How Australia can build 'healthy, sustainable' high-density cities for its booming population

With a growing population putting the squeeze on Australia's cities, many are turning to higher density living to help provide for our housing needs.

Australian cities are building up and out to meet housing demand.

Higher density means building up — more apartments and townhouses — and on smaller blocks of land.

But some experts say not enough thought has been put into the way housing stock is developed, both in the inner city and suburban fringe.

So what should we be thinking about when we plan for a Big Australia?

Read the story by Stephanie Chalkley-Rhoden - from ABC News - “How Australia can build 'healthy, sustainable' high-density cities for its booming population.”

Why we can get over the ‘yuck factor’ when it comes to recycled water

Recycled water - getting
over the "yuck" factor.

In light of climate change and a growing population, water authorities around the world are looking at the treatment of recycled water to achieve water security and sustainability.

Recent authors on The Conversation have raised the possibility of expanding the use of water recycling in Australia, noting the potential benefits for domestic, agricultural and industrial water supply.

Some contributors have noted that the major roadblocks to water recycling, in places where it could be beneficial, are not technical issues, but public reluctance to use recycled water.

Read the piece on The Conversation by a Research Fellow from the Institute for Sustainability and Innovation from the Victoria University, Daniel Ooi -  “Why we can get over the ‘yuck factor’ when it comes to recycled water.”