What has changed since 2011?

• With water restrictions easing across many regions since 2011, Australian households have been increasing their water consumption. In 2014–15, Australian households consumed 1852 gigalitres of water, an increase of 9 per cent from 2010–11 (ABS 2016d).
• Water use by the manufacturing and commercial, and service industries has continued to decrease during the same period, by 9 and 11 per cent, respectively.
• Demand for electricity and household electricity consumption have fallen because of improved energy efficiency of appliances and machinery; reduced reliance on electricity from the grid following uptake of household solar panels, which has been driven by reduced costs and taxpayer subsidies; and reduced consumption in response to an increase in electricity prices.
• Land on the fringes of major capital cities continues to be developed at the expense of agricultural land and biodiversity.

State and trends

Australia’s urban amenity is generally good. Although our urban populations are still consuming significant resources, they are using energy more efficiently than in 2011.

Water quality in urban areas is generally good, but, in parts of regional Australia, it does not meet relevant drinking water standards.

Air quality in urban areas is also generally good. Poor air quality occurs infrequently, generally associated with dust storms and bushfires, or where there continues to be a large incidence of wood heater use.

Australia’s cities continue to face pressures from growing reliance on private vehicles and other transport demands more generally—all of which affect the environment and human health. Increased population growth in our major cities is leading to growing use of private cars, greater traffic volumes, and increasing social costs because of traffic congestion and delays.

At the same time, our cities and towns can be important for biodiversity conservation, providing ecosystem services such as flood mitigation, water quality control and nutrient cycling. Biodiversity within cities and towns also offers opportunities to involve people in conservation (McDonnell & Hahs 2013). Urban biodiversity has profound benefits for human wellbeing (Turner et al. 2004; see Box OVW1).