Abstract

This paper will look in details the effects of the mining activities in Penrith Lakes region and the effect of the Penrith Lakes scheme. The paper will look at the current activities and their impact and projects of the change of the land use in the region. In addition, this paper will discuss the residents’ views in terms of the land use and their expectations and perceptions. Research will be carried out in the region and also the interviews and surveys to the regions to collect their views. The impacts of the current mining activities will help to draw the conclusion on how necessary is the land use change. Lastly, the paper will discuss the perception of the cultural impacts due to the change which will result from the economic activities change.

Penrith Lakes scheme has had different key economic activities for long including the mining activities. For instance, for more than 130 years, sand and mining activities has been taking place. Redevelopment strategies have taken a new turn and closure of the mining sites have been in the key front in the past few years. The Penrith Lakes scheme is located in Castlereagh, which is on the Northwest area of Cumberland Plain. Moreover, the area is about 54 kilometres on the west of Sydney. In terms of administration, the area is within the City of Penrith local Government Area and in County of Cumberland. The area occupies more than 1935 Hectares. It bounders Nepean River in the south and west area and further sets the Blue Mountains escapements lies. The southern area has the urban development area of the Penrith. These changes means that the cultural perception from the residents and the land use changes will have to take effect. Land use change activities are designed to take 100 percentage change since mining activities are not considered healthy anymore for the area. The redevelopment of the mining sites will have a cultural change in the area since landscaping and recreational facilities will take the new shape. This means the cultural perspectives will need the cultural and social changes in the area. Conservation is taking the forefront in ensuring the change of the land use is able to make the required and estimated positive impact. The land use has created deep excavations which are to be used as important lake recreation. This is an area which will create cultural perspective change for the Penrith Lakes area.

Background to study

How has the country around Penrith Lakes scheme changed since development?

One of the key method which will be applied on this paper is the applied research method. This will include the research on the available secondary data which will be a key important for the analysis of the geographical perspective of these changes. This will help in understanding the geographical perspectives of the area and the effects of the land use and cultural changes within the area. In addition, quantitative research methodology will high apply in this research. This will help to get the required information of geographical status and estimation of the geographical changes over the area. The quantitative research will help in getting the key research data and help in the derivation of the important conclusions. 

The Penrith Lakes scheme has different structures which are in place and need to be enhanced. Some of the key infrastructures which require upgrading and placing in place include Scheme Water Infrastructure, Landforms, Landscaping and Lake Construction. These structures are key in changing the graphical existence of the area as well as having a key impact on the cultural change. The interviews show there is need for the change on the land use. The mining activities have taken place in the area for long and from the personal interviews, the residents required the upgrading of the systems and change of land use. About 90 percent of the residents feel that the geographical change is needed in this region. This results from the negative impacts which has been experienced from the mining activities in the region. In addition, the cultural change will have economic benefits to the region than the current activities. The provided master plan involves key activities which include soil rehabilitation and development of land reforms, reconstruction of native animal population, establishment of relevant Cumberland vegetation and grassland therefore restoring the resilient ecosystem, habitat and native animals as well as conservation of the vegetative cover. All these activities are meant to be achieved through land use changing in the region. Their impact has been achieved due to the current mining activities which has been carried out for long in the region. In addition, these activities will enhance the regional economic upgrade. 87% of the residents feel that the change on the land use and geography of the area will position them well in tourism sector. The introduction of the lake region ion the area, manmade will help to enhance recreation facilities according to the residents and thus changing the cultural nature of the people.  Survey shows that the residents are aware of the high pollution rates and also the environmental degradations happening due to the mining activities in the region.

Geographic Question

Plans to redevelop the Penrith Lakes scheme have been well received by the residents owing the key benefits they are attributing to receive from the change of the land use. Geographically, the residents feel that they will be well positioned to mitigate the negative environmental effects they have experienced from the mining activities. Therefore, the residents feel it is worth and relevant to have the Penrith Lakes scheme upgrading scheme in place. In addition, the change of geography will be experience much since the plan involves change of land use. Mining activities have been carried in the area for more than 150 years in the region. Environmental degradation has been experienced as well as the high pollution status being experienced. These are some of the key geographical impacts which the residents have raised to support the land use plan. Culturally, the residents will have to change. This relate directly to the geographical change which will result to the change on the economic activities on the region. The residents are positive about the change and feel that they will be better positioned in terms of economic activities from the land use development and change. The geographical perception of the residents is well supported in terms of the rise of new economic activities after the change on land use redevelopment of the area. Recreational activities and also tourism activities are likely to rise due to the change of the land use. These perceptions are related to the land use change activities. Although mining has been creating different economic activities, their level of economic development has not been enough to convince the resident to maintain the mining activities.

Emerging activities such as tourism are the major anticipation by the citizens. The Penrith Lakes scheme development is therefore important to develop a new economic zone with new activities within the region. The nature of the activities and distribution are likely to benefit the region more in terms of economic activities than the mining. These activities will introduce new economic activities which high number of the residents can benefit from. In addition, development of the Penrith Lakes scheme is likely to lead to reduced pollution and other negative impacts are likely to be experienced due to the mining activities over the past years. The mining activities have wasted the ecosystem, polluted the area and high destruction of the existing infrastructures. These experienced have been experienced in this region for long and change of land use is likely to mitigate about 80% of the negative impacts. New features for new economic activities will be created such as the lakes. These are able to make use of the deep excavations which has been experienced in the region. The emerging features and structures will help in mitigating the negative impacts as well as enhancing the economic position of the region. The development of the region is therefore an important consideration which is supported with key factors. The geographical change will be experienced due to the change and thus enhancing the locational improvement. 

Conclusion

The geographical structure of Penrith Lakes scheme is clear it requires proper look and change. The Penrith Lakes scheme is able to show the need of such change in order to mitigate some of the key negative impacts which has been experienced. Economically, the change on geography and land use will be able to benefit many residents than the current mining activities. The information gathered show that more than 90% of the residents are able to support the change on the land use. Their own perception is that the regions and economic activities will be able to improve from the change. In addition, more than 80% feel that the mining activities have created more negative impacts to them than the benefits they are experiencing. The area has experience environmental degradation for long and recreation structures will be needed to improve the land use. The change is therefore a positive change which all people are positive regardless of the key challenges. The upgrading due to the land use is therefore important for the region. Environmental mitigation measures are needed and the landform regeneration will help to enhance the geographical view and nature of the region.