HUMANITIES

YEAR 8 GEOGRAPHY URBAN REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT

This year during Term 4, Year 8 Geography classes have been working in groups of 2-3 to put forward a high-quality presentations using Google Slides about a future water-front residential redevelopment project located directly next to the Bolte Bridge near the Lorimer Precinct in Fishermans Bend (2.8 km away from Melbourne’s CBD). 

The redevelopment site houses disused factories and warehouses that once served during the golden days of Australian production, but now big overseas countries such as China and Japan have taken over and surged forward in manufacturing. As a result, there is no longer a specific need for these crumbling structures and is a waste of good space.

The groups have first designed a company logo along with a name, and then learnt about the history of the Fishermans Bend area. Next, they researched and explained what sustainable strategies the group has decided to implement in their project. The strategies were categorized into six main topics: pollution, energy use, environmental exposure, transport, water, and a sixth strategy of your choice.

There were many ideas, concepts and strategies presented, such as a Hyperloop and light-rail transport systems, electrochromic glass, soundproof walls, blinds and windows, smart garbage chute systems to combat pollution, vertical farming using aeroponics, aquaponics and hydroponics, and producing electricity from hydropower, wind turbines and solar panels.

To finalise the presentation, the groups had to justify and express why their choice of strategies would benefit both the residents and the environment, and as a conclusion, groups had to convince why they should be picked to lead the redevelopment project. 

It was a very fun task to do, as it involved group cooperation, and the process of researching and learning these strategies was very valuable. And as technology improves, we can universalize these ideas to combat climate change.

Tait Leong

Year 8 Student