Issues

• Population and Settlement Patterns
• Environmental Health
• Acoustic Environment
• Urban Design
• Drinking Water Quality
• Social and Economic Conditions
• Education

• Transport
• Energy Sources and Use

• Solid Waste
• Hazardous Waste
• Contaminated Sites

The issue

Urban design is a key contributing factor-with health, education, employment and other social considerations-in assessing the 'livability' of settlements. Livability links ecology with society, based on the cultural and natural relationship of people to the environment. The livability of a place is determined by the way the quality of the built and natural environment, and the activities that take place within this environment, add to a person's or group's quality of life. People may experience a sense of livability in an urban environment through:

• the natural setting,
• quality of urban design,
• cultural heritage,
• vibrant and varied uses,
• intact streetscapes and well-considered spaces,
• a sense of identity with place, and
• ease of access and safety in access.

The natural setting of many Tasmanian settlements is dramatic and picturesque, qualities that are important to retain both for the community's own sense of 'place' and for the experience of visitors. Tasmania is also remarkably diverse in its human settlements-the mountainous terrain and rugged coastline, as well as the historical development and the variety of roles performed by settlements, all contribute to that diversity.

A limited discussion is provided here on some of the factors influencing urban design in Hobart, as well as a visual assessment of change through photographs. The recommendations on Settlement Patterns and Processes and Sustainable Housing are relevant to the urban design issue.

Information on new dwelling commencements, median house prices, and the number of house sales provide indication of influences on urban design. There is likely to be some new information available on urban design since the last SoE Report. However, it was not possible to prevent full discussion of this information in this Second SoE Report within the time available.

The previous SoE Report noted the paradox that Hobart is growing minimally in terms of population, moderately in terms of dwelling unit development, but rapidly in terms of land conversion (Graham 1994). A change in the last five years has been the boom in the housing industry, which has generated particular demand in the inner and outer areas of Hobart, with significant price increases and increases in sales (REIA 2002). This has led to more rapid dwelling unit development and land conversion over the last 5 years.

Without effective controls, continuing residential development of privately-owned land and clearing of bushland can lead to a loss of biodiversity and visual amenity-qualities valued by residents and visitors to the State.

There is an increasing expansion of development on the higher land, particularly land with views across the River Derwent. Recent increased land value has meant that residential development is becoming economically viable on what was previously marginal land; land values have partly offset the prohibitive cost of providing necessary infrastructure (e.g. water, sewage, roads). This has meant that vegetated hill slopes surrounding Hobart are being developed. The visual impact of these subdivisions is significant due to their elevation and prominence. The major physical changes that have occurred in the last five years have included the realisation of a significant proportion of the subdivision of Tolmans Hill, although by 2003, some 70% of the development of the approved subdivision was still to occur. Many of the premium sites in the northern precinct have been developed.

The subdivision of high ground areas, especially ridges, is a trend in many municipalities. It is a regional issue both in terms of changes to the physical environment and, because of the region's diverse topography, development in one municipality will be likely to have an effect on the image of another-one region's development is another region's view.

Housing completions have potentially affected up to 805 ha of priority forest vegetation in Hobart and 291 ha of priority forest vegetation in Launceston in the period 1992-2002. 'Priority vegetation' includes vegetation components identified by the Scientific Advisory Group for the Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative Forest Reserve Program as a priority for conservation. The values provide a guide only to the potential impacts on priority forest vegetation through urban growth, as the proportion of a land parcel cleared of native vegetation for any housing completion is unknown and will vary depending on the lot size and the attitudes of builders and owners.