Expecting a boomtown? Exploring potential housing - related impacts of large scale resource developments in Darwin

Abstract

Darwin is a city in the Northern Territory of Australia expecting a 'boomtown' scenario due to significant natural resource developments in the Greater Darwin area. The experience of 'booming' has a range of impacts upon communities. Housing is a key area of impact, particularly for the most vulnerable members of a population, who may not reap the benefits of the 'boom'. In Darwin, new resource developments will begin in the context of record high house prices, high rents and high homelessness rates. This literature review explores what is known about the housing-related impacts of boomtowns and considers the likely housing-related impacts of a boomtown scenario in Darwin. While the city's diverse economy and population size may provide some insulation from severe boomtown impacts, housing availability and affordability is likely to be negatively impacted. The implications of this for the most vulnerable members of the greater Darwin population require careful consideration.

Ciudades en auge en Chile: Rol de la actividad exportadora en la dinámica del empleo urbano

“…Primero se constata que aquellas ciudades de rápido crecimiento de ingresos monetarios son más propensas a mostrar una cierta escasez de oferta en el mercado laboral, lo que provoca sueldos más altos y también inmigración. El nivel de ingresos con el que cuenta la mano de obra del sector en auge genera una demanda por infraestructura y servicios, lo cual hace subir los precios y el costo de la vida, dando lugar a un consumo desproporcionado asociado a la construcción de un gran número de viviendas y de infraestructura (Ennis, Finlayson & Speering, 2013;Haslam-McKenzie & Rowley, 2013). A esto se suma una escasez de oferta en los mercados de servicios y de inmuebles, que impulsa al alza sus precios.…”

Resiliency and resource-based communities: a Canadian case study

“…lumber, gold) in small towns (often less than 15,000 people) and considered a range of areas including crime, health, education, social connectedness, and community cohesion [2]. These studies have examined the life-cycle of resource-based communities [3,4], the interaction between commodity prices and local well-being [5], the social impacts of mine closure [6], rapid resource-sector growth [7], income distribution in resource communities [8], the presence of poverty [9,10], and the broader political economy of the resource sector [11].…”

“…Evidence from much of the literature finds that economic benefits from the industrial activity are not equally distributed amongst the community, which creates economic stresses for residents with lower socio-economic status (SES) [2]. This inequity increases the vulnerability of low-income residents to the bust cycle that occurs when the resource is depleted.…”

“…This inequity increases the vulnerability of low-income residents to the bust cycle that occurs when the resource is depleted. When economic activity comes to halt, potentially leaving the area with high levels of unemployment, devalued property and large decreases in population often further exacerbating existing negative social impacts [2]. Ennis et al [2] also suggest that long term planning and increased community involvement in resource-dependent regions can mitigate some of the social disruption that occurs.…”

“…When economic activity comes to halt, potentially leaving the area with high levels of unemployment, devalued property and large decreases in population often further exacerbating existing negative social impacts [2]. Ennis et al [2] also suggest that long term planning and increased community involvement in resource-dependent regions can mitigate some of the social disruption that occurs. If managed properly, the population and economic growth associated with boomtowns can be a driving force for improved infrastructure, services, and economic diversification that increases citizen satisfaction and social cohesion [18,19].…”