RURAL AREAS…..

• Are the countryside

outside towns and
cities

• Have low population

density

• May be agricultural,
forestry, vineyard or
desert areas
RURAL…..
RURAL…..
RURAL-URBAN FRINGE..
The land at the edge of a town or city – where
country meets urban.
URBAN AREAS…..
• Built-up
environment

• High population
density

• Infrastructure (roads,
water supply, electricity,
sewerage system etc)
URBAN…..
URBANISATION…
Increasing population and urban area of a settlement

Perth City…

• 72% of people in WA live in

cities (ABS 2006)

• Worldwide trend of car use

per person is falling, but
Perth is increasing because
of urban sprawl (spreading of
urban into rural area)

• Negative effects on plant

and animal populations
and species (biodiversity)
URBAN SPRAWL...
When the city gets overpopulated, people move to the
outskirts of urban areas, clearing rural land to build new
low-density (more spread out) residential housing
MEGACITIES A city with a
population
of over 10
million
people
 PUSH FACTORS
A force that causes people to move away from an urban
area
e.g. unemployment, conflict, drought, poverty

PULL FACTORS
Forces that draw people to move to an
urban area
e.g. higher income, greater job options,
better medical and education services,
more cultural and entertainment services
 BENEFITS 
OF URBANISATION
• More employment opportunities
• Higher income
• Businesses have access to large numbers of customers
• Transport access such as airports, main highways, railways, ports (all
known as infrastructure)
• Access to schools and hospitals
• Access to water, electricity, supermarkets, internet, public transport
• Access to entertainment, sporting and cultural events
• Any others?
 PROBLEMS
OF URBANISATION 

• Pollution of water, air and soil by factories, cars and people

• Loss of native animal and bird populations caused by
habitat loss (through clearing of land for new housing)
• Rising costs for housing, food and utilities (electricity, gas,
water) through more demand
• Traffic congestion from overcrowding
• Waiting times for medical care, schools and public
transport through population increases
• Higher crime rates
• Any others?