Unit 4: Places & Challenges- Overview
Chapter 6: Overview
6.1 – 6.2
Urbanisation


Define/describe the following terms
Urbanisation (incl. the ‘level’ and the ‘process’)
Urban (incl. Statistical and functional definitions)
Urban Models (pg. 159-160)
1. Identify three different models that explain the socio-economic structure of cities
2. Explain each of these models.
( 3 marks)
(5 marks)
World Population Growth (pg. 161-162)
1. Describe how depopulation will affect the general viability and sustainability of rural places. (4 marks)
2. Describe how the sustainability of urban places can be impacted by population growth. (4 marks)
3. Define the term ‘megacity’ (include examples in your definition). (2 marks)
4. Summarise global population growth figures from 1800 to its projected figure at the end of the 21st century.
(for study purposes)
5. Describe the global spatial distribution of this population increase. (6 marks)
Urbanisation rates, population growth and human wellbeing (pg. 162-163)
1. Using figure 6.2.9, describe and account for the spatial distribution ‘overall rates of urbanisation’ across 2
different regions. (8 marks)
2. Identify and describe 2 impacts of world population growth and increased urbanisation rates on human
wellbeing. (6 marks)
3. Why has the 21st century been defined as the ‘urban century? (1 mark)
4. Using figure 6.2.10, describe and account for the differences in rates of urbanisation in major regions and
sub-regional levels. Use Oceania and one other region of your choice to answer the question. (8 marks)
5. Describe how sustainable development in LEDCs is often threatened by rapid urbanisation and urban
growth. (4 marks)
6. Define the term ‘potable water’. (1 marks)
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6.3 Interdependence of urban and rural places (pg. 164 – 166)
1. Describe the how the supply and demand of various good and services creates a relationship between
rural and urban places
(info from first paragraph in this section)
2.
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Summarise how each of the following ‘flows’ leads to interdependence between urban and rural places:
Agricultural products
Other raw materials (forestry and mining)
Services such as energy production
People (via jobs)
Capital (money)
3. Summarise the positive and negative ways in which urban places and rural places are interconnected
from an environmental point of view.
6.4 Spatial distribution of urban and rural places in Australia (pg. 169 – 174)
1. Identify the general factors that have influenced spatial distribution of urban and rural places in Australia.
2. Identify 4 economic factors that have influenced spatial distribution of urban and rural places in Australia.
3. Identify 4 environmental factors that have influenced spatial distribution of urban and rural places in
Australia.
Historical Factors
4. Describe the two main historical factors that influenced spatial distribution of urban and rural places in
Australia.
(4)

Economic Factors:
Capital cities and ports
5. Explain the concept of inertia in the context of Fremantle Port.
(6)
6. Describe how/why Australian state capitals (such as Perth) have, and will continue to grow due to the
existence of a port. Use the term ‘multiplier effect’ in your answer.
(4)
7. Which other WA urban centre has, and will continue to experience similar growth?
 Mineral Discoveries
8. Identify the urban centres that that boomed due to the discovery of gold (in NSW, Vic and WA).
(5)
9. Suggest reasons why Kalgoorlie/Boulder is the only remaining gold-based regional urban centre in WA.
(4)
10. Account for the existence of remote, inland urban centres such as Broken Hill and Mount Isa.
(4)
11. Account for the fact that regional urban places (outside of the major cities and towns) are unlikely to grow
or increase in the future.
(8)
 Agriculture
12. Why are rural service centres (very small towns) be scattered fairly frequently in fibre productions areas but
less frequently or densely as in areas where wool production is dominant?
(4)
13. Define the following terms: ‘farm amalgamation’, ‘economies of scale’, ‘hinterland’. (provide an example
to supplement each definition)
(2 each)
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words, you’re not actually getting marked on the homework).
14. Explain, in detail, how farm amalgamation and rural depopulation are linked, and how this has seen
smaller rural service centres get even smaller and larger rural service centrerow.
(8)
15. Account for Queensland’s different pattern of rural and urban development
(10)

Decentralisation and Settlement Schemes
16. Describe the aims and challenges of the Returned Soldier settlement schemes. (6)
17. Describe the Ord River Scheme in terms of its aims, challenges and future prospects.
(6)
Environmental Factors:
18. Identify the main environmental factors that have influenced the distribution of urban and rural places.
(4)
 Climate
19. Account for higher population densities on the southern half of Australia’s southern half.
(8)
20. Account for the more dispersed settlement patterns in the northern half of Australia.
(4)
 Hydrology
21. Describe the spatial distribution of settlement patterns as determined by hydrology.
(8)
 Topography
22. Describe the spatial distribution of settlement as determined by topographic factors such as coastal
plains, The Great Dividing Range, the Tasmanian Alps and vast arid and desert landscapes.
(6)

Soils
23. Describe how the link between soils, climate and topography has influenced the spatial distribution of
settlement in Australia.
(6)
Cultural Factors:
24.
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Account for the spatial distribution of settlement patterns as determined by each of the following factors.
Rural-Urban Drift
(4)
Migration (international and domestic)
(2)
Retirement patterns
(4)
Lifestyle preferences
(2)
6.5 Urban Processes (pg. 174-179)
1.
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Define each of the following terms (and try to provide an example with each definition):
Functions
Functional zones
Internal Morphology
External Morphology
(2 each)
2. Describe how the process that influence internal morphology are determined.
(4)
3. Account for the complexity of the ‘maturing industrial city’ and the subsequent need for increasing
government influence in terms of planning
(6)

Land use competition, accessibility, profitability and economic rent
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words, you’re not actually getting marked on the homework).
4. Describe the link between accessibility and profit with regards to commercial land use.
(3)
5. Using the information in the first paragraph, account for higher land values in the Perth CBD.
(4)
6. Identify two examples of ‘secondary peaks’ in Perth
(2)
7. Define the term ‘economic rent’.
(2)
8. According to the definition above, explain why wealthier and more developed businesses dominate CBD
areas (use the terms ‘economic rent and ‘rental capacity in your answer).
(2)
9. Answer Qs 1 & b of Activity 6.5 on pg. 179
(8)
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Urban Sprawl
10. Define the term ‘urban sprawl’ and provide two examples.
11. Identify the challenges related to urban sprawl.
(3)
(3)
 Invasion and succession
12. Define each of the following terms (and try to provide an example with each definition):
 Invasion
 Succession
 Urban blight
 Urban shadow effect
(2 each)
13. Describe how Fig. 6.5.5 demonstrates the processes of invasion and succession (4)
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Renewal
14. Define the term ‘urban renewal’.
15. Describe the process of urban renewal.
16. Describe how East Perth is an example of urban renewal.
(1)
(3)
(4)
Inertia
17. Define the term ‘inertia’.
(1)
18. Using the example of the old Perth Town Hall, describe the process of inertia. (4)
Agglomeration
19. Define the term ‘agglomeration’.
(1)
20. Use an example provided in the text book to describe the process of agglomeration.
(4)
 Planning
21. Describe the responsibilities of each of the following levels of government in terms of the planning
processes of urban and rural places:
 Federal government
 State government
 Local government
(3 each)

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6.6 Changing demographics in urban and rural Australia (pg. 180-185)
2.
4.
5.
6.
1. Define the term ‘demographics’
(2)
Provide and example to explain why knowledge of the demographic composition of an area is important
for urban and rural planning.
Read over the rest of this section (it is relatively basic and self explanatory) to answer the following
questions: Qs 1 a and b of Activity 6.6 on pg. 185. For b), just use Perth (not each state capital).
(5)
Account for cultural distributions in urban and rural places (using examples).
(own summary)
Account for age and gender distributions in urban and rural places
(using examples).
(own summary)
Account for age and gender distributions in urban and rural places
(using examples).
(own summary)
7. Qs 1 a and b of Activity 6.6 on pg. 185. For b), just use Perth (not each state capital).
(5)
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words, you’re not actually getting marked on the homework).
6.7 Summary
6.7 CHALLENGES FACING RURAL AND REMOTE PLACES IN AUSTRALIA
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Population loss
Isolation and remoteness
Economic Restructuring: FIFO work patterns and farm amalgamation
Social inclusion and exclusion
Concentrations of socially vulnerable populations
Resource degradation and water supplies
Land use conflict
Declining political influence
1.
POPULATION LOSS
Definition: declining share of the population living in a place
PL = result of interrelated factors driving increased urbanisation:
post-war industrial and economic growth
i)
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more jobs and opportunities in cities
ii)
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rural-urban migration
young people moving to cities for tertiary education and employment (pull)
loss of employment in remote locations due to increased global competition in agriculture
(push)
Increased mechanisation in farming and subsequent loss of jobs (push)
Amalgamation of smaller farms (push)
iii)
mass international migration
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boosts populations in urban areas
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PL mainly in inland rural, remote and agricultural locations.
Notable declines in remote WA, SA, QLD and NSW
WA remote mining regions: Newman losses = 410, Leinster-Leonora losses = 300
According to ABS, rural population growth has occurred in coastal locations (these are
attractive and thus very different to inland locations)
Consequences:
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2.
Less people to spend money
Decline in demand for goods and services
Further job losses
Further depopulation and people leave to find better work and services
ISOLATION AND REMOTENESS

2% of population in remote or very remote areas (e.g. Telfer, WA and Birdsville, Qld) according to
the ARIA
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
This is because of challenges relating to isolation and remoteness, much of which is linked to a
lack of services.

Lack of services: low population, therefore not economically viable to provide same amount
and variety of services found in urban and regional centres.
Health services (hospitals/clinics/doctors) = distance away. (RFDS = current ‘solution’)
Low availability of consumer goods, esp. fresh food due to distance/isolation.
Worse in wet regions (e.g. NT) where heavy rains and cut towns off.
o
o
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o
o
o
3.
FIFO was exacerbated this issue;
Once thriving communities e.g. Telfer = 1000 permanent residents
Since introduction of FIFO in 1996, town lost its identity and become a place of work only.
Depopulation led to loss of services e.g. police station, bank, supermarket (+ other shops), library
etc.
ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING: FIFO and FARM AMALGAMATION
Economic restructuring = significant and enduring changes to the nature and structure of the
economy. This is most evident in relation to employment patterns and levels.
A) FIFO = enduring change, since mid-90s
 Financial benefits to company:
o they do not need to spend money on providing services in the town in or near to mine.

o
o
o
o
o
Challenges to communities
Economic leakage.
EL = loss of revenue to local businesses and governments in rural areas as spending declines in
the region.
FIFO employees take revenue back to place of residence and spend it there (e.g. Perth)
Loss of sense of community and identity (Telfer, WA)
Social issues: FIFO effectively creates one parent households for long periods of time.
B) Farm Amalgamation
 Smaller farms being ‘joined together’ to create one larger farm
 Therefore, less farmers + families
 Transitory, temporary contract labour now the preference
 Increases remoteness of such communities
 e.g. Birdsville: 1900 = community of 300 with 3 hotels, police station etc. Bigger farms, changing
nature of employment (less stock hands) has seen this decline drastically.
4.
SOCIAL INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION
Social inclusion is when a person has the opportunity to: participate in society through
employment and access to services; connect with family, friends and the local community; deal
with personal crises and be heard.
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
Therefore, social exclusion, is when people do not have these opportunities, resulting in:
Lack of connectedness and participation
This can lead to mental health issues such as depression and even suicide.
In rural and remote areas social exclusion is heightened due to:
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words, you’re not actually getting marked on the homework).
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Loneliness and loss of relationships as younger (and other) people move to coastal or larger
urban areas.
Alienation due to lack of understand of community (different lifestyle, customs, culture)
Alienation due to lack of acceptance by community
Lessened resilience due to previous losses and experiences (e.g. drought or bad relationships)
Unrecognised or untreated mental or physical health issues due to a lack of medical services.
Lack of services e.g. medical/health, shops, sports, entertainment etc.
Drug use (often due to boredom or feelings of isolation)
Men aged 15-64 in regional and remote areas = 1.3-2.6x more likely to commit suicide
compared to urban counterparts (according to a recent study).
Men in very remote areas = 6x more likely
5.
CONCENTRATIONS OF SOCIALLY VULNERABLE POPULATIONS
… following from previous point… Social vulnerability = result of exclusion and isolation
SV refers to people who are unable to withstand repeated adverse impacts from multiple
stresses from life events to which they are exposed
Rural, remote and indigenous communities = higher proportion of socially vulnerable people.
E.g. young indigenous Australians are up to 24x more likely to die from intentional self-harm than
other young people.
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words, you’re not actually getting marked on the homework).
6.
RESOURCE DEGRADATION AND WATER SUPPLIES
A: Resource degradation: When land use deteriorates the quality of the biophysical environment
in which it is located or which it surrounds
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o
o
o
SOIL DEGRADATION = is the most significant challenge in rural and remote places.
Overgrazing (80% of Aus agricultural land use) leads to desertification and soil erosion
Dryland salinity due to land clearing for farming (e.g. WA Wheatbelt)
Crops and native plants struggle to grow in decreased soil quality
Farmers lose income (knock on effects in local town)
Government must spend more time and money to combat challenge.


E.g. WA Wheatbelt. Loses area of footy oval every hour due to salinity.
$700 million = value of productive farmland lost
$130 million lost in local agri production per year (rising)
E.g. Wagga Wagga. $500 000 to deal with corrosion and degradation of roads, footpaths, parks,
sewage pipes and house due to saline seepage.
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7.
B: Water supplies to rural and remote places = challenge.
Many = arid and semi-arid places
Therefore substantial infrastructure (pipelines, pumping facilities) needed. (E.g. pipeline from
Perth to Kalgoorlie)
Salinity has caused degradation of many local freshwater resources. (E.g. Wellington Dam near
Collie WA)
LAND USE CONFLICT

o
o
o
o
LUC arises when land use is promoted for an area that may be viewed as incompatible with,
insensitive to, or outright threatening to existing land use.
Differing views of stakeholders lead to conflict.
Mining
Agriculture
Major LUCs contexts and
Conservation
stakeholders
Aboriginal land rights
E.g. recent proposal to undertake coal mining in Margaret River Region
 Mining stakeholders in conflict with conservationist stakeholders

E.g. Mabo High Court Decision recognised native title deeds on sacred land (stooped mining
companies.
Mining stakeholders in conflict with Aboriginal land rights activists
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words, you’re not actually getting marked on the homework).
8.
DECLINING POLITICAL INFLUENCE
Declining populations = voice of communities no longer strong.
Because electorates are based primarily on population size (not area), representation at state
and federal levels has fallen significantly (due to population loss)
E.g. Durack federal electorate = area of 1.6 million square kms (64% of WA), has 87 347 residents
but ONE FEDERAL MP (i.e. one person to represent all the people and their diverse needs in
Canberra)
6.6 Challenges facing rural and remote places in Australia (pg. 186-190)
1. Define each of the following terms (and try to provide an example with each definition):
 Economic restructuring
 Fly-in/fly out work patterns
 Social inclusion
 Social exclusion
 Social vulnerability
 Resource degradation
(2 each)
2. Summarise each of the subheadings (in blue) for this section. (own summary)
Summarise according to the nature of the challenge, the scope (extent/size) of the challenge and the
causes, effects of the challenge, as well as examples. **
(own summary)
3. Qs 1 b and c of Activity 6.7 on pg. 190.
6.7 Challenges facing rural and remote places in Australia (pg. 186-190)
1. Define each of the following terms (and try to provide an example with each definition):
 Megacity
 Metropolitan area
 Regional centre
 TOD
 Socio-spatial inequality
(2 each)
2. Summarise each of the subheadings (in blue) for this section.
Summarise according to the nature of the challenge, the scope (extent/size) of the challenge and the
causes, effects of the challenge, as well as examples. **
(own summary)

**For Q2 of both of the above sections (6.7 and 6.8), the reality is that it is very unlikely that you will be
asked a question in a test or exam that will require you to know all the finer details of more than 3 of these
challenges.
**Just to be safe, summarise 4 (easier ones), really well and summarise the others enough to be able to use
them should you need to.
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* Mark allocations are only an indication of how much detail you should include in your answer (in other
words, you’re not actually getting marked on the homework).