Future Slums May Be Suburbs of Today

An Australian report finds that suburbs in Australia may be on the path to slum status if the country's oil addiction is not resisted.

February 16, 2011, 11am PST | Shay Kahen

Planning Institute of Australia released the study back in December 2010 in their "Australian Planner" journal. They believe that the result of higher gasoline prices from peak oil production may turn suburbs resulting from excessive sprawl into future slums.

Warren McLaren from Treehugger states the following:

"One quotes Dr Jago Dodson from the Urban Research Program at Brisbane's Griffith University: 'By reviewing relevant plans and policies at the local, regional, metro, state and national levels we uncovered vertical and horizontal disconnections. Current policy and planning prescriptions are simply not adequate to protect our cities from the effects of petroleum supply constraints.' Although they do note that the state of Queensland does require local councils to consider petroleum supply in all new developments. "

Full Story:

Car-Dependent Suburbs May Be Slums of The Future, Says Urban Planning Report

Published on Monday, February 7, 2011 in Treehugger