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Issues Condition
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'Quality of life' is often thought of as having three broad dimensions: social, economic and environmental well-being. This chapter reviews Tasmania's settlements from these perspectives and provides information on the available measures of the state of Tasmania's settlements. While these measures provide indications about environmental and socio-economic conditions and trends, information is limited, not consistently available for different settlements in Tasmania, nor comparable with other Australian settlements. The chapter also provides information on the processes and agents of change within settlements, some of the pressures associated with settlements in Tasmania, and the management responses to these pressures. It focuses on changes since the first SoE Report for Tasmania (SDAC 1997), although earlier baselines are used where data are available and relevant for describing conditions, trends and changes in settlements. The key issues that are discussed in the chapter can be accessed from the menu on the left of this page. This will take the reader to the summary 'At a glance' section for the particular issue selected. For a more in-depth analysis, 'Issue Reports' can also be accessed from these summary sections (follow the 'Continued in depth' link). All chapter content-including indicators, case studies and recommendations-can be accessed through these Issue Reports. A brief summary of the key findings of the Settlements Chapter, with links back to the related Issue Reports for further detail, is available. It includes information on the conditions and trends and what has been achieved since the previous SoE Report. Various lists of Settlement Chapter content are also available to assist in providing an overview of the chapter. An index of the indicators used within the Settlements Chapter is included. Various case studies relevant to the issues within this chapter are provided. A number of recommendations are also presented for this chapter. Tasmania is remarkably diverse in its human settlements-the variety of environments giving rise to a corresponding variety of settings and purposes for its settlements. The mountainous terrain and rugged coastline, as well as the historical development and the variety of roles performed by settlements, all contribute to the diversity. There are, for example, the mining settlements on the west coast; the colonial towns of the Midlands; the cities of Launceston, Hobart, Burnie and Devonport; forestry towns such as Geeveston, Deloraine and Scottsdale; the fishing and holiday communities on Tasmania's east coast; and the settlements of King Island and the Furneaux Group. Strahan and Strathgordon border the wilderness of the south-west. In the north-west, the cities of Burnie and Devonport are aligned to the coast, while in the north-east, the topography and economic priorities have favoured inland development (Farmer 1964). Nevertheless, most Tasmanian settlements are near the coast; even the most inland population settlement in Tasmania, Tarraleah, is less than 75 km in a direct line from the coast. The landscape and cultural diversity of Tasmania's settlements are subject to a variety of local, national and international influences. Increases in house prices, housing demand, and the popularity of coastal living are some of the most significant recent changes and a number of these changes are yet to be reflected in available measures of change. Many people and organisations have assisted greatly in compiling the State of the Environment Report. For this chapter, the Commission would like to acknowledge the kind assistance of the following: Evan Boardman, Helen Cordell, Julie Davidson, Tony Davidson, Bryn Davies, Mike Gelling, John Hayes, Ann Herbert, John Latham, Helen Locher, Mark Maund, Brian Risby, Carinda Rue, Elaine Stratford, Stephen Waight, Fiona Wells. |
