Built Environment

In support of the Year of the Built Environment (2004) communitybuilders.nsw put together a list of resources which can be found on our website and which remain relevant for the built environment.

The Australian Government, supported by state and territory governments, declared 2004 the Year of the Built Environment.

The aims of the Year were to encourage Australians to celebrate and understand how the built environment makes a difference to their quality of life, and to foster a sense of community and purpose by setting directions for a positive and sustainable future.

The Urban Challenge:

“Sustainable urbanisation is one of the most pressing challenges facing the global community in the 21st century.

In 1950, one-third of the world’s people lived in cities. Just 50 years later, this proportion has risen to one-half and will continue to grow to two-thirds, or 6 billion people, by 2050.

Cities are now home to half of humankind. They are the hub for much national production and consumption – economic and social processes that generate wealth and opportunity. But they also create disease, crime, pollution and poverty”  (UN Habitat Program)

Australia– an urban nation

As one of the most highly urbanised countries in the world, Australia has a particular interest in the built environment. 91 percent of Australia’s 20 million people live in towns or cities (Australian Bureau of Statistics ABS 2003; United Nations Development Program UNDP 2003).

There is also a concentration of Australia’s population in the capital cities (64 percent of total population) with Sydney (4,170,900) and Melbourne (3,524,100) the most populous (ABS 2003).

NSW is the most populous state with 6,686,600 people. The City of Sydney Local Government Area recorded the highest average annual growth rate (18.1%) of any area in Australia in the five years to June 2001. (ABS 2003)

Seven themes for the Year of the Built Environment:

• Towards Sustainable Communities
• Healthy Environments
• Excellence in Building
• Our Built Heritage
• Imagining the Future
• Building Regional Communities
• Design for All.

Follow this link to the Year of the Built Environment Website (opens in a new browser window)

The Built Environment in NSW

The NSW Government recognises that the quality of the built environment is a significant factor in the wellbeing of communities, the conservation of resources and the strength of our economy.

“I believe this initiative will promote the important message that high-quality built environments assist in the achievement of sustainable, attractive and liveable communities.” (The Hon Bob Carr, Premier NSW)

Follow this link to more information on NSW initiatives for the Year of the Built Environment (opens in a new browser window)

communitybuilders.nsw Resources on the Built Environment

communitybuilders.nsw has a wide range of resources relevant to the seven themes of the Year of the Built Environment.

For further information

Contact	:	Project Officer, communitybuilders.nsw
Phone	:	02 9228 5013

WWW

:

http://www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au