Our last small topic for Unit 2 Geography is to look at the characteristics and impact of change on a rural community. Today’s lesson will provide background information on rural environments, as well as some of the negative impacts of rural decline. Strategies that are being used by various regional communities to maintain populations will also be looked at. This will get you ready for an open book small assessment task on Friday.
At the beginning of the lesson, I will present a keynote presentation I have put together on the characteristics of urban areas. This is uploaded to studywiz.
Following this, you will need to complete the following tasks.
Task 1 – The Yarra Valley
Using the handout provided on studywiz – The Yarra Valley – answer the following questions:
1. Describe the geographic characteristics of the Yarra Valley (include detail on location, climate, soils and topography)
2. Suggest why the Yarra Valley is so popular with day trippers.
3. Which towns do you think will grow in response to the region’s growing popularity?
4. How has the Yarra Valley changed over time in terms of human activities? Why have these changes occurred?
5. Look at figure 2.4.12. What is the general trend in the population characteristics from 1991 to 2006? Can you explain why this might be occurring?
6. What are the current land uses in the Yarra Valley? How has this contributed to the increased popularity of the region?
7. How have the following groups managed the change occuring in the Yarra Valley:
* Individuals
* Local Government
* Regional Organisations
* State Government
8. What planning has been undertaken to prepare for growth in the Yarra Valley? Explain this in detail.
Task 2 – Rural Decline
Australia’s rural communities are often less well off economically and socially than communities in urban areas, especially metropolitan centres. People living in rural areas generally have less access to health, educational and other facilities and fewer employment opportunities than people in urban areas.
One of the key issues now facing many of Australia’s rural communities is their demographic sustainability. Currently, around 120 regional areas of Australia are experiencing marked population decline, while 74 areas have suffered annual population loss since 1974.
The loss of population in rural communities has a subsequent impact on other aspects of their sustainability. This is particularly the case in terms of demographic, economic and social sustainability of small towns.
Your task is to complete a detailed analysis of the impacts of population decline on rural areas. A template, along with guiding questions has been uploaded to studywiz – Impacts of Rural Decline. Use the resources below to provide detailed examples. There is also an article uploaded to studywiz called Responding to Change in Rural Communities. This will help you with this task.
Resources
Cafe Owner Fears Rural Decline Newspaper Article
The Future of Australian Country Towns
Small Town Decline and Survival
The Australian – ‘Oasis Towns’ Vital to Rural Growth
Rural Australia and the Need for Reform
Task 3 – The Role of Planning in Sustainable Rural Communities
While sustainability of areas in decline is a problem for rural communities, it is often also considered a challenge. Rural towns must develop strategies that will ultimately maintain populations and/or provide injections into the local economy. A number of strategies have been used around Australia, including:
- Tourism
- Focus on transport infrastructure
- New vision agriculture, including intensive horticulture
- The retirement/’grey dollar’ market
- Initiatives to provide incentives to set up businesses
The Courier Mail – Block of Land Selling for $1
Tourism Victoria: Benefits of Tourism
Your task is to complete a SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) for one of these strategies (tourism or cheap land). Use the template uploaded to studywiz – SWOT Analysis Template – to help with you note taking.
