CRCWSC gives feedback on green infrastructure plans in Adelaide

The CRC for Water Sensitive Cities was recently invited to provide input into the City of Unley’s draft Green Infrastructure Strategy.

Unley, an inner metropolitan local government area of Adelaide, was proposed as a suitable site for increased housing density in the 30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide in 2009. The city joined the CRCWSC as a Participant last financial year and has proactively engaged the CRCWSC in planning for major water sensitive urban design projects.

City planners have been developing strategies to ensure urban heat island effects are reduced as well as improve resilience to climate change impacts.

CRCWSC researchers made several suggestions after reviewing the draft strategy, including the need to consider community perspectives on paying for green infrastructure and the economic benefits of raingardens in urban areas. They reinforced the need for councils to ‘spend money where it is visible’, such as the green infrastructure strategy employed by the City of Rotterdam in The Netherlands which involved projects such as installing more than 200,000 square metres of green roofs across the city.

City of Unley Manager Strategic Assets Brenton Curtis said green infrastructure was essential in maintaining and improving the liveability of the City of Unley.

“The Green Infrastructure Strategy outlines our holistic approach to planning, design and management of Council assets, where green infrastructure is embedded and not just treated as an add on. It will also improve city-wide understanding of green infrastructure, its function, value and relevant trends in the Unley context.”

Mr Curtis said the council approached the CRCWSC to peer review the strategy and appreciated their considered feedback.

“This compliments other work through our partnership. CRC for Water Sensitive Cities also created an urban heat island model for the City of Unley which allows us to assess the likely urban heat island reduction impacts of proposed works when implementing the Green Infrastructure Strategy.”