Is it time we start looking at what green architects have been bleating about for years, making our cities more resilient to climate change?
We recently saw the power of nature rip through our main tourist hub, leaving in its wake lost lives, livelihoods and incredible devastation.
In recent years, the South Coast has been particularly hard hit by stronger and more regular storms. Our outdated colonial-style infrastructure was not designed for the onslaught we will likely be facing more regularly in future.
The ever-expanding hard surfaces are forcing more water into our already overburdened and inadequately planned drainage system, causing blockages and damage and leading to even more severe infrastructure failures.
Have we been approaching this wrong? Water is a valuable resource, especially in our country. We get about 40% of all the rainfall in Ugu District – should we not be harvesting this?
‘Sponge cities’ is a concept from Chinese engineers to address cities’ resilience to the impacts of flooding. It is a modern stormwater management system that collects and stores stormwater. This can then be used during drier times to keep the city functioning. Porous pavements, rain gardens and underground storage tanks can help reduce the effects of flooding in urban areas.
Rehabilitating and protecting the rivers and including wetlands in suburban and rural areas helps to absorb most of the water before it reaches the river and helps clean and filter the water entering rivers, thereby reducing the risk of contamination.
In British Columbia, planners emphasised the admiralty that created a natural sea wall, combining it with natural aquafers, ditches and rehabilitated wetlands to reduce flooding. Reducing flooding through natural mechanisms proved more effective than traditional flood mitigation methods and was able the save the taxpayers millions.
When we look at rebuilding, we should consider that high-density areas should not just provide accommodation and services but should also function in a way that will uplift and enhance society, which includes our connection to nature.
Finding ways to work with nature as an ally instead of trying to control it and using it as a source of inspiration will introduce new technologies and opportunities for all in our new smart towns.
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