Wanju Vegetation Master Plan

Testing the CRCWSC Design Platform to inform structure plan vegetation requirements to manage urban heat

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Kim Markwell
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About the project

The Wanju Vegetation Master Plan Microclimate project is demonstrating how state and local governments can use the CRCWSC’s Design Platform microclimate model to develop vegetation and water servicing requirements in planning documents. These documents will then be used in new urban areas to create cooler, liveable communities.

This interdisciplinary project aims to encourage industry to adopt research outcomes early in two ways. First, it provides proof-of-concept for using CRCWSC research tools. Second, it facilitates learning opportunities for project partners and a wider audience.

It is a collaboration between the WA Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER), the WA Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, the Shire of Dardanup and the CRCWSC.

Project aim

The Wanju Vegetation Master Plan Microclimate project aims to demonstrate the Design Platform can:

  • be used to justify (i) the importance of water and vegetation in urban areas to manage thermal heat comfort, and (ii) the need to preserve land to deliver this outcome successfully
  • test different typologies and inform development of vegetation requirements, which will then be delivered through the planning and development process to provide optimal outcomes
  • be used efficiently by stakeholders at a range of scales and locations to generate relevant data to inform planning decisions.

The method

DWER is currently facilitating work on the Wanju Vegetation Master Plan and water management strategy, as part of the Wanju District Structure Plan. The plan is led by the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage and supported by the Shire of Dardanup. CRCWSC researcher Christian Urich is working with DWER to test and refine the Design Platform microclimate model, so that it can be used to develop and justify the vegetation and water principles and strategies developed for Wanju.

Project progress

2016

  • Draft Wanju District Structure Plan released for public comment

2017

  • The CRCWSC developed the Scenario Platform (formerly the WSC Toolkit), which included a Land Surface Temperature model. The model is available as a beta version and has been previously tested in several research applications.
  • The CRCWSC developed the Design Platform, which can be used to calculate land surface temperature as well as the spatial and temporal variation of air temperature using the newly integrated TARGET model. The model has been tested for a Precinct Structure Plan in Melbourne, but requires further refinement.

January to May 2018

  • Conversations begin between the CRCWSC and DWER to explore using the Design Platform to inform and strengthen the Wanju Vegetation Master Plan, and the related principles in the District Structure Plan.
  • The CRCWSC is testing and refining the Design Platform using Master Plan GIS inputs from DWER. Once this work is complete, DWER will receive the tool, along with guidance material and ongoing support to test different scenarios through the master planning process.
  • DWER facilitated site visits for the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage and the Shire of Dardanup to other local government areas. These field trips identified the successes and lessons from delivering multiple use corridors that balance vegetation, water, microclimate, bushfire and maintenance in different urban typologies. Follow up workshops have allowed stakeholders to develop different typologies and test the initial rules for the Wanju Vegetation Master Plan using the Design Platform.

Results

Coming soon

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Project stats

Location

Western Australia, Australia

Status

In progress

Research project

Tools and Products (TAP) test project

Participants

  • Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA)
  • Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (WA)
  • Shire of Dardanup
  • CRCWSC

Who might this interest?

The outcomes of the work may interest:

  • State Governments
  • Urban planners and designers
  • Local Councils
  • Developers
  • Landscape architects
  • Water engineers

Photo Gallery (6)

  • Playground
  • Open Space
  • Structure plan
  • Sport Space
  • recreation space
  • Environment

Evaluation and Learning Framework Outcomes

Appropriateness

CRCWSC evaluation questions Response
  • To what extent are the objectives of the demonstration project appropriate to achieving the CRCWSC’s overall aims?
 This project will help to refine the Design Platform (currently being developed). It will also demonstrate the value of this tool in developing planning documents that will enable the onground delivery of integrated water and vegetation outcomes to provide urban cooling and other benefits (such as ecosystem services). It will demonstrate this outcome using interdisciplinary research between the CRCWSC and DWER.
  • Are the following appropriately designed to deliver desired CRCWSC program objectives:
  1. Governance
  2. Research
  3. Engagement processes
 The CRCWSC and DWER have a close working relationship, which ensures the interdisciplinary research is transparent and well communicated between the parties. The CRCWSC will provide ongoing support as DWER tests the tool.
  • To what extent is the demonstration project considered of value to the different stakeholders?
 DWER:

  • Justify the need to preserve space for water and vegetation in the landscape and understand how much land is required to manage urban heat impacts.

CRCWSC:

  • Test and refine the Design Platform to ensure it is transferable between locations and scales, is easy to use and generates relevant data that is presented in an appropriate manner for the end user.
  • What, if anything, is changing in the project’s context that is or could affect operations?
 To be addressed at mid-project review
  • Are there alternative strategies that should be considered?
 To be addressed at mid-project review

Effectiveness

CRCWSC evaluation questions Response
  • To what extent are the demonstration project’s intended objectives, outputs and ‘processes of change’ being achieved?
  • Design Platform testing and refinement:  At present, the CRCWSC has tested and refined the Design Platform, using initial GIS data from DWER. This process ensures the model can be used to inform and strengthen the Wanju Vegetation Master Plan. This testing and refinement will continue as DWER uses the tool, with ongoing support from the CRCWSC, to test different typologies and planning rules.
  • Master Plan development:  It is hoped using the tool to test different typologies and generate data that clearly shows how vegetation and water can be used to manage urban heat will strengthen the requirement to include integrated water and vegetation outcomes in planning documents.
  • To what degree can i) research and ii) engagement activities be assessed as being of good quality?

Using the Design Platform (developed by the CRCWSC using the latest research) strengthens the justification for integrated vegetation and water outcomes in urban planning processes.

The inception meeting between the project stakeholders confirmed project objectives and progress (using the evaluation and learning framework).
  • To what extent has the knowledge and information generated by the demonstration project been of use to partners?
 Information about the project will be available on the CRCWSC website and sent to participants via the CRCWSC newsletter.
  • To what extent and in what ways does the project meet participant’s needs?
 To be addressed at mid-project review
  • What lessons are being learned about how the demonstration project is being implemented? And what processes and activities need improvement?
 To be addressed at mid-project review

Efficiency

CRCWSC evaluation questions Response
  • To what extent was the budget available adequate to deliver the demonstration project?
 To be addressed at mid-project review
  • Does the demonstration project add value for money?
 To be addressed at mid-project review

Impact

CRCWSC evaluation questions Response
  • To what extent have intended outcomes and impacts been attained as a result of the demonstration project?
 Too early to understand this yet
  • To what degree has the CRCWSC project led to any unintended outcomes?
 None to date
  • For whom has the demonstration project made a difference?
 The intended outcomes of this project include helping DWER to develop robust vegetation and water requirements in the Wanju Vegetation Master Plan, and illustrating how the tool can be used in similar planning processes in other locations and scales.
  • How have CRCWSC interventions supported the delivery of outcomes and impacts? What role did contextual factors play in this?
 To be addressed at project completion
  • To what extent are lessons learned from the demonstration project applied elsewhere?
 To be addressed at project completion
  • To what extent has the demonstration project built capacity related to its intent?
  To be addressed at project completion

Sustainability

CRCWSC evaluation questions Response
  • To what degree is there an indication that there will be ongoing impacts and benefits beyond the life of the demonstration project?
 To be addressed at mid-project review

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