Jüngere Veränderungen im Innern der Agglomeration Sydney. Ursachen, Prozesse und Folgen des Wandels von Bevölkerungs-, Sozial- und Wohnstrukturen

Abstract

Australia's urban system is dominated by the capitals of the federal states. Regional planning and town planning used to be occupied chiefly with the problems arising from the rapid growth of these conurbations. In recent decades, however, the problems of inner transformations also require their attention. This change is particularly noticeable in the inner cities, where the consequences of Australia's increasing integration into the world economy and increasing disparities in social structures are evident. In Sydney it was not only the CBD that experienced a thorough transformation, but a remarkable exchange took place within the population itself. Its causes are to be found, inter alia, in processes of suburbanization, in changes in the immigration and housing policies, as well as in changed perceptions of housing. Thanks to a number of favourable conditions, however, no slums were formed in the inner city. At a time when the number of inhabitants is decreasing, gentrification takes a growing proportion of highly qualified and well earning young people into these working class residential areas near the centre; these offer a desirable location and a historically valuable stock of buildings. The consequences are high rents and high house prices, which have in the long term a polarizing effect.Low income groups are forced out of these areas into outlying districts