This paper revisits the work of the Commonwealth Housing Commission and the connection between the provision of housing and good urban planning that it identified.

Australian cities have traditionally relied for their water on a ‘predict-and-provide’ philosophy that gives primacy to big engineering solutions. In more recent years privatised water authorities, seeking to maximise consumption and profits, have reinforced the emphasis on increasing supply. Now the cities must cope with the stresses these policies have imposed on the eco-systems from...

Sydney’s water supply is under great pressure as the demand continues to rise. Demand mitigation strategies have had some success, but domestic consumption remains high. This paper discusses the attitudes of households to their water consumption in a search for ways in which domestic demand for water may be reduced. Evidence on attitudes of households...

This paper builds on recent research into domestic water consumption in Sydney to argue that the issue is not one of shortage of water, as it is popularly presented, but is more related to the choices made in that city about the way sanitary services are provided and the ways in which socio-cultural values and...

This paper explores the extent to which attitudes to conservation and reduced water use in and around the home may affect the water saving behaviour of households in different kinds of housing in Sydney in a period when restrictions and price rises have become the principle methods to reduce consumption in the city.