Discuss the Changing Urban Dynamics of One City Selected from the Developed World. Essay

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Sydney, centrally located on the eastern coast, is Australia’s largest and most influential city. Its multicultural nature, advanced infrastructure, state of the art technologies, scale of foreign investment and architectural ingenuity not only make for a highly desired international tourist destination but are all compelling evidence to suggest that Sydney is in fact an established city of the developed world. As in any developed city, there are a myriad of urban dynamics of change at work that have, and will continue to evolve the morphology of the Australian metropolis.

The Greater Sydney Metropolitan Region (GSMR) is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. Its wide-ranging spatial articulation extends from Wollongong in
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In the case of Sydney, the Pyrmont-Ultimo area of the city’s inner west is an instance of urban renewal and gentrification taking place.

Counterurbanisation occurs when people choose to leave the metropolitan area in preference for a rural country town lifestyle. This process has existed in Sydney for many years. Some of those who move from Sydney to a rural area choose to maintain an urban way of life and work through long distance commuting and/or technology which is a process known as exurbanisation. These “exurbanites” are generally quite affluent. Although there are some high-income earners who are involved in moving away from metropolitan Sydney, most counter-migrants are poorer individuals and families in search of a more affordable lifestyle.

Sydney is experiencing the growing trend of Spatial Exclusion. This occurs when there are restrictions on spatial access and the freedom of movement of other urban dwellers, i.e. high security suburbs, walled estates/gated communities and security conscious shopping malls and business centres. In Sydney there are a growing number of gated communities. The relatively new Jackson’s Landing development in Pyrmont, for example, includes the following features; 1350 apartments, 150 terrace houses, pools, tennis courts, parks, restaurants, shops, a cliff-side walk and promenade, 24 hour security and an estimated population of 4000. Spatial exclusion is becoming increasingly popular in Sydney as distinctions of and between