Issues in the Australian Environment: Researching & Reporting on Urban Processes

Urban Growth and Decline

Stage 5 GeographyThis is a quick summary of some of the main elements of an action research project, that addresses the Stage 5 Geography topic Issues in the Australian Environment: Urban Growth and Decline. As an over riding comment Id say that, teachers who would like to make the fullest use of the tools provided by the DER laptops would be well advised to acquire the complete Microsoft Office and Adobe CS4 suite of tools. At the moment these can be purchased for about $145.90 through the DET Portal. There are many easily accessible training videos available as well, particularly those available for the CS4 suite through lynda.com1Cities are always changingUrban consolidation

Urban decline

Gentrification

Urban renewal

Change involves four urban processesStudents were introduced to content on this topic with a rich set of PowerPoint presentations (PPTs). The principle underlying the development of the PPTs was one of demonstrating excellence, avoiding the more traditional wall of text PPTs and modeling good practice in this mode of communication.2Focus: ICT in the Stage 5 Geography SyllabusGeography (Mandatory) Stage 5 requires students to:

access, collect and interpret electronic information. critically analyse a website, including the ethics of the site design and create a multimedia presentation or webpage to communicate geographical information to a particular audience, including maps and diagrams as appropriate import data from other ICT applications into student research findings design and create a simple database from student research create a formatted, multiple-paged document containing web-links to communicate geographical informationMost syllabus documents have mandatory ICT components. Thos applying to Stage 5 Geography formed a set of objectives for this action research project. I attempted to address as many of these as I could.3This action research project is to encourage students to:review models, make notes and gather secondary data on urban structure and process.access, collect and interpret electronic information using the Internet, Moodle & SSC Leichhardt Geog Bloguse ABS - Sydney a Social Atlas 2006, ABS Community profile statistics, Google Maps, Google Street View

Maintain a record of all materials studied in a formatted, multiple-paged document containing web-links to communicate geographical information Import data from other ICT applications into student research findings design and create a simple database from student researchThis action research project, therefore, encouraged students to do the following. The red text is a direct quote from the syllabus. Note also that some of these statements imply the addressing of mandatory ICT requirements, even if the language is different.4This action research project is to encourage students to:critically analyse a website, including the ethics of the siteuse applications ie. Word/ Adobe Portfolio or OneNoteprocess information using applications such as Excel & Photoshopconsult & add to a Delicious network using an agreed set of tagsdesign & create a multimedia presentation or webpage to communicate geographical : WikiStage 1 31 March to 2 MayStage 2 3 May to 23 MayStage 3 24 May onwardsImplementation of the ProgramThe major part of the project was put into operation within this time range. Although aspects of the project will be ongoing, the basic lesson delivery a subsequent field study activity and follow-up assessment task, are all in this time frame.6The Research QuestionsHow is the Foreshore being used?How has the land use changed and what is the impact on the biophysical and built environment?What issues have arisen from Urban Growth & Decline?Who is affected by these issues?How are the issues being addressed?Although the initial part of the topic was more general and concerned the urban processes that have operated in the growth of Sydney students were led towards answering these research questions.7The Research Cycle2. Generate focus questions to Guide the investigation1. Identify the aim/purpose of the investigation 3. Which primary and secondary data are needed to answer the focus questions4. Identify the techniques that will be used to collect the data5. collect primary and secondary data6. Process and analyse the data collected7. Select methods to effectively communicate the research findings8. Propose individual or group action in response to the findings9. Where appropriate, take actionFrom the beginning, students were introduced to the idea of the Research Cycle, using this type of PPT presentation. The stages were discussed and clarified. Clear distinctions made between the use of secondary sources in the period leading up to the field study and the primary source material they would have an opportunity to collect in the field.8The Field Study Area

Darling HarbourBarangarooMillers PointWalsh BayCircular QuayThis is the area in which the final field study, or student research project, was conducted.9Basic content presented in 7 PowerPoints1. Basic urban processes2. Sydneys Development3. Government stakeholders and their responsibilities4. Community and commercial stakeholders5. Changes in the study area from the 19th to 21st centuries6. Field Work7. Processes operating in the study areaSeven content rich PPTs were produced. In addition to demonstrating sound practice in collection of secondary source materials the PPTs were intended to be collections of assets that students could recycle and reuse.10Lesson content provided students with a rich preparation for field activities

Hickson Rd The Hungry Mile Darling HarbourIts important to emphasise that the quality of the resources offered to students in lessons had to reflect the focus on quality that was expected from them. Throughout the emphasis was on documenting change, impacts and management. Extensive use was made of both archival and contemporary materials. The National archives, the National Library, the State Archives and the State Library have excellent online resources that may be used for educational research and lesson preparation.11Showing Change in the Area

Smith & Gardiners Map of Sydney and Suburbs 1855Showing changes in the field study area was an important strategy. The task of locating secondary sources was sometimes challenging but achievable because of the vast amount of archival material that is becoming available on line. Its not always in a form that immediately useful and must sometimes be processed in various applications to produce the desired effect.12

Robinsons Aeroplane Map of Sydney 1922Showing Change in the area Notice the dramatic changes in the coastline of the field study area in the period 1855 to 1922.13

Google Map of Sydney 2010Showing Change in the Area Finally todays outline from Google maps14Built using Photoshop

These maps were processed using Photoshop15Scoping the topic with FreeMind

At the beginning effective use was made of FreeMind, a simple mind mapping tool that comes along with the DER laptops The strategy was to reflect on and suggest the positive and negative impacts of the urban processes on the biophysical and the built environments. This mind map is incomplete but arose from discussion with students.16

Moodle : supplementing basic contentLink to TALE & laptop WrapsA platform of resourcesOneNote book templateHomework posted hereThe process of providing basic content and tools for investigating secondary materials was supported by a platform of resources posted on the schools Moodle site. The list began with a simple OneNote book that followed the sequence of topics and stages within this unit of work. It was zipped and available for students to download and un-zip. 17SSC Geog Blog

Providing additional contentAiming to facilitate interactivityNext a Blog was established through Edublogs. The project began earlier in the year before blogED was available. The Blog was intended to provide additional content and facilitate interactivity.18SSC Geog BlogProvide a additional audio materialsPages added for each part of course

The Blog was also a good place to locate audio-visual materials, and of course, to add specialised pages like the Glossary, basic definitions of the urban processes19SSC Geog Blog

PowerPoints posted on BlogThe PPTs were also posted on the Blog for several reasons. They were larger than the upload limit on the schools Moodle site; it was an easy point for dissemination and it added interest to the Bog and gave students a sound reason to go there.20Stage 1 Resources and ToolsABS Sydney a Social Atlas 2006ABS Community profile statisticsGoogle Maps & Street ViewModels of Urban developmentSimple Land Use ModelsExcel, Word, Adobe Portfolio or OneNote, Photoshop, CameraDigital ToolsDeliciousSSC Leichhardt BlogWeb2.0 ToolsThe first stage of the process can be summarised accordingly Simple Land Use models of Sydney were introduced drawing on the ABS Social Atlas, Google Maps and Models of Urban development. Excel, Word, Adobe Portfolio or OneNote, Photoshop, Cameras were used as digital tools and both Delicious.com and the SSC Leichhardt BlogWere used for networking and communication. A summary of Stage 1 follows

21WkPerFocusContentStudent taskWk 10 to Wk 1Finding basic dataPreparation of simple community Profile, identify & photograph urban processesWork on pre-topic assessment using neighbourhood data.Prepare a basic community profile. identify & photograph one or more urban processes in own neighbourhood locate photograph on a neighbourhood map or satellite image

Stage 1 - Pre-activity AssessmentWkPerFocusContentStudent taskWk 2P 1Definition of ProcessesPPT presentation on Urban Processes with examples from Leichhardt MunicipalityDefine Urban Growth, Decline, Renewal, Consolidation and Gentrification Spatial & ecological dimensions Students continue work on pre topic assessment organising neighbourhood map & basic community profile, completing placement of photographs illustrating urban processes.Wk 2P2Definition of Processes

Sharing of photographs (Bluetooth/USB thumb drive)PPT - patterns of city growth & decline in Australia's urban areas Brainstorm likely issues & the impacts of urban growth on the economy, environment & communities.

Discuss impact of Urban Growth & decline on people, economy and environment?Who Are the stakeholders?Lift images from PPT & makes notes using Moodle based resources Present in OneNote or Word & Adobe Portfolio. Post questions/comments on BlogStage 1- Week 2, Term 2 Sydney has changed since 1788

Sydney has grown out from a centreReturning to the idea of quality resources. This map was produced using Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop. Adobe Illustrator comes with the teachers Adobe CS4 package that can be purchased through the DET Portal. I built this because there wasnt another such map available.24Cities can be represented by circles

The area of first settlementOutward growthCities grow out from areas of first settlement, and as they grow certain processes occur:Some areas DeclineIn some areas there is RenewalTheres Consolidation of people in some placesIn other places change in social and economic status occurs - Gentrification

Simple models of urban development were also used. This simple concentric zone model was made with Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop as well.25 Sydney has branched out

What might have caused this?Of course Sydneys development hasnt been as illustrated in the simple models, its branched out. Students were asked to reflect on what might have caused this.26

Railways greatly influenced Sydneys development1850Of course, using ABS base maps of Sydney, edited in Photoshop the obvious answer is easy to illustrate.27

2004A sliding array of railway network maps from 1850 to the present show just how closely related Sydneys early development was to the growth of railways.28

Trams began to be phased out from the 1950s onwards as car and truck transport developedGeorge St, 1950sBy 1950 Sydney was a city that relied little on automobiles and motor lorries and was confined to the corridors traced by the extensive suburban train and tramway network. The character of life, particularly the traffic free streets reveals a Sydney with a very different pace of life.29Car & Trucks and BusesBy the 1960s cars, trucks and buses were major forms of transport in Sydney

By the 1960s this had changed, with the growth of cars, trucks and bus, plus the end of trams Sydney began to grow away from corridors defined by the suburban train and tramway network, to spread outwards and to fill in the spaces between the fingers of development to the north, south and west.30Lessons: provided basic content

Major traffic thoroughfarePort ActivitiesVisible air pollutionWaterfrontcargo storageCargo unloaded directly to wharfHorse drawn freezer/meat vanPyrmont bridge: 1903Appropriate use of archival material was used to stimulate student, extend skills in the interpretation and analysis of photographic materials and illustrate effective use of call-outs in PPT as a way of highlighting details.31Lessons: provided basic content

Port activities confined to ferries and Private boatingNo visible air pollutionWaterfront Hotels &apartmentsTourism activities on wharfPyrmont bridge: 2009Comparisons with the present allowed students to appreciate the dynamism of Sydney and develop ideas about presentation.32View across Darling Harbour 1880s

Some views were so dramatically different, the changes so complete that nothing of the past can now be seen. This view is from the approximate location of the Novotel Darling Harbour33View across Darling Harbour 2010Can you see anything from the 1880s?

The same view today.34Late 19th century view from Windmill St, Millers Point, looking over Walsh BayLiving and Working Conditions19 Gloucester Street, The Rocks

WarehouseWool StorePort and factory workers lived close to workWalsh Bay WharvesWhat follows is a series of early photographs showing conditions within the field study area from the late 19th to the early 21st centuries. These provided a rich opportunity for analysis of secondary materials.35Early 20th century Darling Harbour coal loader ships needed coal for fuelLiving and Working Conditions19 Gloucester Street, The Rocks

Coal train rolling stockCoal powered steam engineMillers PointUrban decline in the 19th centuryLiving and Working Conditions

Unsealed streets and horse manure a breeding ground for bacteriaHorse and cartChildren barefootedIn the 19th Century streets were often unsealed and unsanitaryLiving and Working Conditions19 Gloucester Street, The Rocks

Hydrated lime barrel.Hydrated lime was used as a disinfectant because it produced a dry & alkaline environment that retard bacterial growthUrban renewal cleaning out 19th century drains in 1900Living and Working Conditions19 Gloucester Street, The Rocks

Blocked drainage being clearedBones, horns and old piles unearthedA bubonic plague outbreak led to demolition of some decaying urban areasLiving and Working Conditions19 Gloucester Street, The Rocks

1900 Demolition of sub-standard housingAround 1900 retailing was still largely through corner stores and local businessesLiving and Working Conditions19 Gloucester Street, The Rocks

Signs of global industry emergingIn the 20th century the area was still a mix of docks, warehouses, industry & housingLiving and Working Conditions19 Gloucester Street, The Rocks

Large areas of housing demolished to build the Sydney Harbour bridgeWalsh Bay finger wharvesBalmainDarling HarbourPyrmontDarling Harbour immediately before the Darling Harbour Urban renewal Project - 1980Living and Working Conditions19 Gloucester Street, The Rocks

Railway lines removedEmpty Wool StoresNow converted to apartments & parkingUrban decline old industrial areaStill a working port

How is land in the study area now used?No shipping of cargo,Port abandonedMillers Point heritage houses built from 1820 to 1930Heritage buildings remaining on Gas Works siteModern apartments urban consolidationHigh rise office blocksWestern Distributor

How is land in the study area now used?No longer finger wharves at King StMoorings for private ferries, cruise and charter boatsLow energy buildings with small carbon footprintTourist HotelsRestaurants and barsHow is land in the study area now used?

Urban consolidationUrban Renewal - Maritime MuseumPublic Access to foreshoreStage 2 Resources and ToolsGovernment, Corporate and Community websites & reportsImages photos, videos, maps, statistical maps, graphsProcesses, Stakeholders, Decisions, FutureExcel, Word, Adobe Portfolio or OneNote, Photoshop, CameraDigital ToolsDeliciousSSC Leichhardt BlogWeb2.0 ToolsIn Stage 2 we began to examine the stakeholders who are involved, those affected by urban change and the management strategies they adopt to steer, influence and regulate them. More details notes follow.47WkPerFocusContentStudent taskWk 3P 1Stakeholders and Their PerceptionsPPT Identifying three levels of government stakeholders in Stakeholder levels of govt. CBD & Darling harbour areas?Introduce websites view policies & approaches to the development of Sydney - CBD and Darling harbour areas.Prepare a diagram or table in OneNote or Excel and Adobe Portfolio, based on lesson, summarising the responsiblities of govt in urban issues.Use PPT posted on the Blog & other websites identified through Delicious or Internet. Wk3P2Stakeholders and Their PerceptionsPTT introducing stakeholder commercial & community organisations interested in urban processesWhich have a stake in CBD & Darling harbour areas?Determine their position on the development of Sydney - CBD and Darling harbour areas Prepare a diagram or table outlining the commercial interests and concerns of the different groups Use the PPT & other websites from Delicious or the Internet, Present in OneNote or Excel and Adobe PortfolioStage 3- Week 3, Term 2 WkPerFocusContentStudent taskWk 4P 1Decisions making processes and managementPT and notes plus some film footage Blog addressing change in City West, Darling Harbour, Millers Pt & Walsh Bay areas in 19th & early to mid 20th centuries.

Use the PPT posted on the Blog plus other websites you identify through Delicious or on the Internet, to prepare notes in OneNote or Word & Adobe Portfolio, answering the questions addressed in today's lesson.Wk 4P2Decisions making processes and managementPT and notes plus some film footage Blog addressing change in City West, Darling Harbour, Millers Pt & Walsh Bay areas in the late 20th & early 21st centuries. Use the PPT posted on the Blog plus other websites you identify through Delicious or on the Internet, to prepare notes in OneNote or Word & Adobe Portfolio, answering the questions addressed in today's lesson.Stage 3- Week 4, Term 2 WkPerFocusContentStudent taskWk 5P 1Implications and the FuturePPT showing Issues and Implications of Urban Growth & Decline Issues highlighting - Processes, Indicator & Impacts of urban growth and declineList of issues arising from Urban growth & decline under headings Process, Indicator Impact + or -Process, Indicator Impact, who is affected by Urban Growth and decline? Who Are the stakeholders?(Enables students to gather secondary data they will soon investigate in the field)Wk 5P2Implications and the FuturePPT & notes & some video already posted on Blog about Barangaroo, addressing :Nature & scope of the projectProject as urban renewalStakeholders & Environmental,Economic & Community impacts

Also Sydney's transport system. Plans for the futureDescribe the:Nature & scope of the projectProject as urban renewalStakeholders & Environmental,Economic & Community impacts Using delicious and Internet presented in OneNote or Word & Adobe Portfolio.Stage 2- Week 5, Term 2 Government StakeholdersNSW MaritimePlanning NSWNSW Road Transit Authority (RTA)NSW HousingFederal Government NSW Government Local GovernmentSydney City CouncilNSW Dept of Environment Climate Change & Water Aust Dept of Immigration & Citizenship Aust Dept of Customs & ExciseNSW Transport & InfrastructureLevels of government are quite important. Colour coding and the simple wheel display were used to convey much information succinctly.51NSW Road Transit Authority

RTAs major stakes in the area are the Cross City Tunnel, the Western Distributor and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Its colour, cladding and architecture were determined in consultation with other Government Departments & stakeholders There is a cross city tunnel ventilation stack located in the Darling Harbour area near Druitt St.

The citys major north south traffic route.The RTA is obviously a big stakeholder in the field study area.52Planning NSW NSW Department of PlanningPlanning NSWs three agencies have a major role in managing the areasNSW Heritage CouncilSydney Harbour Foreshore AuthorityBarangaroo Delivery AuthoritySo too is Planning NSW and its three key agencies53

Barangaroo Delivery AuthorityThe NSW Governments is committed to the delivery of Barangaroo in a coordinated and financially responsible manner. Established under the Barangaroo Delivery Authority Act 2009 Barangaroo will extend from King St Wharf, along the eastern side of Darling Harbour to Millers Point and around to Walsh Bay. Its a very large area of around 15 central city blocks but most is on the old Patrick's Wharf site in Darling Harbour. This is a massive Public Private Partnership that will have major implications for the area. There are excellent video materials available that students can edit and re-purpose.54NSW Maritime a State Government Authority responsible for:

marine safety, regulation of commercial & recreational boating and oversight of port operationsproperty management of submerged lands in Sydneyremoval of rubbish in the interests of the tourist industry, harbour-side local government, the recreational boating public, operators of commercial vessels, waterfront property holders and the public using Sydney Harbour.Storm Water Management in the Study AreaSydney Water works in conjunction with local councils to manage stormwater quality

SQID Stormwater Quality Improvement Devices. Managed by Sydney City Council under the CBDSQID Stormwater Quality Improvement Devices. Managed by Sydney Water in Blackwattle BayNSW Transport & InfrastructureSydney Ferries is a NSW Government agency operating regular ferry passenger services on Sydney Harbour and its tributaries

Sydney Ferries Sydney ferries remains the main provider of commuter services in both the inner and outer harbours57Visitors Darling Harbour54%31%9%5%Almost 150 million people have visited Darling Harbour since it opened in 1988.Source: Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre | fact file February 2009The biggest group of stakeholders are the visitors. Until retrieving these figures I had no idea just what an important destination Darling Harbour is for international visitors.58Darling Harbour TenantsThe Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority manages 97 tenancies in Darling HarbourSource: The Darling Harbour Authority - http://www.shfa.nsw.gov.au/sydney-Our_places_and_projects-Darling_Harbour.htm

Who is the main stakeholder?There are many private stakeholders both commercial and community. One of the biggest will be Lend Lease who with construct the Barangaroo Project of 10 to 15 years at an initial cost of $6 billion. There are lots of small businesses as well. 59

Cruise Boat and Charter OperatorsWho are the stakeholders?Some of them are on the water as well as on the land.60Rather than just saying dont do that, we try saying what about this. It doesnt always work and sometimes we just have to grin and bear it. But its much harder for them (the council and government) to deny an idea if you offer other real alternatives.

Millers Point Residents Action GroupMillicent Chalmers OAM, ChairWho are the stakeholders?All of the housing in Millers point is Heritage listed. The community is aging, but it retains a long and intergenerational cultural connections with Sydney as a working port. 47.2% of the housing is rented from a state housing body, in short its public housing.61Stage 3 Resources and ToolsBoard of Studies examples of student work on MoodleTeamworkRoles and responsibilities definedResearch Action Plan integrating primary & secondary dataExcel, Word, Adobe Portfolio or OneNote, Photoshop, Audacity, Premier Elements, GPS, CameraDigital ToolsDeliciousSSC Leichhardt BlogWeb2.0 ToolsFinally the day of the field study arrived. In the period before this the field study students worked through strategies for sampling prepared data in the field and then did it very smoothly.. The only disappointing aspect of this otherwise overwhelmingly positive experience was that I bought the wrong sort of microphone for use with Audacity. It seems I should have bought a condenser microphone. The mike I bought is better used for recording a podcasts not for its sensitivity to environmental noise.62WkPerFocusContentStudent taskWk 6P 1Fieldwork: integrating Primary & Secondary dataIntroduce Research Action Plan as an animated PPTPPT on Secondary data - reviewing sources already usedPPT on Primary data collection - cameras, digital video, gathering noise samples, measuring wind speed, temperature, GPS.Review Field Work FormatAllocate data collection tasksPractice:Testing sound levels (Audacity)Taking photos with camerasUsing digital videoWk 6P2FieldworkWk 7onFollowing FieldworkOngoing:Interested students to edits videoInterested students post findings to WikiStage 3 - Week 6, Term 2 The Research Cycle2. Generate focus questions to Guide the investigation1. Identify the aim/purpose of the investigation 3. Which primary and secondary data are needed to answer the focus questions4. Identify the techniques that will be used to collect the data5. collect primary and secondary data6. Process and analyse the data collected7. Select methods to effectively communicate the research findings8. Propose individual or group action in response to the findings9. Where appropriate, take actionThe data gathered, the students sat for a pen and paper test. Chatting with the HOD we reasoned that next time wed have to build a different assessment tool, one that also included having specific data gathering and processing tasks involving digital tools, not just a written field report. 64Stage 3 Resources and ToolsAssembling of primary materialsStudents writing and posting findings to Wiki Students post to DeliciousConstruction of Wiki & Delicious TagsExcel, Word, Adobe Portfolio or OneNote, Photoshop, Audacity, Premier Elements, GPS, CamerasDigital ToolsDeliciousSSC Leichhardt BlogSSC Leichhardt WikiWeb2.0 ToolsA Students Work from the Field Study8. Processes, indicators, impacts and management

Part of the old gasworks on Hickson RdNew high rise apartmentsThe process is Urban Consolidation shown by apartments, building with small ecological footprint and preservation of heritagePhoto by GieunThe Bond Building. 6 Green Star ratingThe next task is t build the Wiki, with examples of student work as the resources base. Im hoping this becoming a useful resources that students want to own as their own. 66A Studentso Community Profile

Urban Processes in a Students Neighbourhood

Video Clips

WikiWatch this spaceA Footnote followsBlog Visits

The statistics on visits to the Blog show a slow uptake on interest. This raises the importance of beginning early, by introducing early years to the processes and practices of Blogging. The idea of individual Blogs comes to mind. With this approach students in Stage 5 geography are likely to be better equipped to make effective use of such a potentially valuable Web2.0 tool72Timetable & Calendar Issues15 Periods available for Issues in the Australian EnvironmentWith all action research the limits of time tables and the vicissitudes of school calendars can have a dramatic impact. Four Geography classes were spread over a two week timetable. In the second week two classes fell on the same day, a Friday. This was a popular day for excursions held by other faculties or co-curricular interests.. 25% of possible teaching days were lost. This meant that the teaching had to be compressed into a small teaching time as assessment tasks had been allocated to days that would allow report writing to be completed well before the end of term two. 73