WATERFRONT LAND USE IN THE SIX AUSTRALIAN STATE CAPITALS

Waterfront land in the six Australian state capitals, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and Hobart, is a valuable urban resource subject to competing uses. Sydney, Brisbane, and Hobart are on broad estuaries that provide ample waterfront space; in contrast, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth are several miles upstream on small rivers and are served by narrow, riverine harbors complemented by more exposed outer harbors developed later. Waterfront land use is dominated by the park and recreational category, especially in Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth. Waterfront land use priorities in these cities were emphasized by the shortage of available space, owing to the confined nature of the harbors and the extensiveness of park use. Shipping terminals appeared to hold the highest priority for space, and residences the lowest. The use of waterfront land resources should be planned on a metropolitan scale and residential use should be minimized, whereas public park use should be maximized.