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the green infrastructure project

people plants places

people plants placesthe green infrastructure project

Green spaces are the connections that are critical to our wellbeing and quality of life

Green Infrastructure describes the network of natural landscapes assets which underpin the economic, socio-cultural and environmental functionality of our cities and towns – it is the green spaces and water systems which intersperse, connect and provide vital life support for humans and other species within our urban environments

(Australian Institute of Landscapes Architects)



Bringing together key stakeholders to integrate the creation of spaces that revitalise and protect our communities, The Green Infrastructure Project is about valuing the ‘green infrastructure’ as highly as the built space in planning, design and development.

The green spaces within and between our towns and cities need to be acknowledged as fundamental in the urban landscape, and no longer the leftover places between buildings and roads. Living, breathing and growing, these spaces underpin healthy communities, linking us all, in all that we do.

Investment in the green infrastructure of our towns and cities is an investment in our health, our wellbeing and our future.

The success of the Sustainable Landscapes Project – its achievements and collaborative approach – has led to an opportunity to step up, to think big and transform our urban environments. We are perfectly positioned to use our inventiveness and innovation and make our green infrastructure really matter.

Our responsibility is to the South Australian community, present and future, to integrate our thinking, our planning, our design and our energy. It is to make green infrastructure a vigorous and wholesome reality.

With your help.

Our vision is of South Australians living in healthy, resilient and beautiful landscapes that sustain and connect peop le with plants and places.

vision


Green infrastructure can help us respond to challenges

of a changing climate by providing many ‘ecosystem

services’ such as shading and cooling, integrated water

management, food production, air quality improvement

and habitat for countless native species that live in

urban areas.

Plants and green spaces also provide essential social

and cultural benefits. They nurture and support us

as individuals and communities, providing places to

connect, exercise, relax and celebrate.

These spaces are the key threads in our social fabric that

connect communities and provide the contact with

nature that is so critical to our wellbeing.

Currently, design and planning of urban places is focussed

on the built environment. This includes not only our

buildings but the ‘grey’ infrastructure of roads and

engineered services that support human settlement.

Green infrastructure is too often an afterthought. This

needs to change if we are to create liveable, connected

and sustainable towns and cities – resilient to a warmer,

drier climate and changing urban form.

the challenge

Cities and towns are facing increasing pop ulation pressure, changing demographics and many environmental challenges, part icularly related to climate change, water and food security. Critical to the health of people and communities is a deep engagement with green places.

Innovation in design needs to go hand in hand with

creative ways of involving communities in planning and

managing landscapes in their local area.

Complex issues, multiple stakeholders and many levels

of policy and planning need to be coordinated to put

green infrastructure centre stage in the design and

planning of our towns and cities.

what we will achieveA vision for living urban landscapes where green

infrastucture is integral

Principles for green infrastructure that can be

embedded within diverse policies and plans

Promotion of the multiple benefits of green

infrastructure in urban settings and the most effective

approaches for their achievement

Places that demonstrate green infrastructure

principles

Strategic alliances to facilitate integration of

landscaping systems and green infrastructure

Policy guidance for integration of green infrastructure

Credible, engaging and innovative communication

products

Training and other capacity building initiatives for

key audiences

A recognition scheme to acknowledge and promote

persistence and brilliance

Original and effective ways of engaging

communities


principles and values

operating principlesThe program will:

Operate across diverse public and private spaces, at different scales, in towns and cities across South Australia

Promote design and management of urban environments as whole systems, with a focus on suitability and sustainability

Promote design and management of landscapes to accommodate diverse needs and services

Demonstrate wise and sustainable use of resources, climate-appropriate plant selection and water sensitive urban design

Build on existing knowledge, research, programs and partnerships

Use processes that encourage sustained behavioural change

Maximize potential of new technologies for planning and community conversations

Be informed by evaluation, research and action learning

Provide a platform for collaboration and partnerships

Pursue innovation

our valuesWe know that:

Plants sustain life by providing ecological, social, cultural, health and economic services

‘Green infrastructure’ is the living infrastructure that supports the grey and built infrastructure and has equal value

Urban environments and the people who live in them are part of interdependent ecological systems

Collaboration is essential to good design and decision-making in a complex system

Behaviour change requires sustained intervention at many levels and a supportive social and policy environment

Key stakeholders and institutions hold a shared vision that recognises the value of green infrastructure

Community, industry and government are skilled and motivated to design, implement and maintain green infrastructure

Policies and plans facilitate the coordination and integration of building, infrastructure and landscapes


industry associations /peak bodies Environment Non Government Organisations

Institute of Public Works and Engineering Australia

Australian Institute of Landscape Architects

Urban Development Institute of Australia

Nursery and Garden Industry Australia

Landscape and garden designers

Planning Institute of Australia

Conservation Council of SA

Parks and Leisure Australia

community sectorIndividuals and households

Community and citizen groups

relevant plans30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide

Local Government Plans

State and Regional NRM Plans

Regional Action Plans for

Land Use

Integrated Water

Management Plans

Climate Change Adaptation Framework

for South Australia

SA Strategic Plan

Naturelinks

Greenways

education sectorTAFE/Training organisations

Universities

Schools

issues Street trees

Pocket parks and reserves

Water Sensitive Urban Design

Greenfields development

Urban densification

Transport Oriented

Developments (TODs)

Recreation spaces

Walking trails

Linear parks

Stormwater

Cycle ways

private sectorLandscape and garden designers

Developers

Builders

Retailers - plant and garden products

the landscape

government Local government councils

Sustainability and Climate Change

Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Department of Planning and Local Government

Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Department for Energy, Transport and Infrastructure

Department of Education and Children’s Services

Department of Primary Industries and Resources

Land Management Corporation

Integrated Design Commission

Commonwealth Government

Botanic Gardens of Adelaide

Department for Water

Department of Health

Regional NRM Boards

Zero Waste

SA Water

Education sector

Industry associations / Peak bodies

Private sector

Government

Community sector

IssuesRelevant plans

In a complex operating environment with multiple stakeholders, competing demands, challenging issues and numerous plans, the time has arrived to integrate and coordinate our efforts. We need an holistic approach.


Sustainable Landscapes, hosted by DENR through

the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide, has forged unique

collaborations between state and local government,

private sector, industry groups and communities. These

include the Land Management Corporation, Delfin Lend

Lease, Adelaide & Mt Lofty Ranges Natural Resources

Management Board, SA Water, Nursery and Garden

Industry, the Local Government Association, all three

South Australian universities and TAFE SA.

Sustainable Landscapes has had a significant influence

in major residential developments across Adelaide and

has reached out into the community through state-wide

native garden awards and events, regular presentations

to industry and community, displays at environment

and gardening expos, and demonstration landscapes.

The project has developed informative, practical and

inspiring written and on-line products and has become

a highly respected source of practical information about

the design, implementation and ongoing management

of urban landscapes.

The new vision for The Green Infrastructure Project will

be achieved by building on the successes of Sustainable

Landscapes, with the same collaborative, evidence-

based approach and a suite of tools that work to create

change in attitudes and behaviour and further support

the wellbeing of our communities.

building on success

For seven years, the Sustainable Landscapes project has defined, demonstrated and promoted urban landscapes that are bo th attractive and appropriate to South Australia’s climate, community and resource availability.


Partnership in this flagship project offers a unique

opportunity to provide leadership in the research,

design, demonstration and communication of

innovative urban landscapes that make a significant

impact on the future health and wellbeing of South

Australian people and our environment.

benefits for partners:Being part of a coordinated and effective voice to

inform debate and decisions on green infrastructure

Direct input into project scope, targets and priorities

Alignment with industry leaders

Professional development opportunities

Access to highly credible technical advice

Access to communication products, including

co-branding opportunities

To achieve this vision for South Australia, funding partners are needed.

partner opportunities

be part of thisContact

Stephen Forbes

Director

Botanic Gardens of Adelaide

[email protected]

GPO Box 1047

Adelaide

South Australia 5001

Tel: 08 8222 9320


people plants places

Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Land Management Corporation

Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board

‘Nature matters to people. Big trees and small trees, glistening water, chirping birds, budding bushes, colourful flowers - these are important ingredients in a good life.’

Rachel Kaplan

‘Progress does not have to be patented to be worthwhile. Progress can also be measured by our interactions with nature and its preservation. Can we teach children to look at a flower and see all the things it represents: beauty, the health of an ecosystem, and the potential for healing?’

Richard Louv

people plants places the green infrastructure project · people plants places the green...

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