Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/34047

Title

Planning new towns for harsh arid environments : an evaluation of Shay Gap and Newman mining towns, Australia

Author(s)

Newton, Peter W.

Abstract

Virtually all new towns built in the past 20 years in Australia have been linked with mining activities in remote, climactically harsh locations. Most are small, company towns, situated close to the mine site, and with a finite life closely linked to the extent of one particular mineral resource and the economics of its extraction. Constrasts exist between the new mining towns developed to date in relation to the concepts employed in developing the urban form or layout, eg ranging from conventional car-oriented grid designs to innovatory schemes such as a totally pedestrianized town, and the type and style of housing provided. Most of the new mining towns, however, are replications of the familiar---or transplanted---suburbia. Similar constrasts are evident in designs for new towns in arid regions in other Western industrial countries. [Introduction]

Publication type

Journal article

Source

Ekistics, Vol. 52, no. 311 (Mar-Apr 1985), p. 180-188

Publication year

1985

Keyword(s)

Arid regions;  Australia;  Economic geography;  Industrial development;  Mining towns;  Newman;  Remote areas;  Shay Gap;  Urban design;  Western Australia

Publisher

Athens Technological Organization

ISSN

0013-2942

Additional information

The author expresses his appreciation to Terry Brealey for his contribution in the field and subsequent discussion of the material presented in this paper.

Peer reviewed