Socioeconomic inequities within and between cities in objectively measured green space qualities at small geographical scales: Evidence from Australia
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Objective
To determine the extent of inequitable distributions in green space qualities in urban areas of Australia.
Method
Existing data from the cities of Sydney, Newcastle, and Wollongong in Australia was used to define green space qualities relating to accessibility, amenities/activities, beaches/coastline, biodiversity, incivilities, landcover and land use. Green space qualities were measured within multiple-scale network distance buffers for residential mesh blocks and linked with the Australian Bureau of Statistics Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD). Correlations were analysed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient between IRSD score (reversed; higher scores are more disadvantaged) and green space qualities aggregated over mesh blocks. Influence of IRSD, population density and random effects of population structures were examined using single-level and multilevel models. Spatial patterns and clusters were identified through choropleth maps and hot spot analyses.
Results
At the 1600m scale, more disadvantaged areas tended to have green spaces with lower percentages of nearby street trees to roads (Rho=-0.52, p≤0.001), lower percentages of slope >6° (Rho=-0.49), lower likelihood of threatened mammal species/habitat occurrences (Rho=-0.47), and lower percentages of tree canopy (Rho=-0.46). More disadvantaged areas tended to have green spaces with higher percentages of open grass (Rho=0.38, p≤0.001) and bare earth (Rho=0.33, p≤0.001) and higher densities of robberies (Rho=0.34, p≤0.001). For selected qualities, multilevel models tended to support the relationships that were found using Spearman’s rank correlation.
Discussion
Socioeconomic inequities in tree canopy, biodiversity and incivilities are present for green spaces in large and mid-sized Australian cities.
