683
Semi-detached
(row,
terrace,
townhouse)
Flat (unit or apartment);
9,079
8,019
6,077
One or two storey
5,227
5,318
5,092
Three or more storey
168
195
140
Attached to a house
83
102
120
Total
5,478
5,615
5,352
Other dwelling;
Caravan, houseboat
97
84
96
Attached to a shop
166
159
88
Total
273
249
184
TOTAL
40,573
41,975
43,489
(Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 1996, 2001 and 2006 Census of Population and
Housing).
Increasing housing density and decreasing urban sprawl is an important
contributor to sustainable development in the long term. Curtin University
undertook a study to calculate the costs of health, emissions, transport and
infrastructure for a 1000 dwelling development over a 50 year period in two
types of areas – an inner city development and an ‘urban fringe’ development.
The study concluded that the inner city redevelopment ( including required
infrastructure provision) would cost approximately $309 million, as against $653
million to achieve the same housing outcomes in a fringe development. The
greenhouse gas and health costs are unlikely to encourage urban reform on an
economic basis because of their relatively small economic force, however there
could also be a very substantial social benefit from the transport and
infrastructure cost savings. Greenhouse and health benefits comprise a
significant driver for developing areas of higher density, transit accessibility, and
mixed-use (Bilsborough. D, Newman. P & Roman. T 2007).
Numerous factors have influenced the trend towards high to medium density
development (that is, smaller allotment sizes, resulting in more houses per
hectare) including high housing demand, less available land, the need for
‘affordable housing’ options and ongoing water restrictions.
The environmental benefits of urban consolidation include the reductions in
greenhouse gases through shorter journeys by car and increased public
transport use. There is also the potential to build smaller more energy and water
efficient houses on less land, thereby reducing the need to develop in the
scarce horticulturally valuable areas of the State.
