User:Nick carson/recommendations for a sustainable melbourne

This information is temporary and will eventually be moved and this page deleted.

This is just a compilation of information about transitioning human existence towards becoming sustainable. It is easy to image a sustainable future, what the urban structure of a settlement would look like, how to generate electricity, how to transport freight, etc. However, the difficulties lie in how to transition our existing structures and infrastructure so it may eventually become self-sustaining. This particular compilation deals with transitioning Melbourne's urban structure, transport network and infrastructure towards becoming sustainable. Melbourne is one of the worst cities in the world in terms of its reliance on automobiles, its urban footprint, its suburban sprawl and many other things. It would be one of the most difficult cities to transition towards being sustainable of any city in the world. For this reason, and my knowledge concerning it, it is the best candidate in these discussions.

Any proper sustainable transition can only take place with the following in consideration:
 * A Holistic approach

Compromise
It would be easy to compromise by suggesting that we sustain the existence of everything outside of our most major urban environments, such as cities, but this is merely a compromise. We must focus our energy, time and resources on these major urban environments such as cities and towns. It would also be easy to compromise in

Transition of Transport system
The private automobile must be phased out in urban areas. Funding must be reallocated for the construction of new public transport infrastructure. Funding should be made available for road maintenance in the interim.

Freeways, Tollways & Major Highways
These large expanses of cleared land can be utilised as major transport corridors for both freight and commuter heavy rail. Initially, 2 or more of the inner lanes could be closed to allow land for rail lines. The left-most lanes would remain open to enable transport by private automobiles. Obviously, speed limits would be reduced where only 1 or 2 lanes were available to cars. Later, the entire freeway, tollway or highway corridor could be closed to automobile traffic and a portion of the land utilised for public transport. The remaining land could be replanted, regenerated native vegetation, particularly along Freeways such as the Eastern Freeway where it follows the course of the Yarra River and Koonung Creek.

Flood Plains
Flood plains must be allowed to flood to deposit soils and silts in those areas to maintain the vegetation in those areas and along the river and creek banks. All housing, transport infrastructure and other structures in floodplains would be dismantled and their materials utilised elsewhere. The areas encompassed by floodplains must be established without compromise with surrounding settlements. Dams should be retained initially, although their water capacities should be reduced in balance with increased localised water catchments elsewhere. Existing dam walls can be used to better control the flow of water from its source to minimise major abnormal floods, while allowing normal range flooding.

Green Wedges
The concept of green wedges already exists in Melbourne's planning policy Melbourne 2030, however they are vastly inadequate in area and only protect remnant or existing ecologies. In accordance with localised urban structure, small localities interconnected by mass transit, the areas between these small localities must be cleared of all transport infrastructure and structures so their materials can be utilised elsewhere.

Localisation
Mixed use areas must be utilised placing commercial and residential areas amongst each other so that all services and good are available to obtain locally by residents, ultimately within walking distance.

Watercourses
All watercourses, rivers, creeks, etc, must be enabled to run their natural courses. Particularly major rivers such as the Murray River, Snowy River and Yarra River.

Agriculture
Agriculture must be relocated to service only the needs of a local area. Genetically modified

Water

 * Key points:
 * Sustainable water management
 * Sustainable water use
 * Localisation - Water must be collected and distributed as locally as possible initially, becoming more and more localised later on.

Utilisation of Existing Materials
Existing structures and infrastructures such as water, electricity and transport must be dismantled in areas designated non-urban environments