Ambition for a Greener Adelaide
The Urban Future Exchange (previously known as the Australian Institute of Urban Studies SA) held the public event Ambition vs Reality for a Green(er) Adelaide on 16 April 2021 to discuss Green Adelaide’s draft Regional Landscape Plan. This Urban Update summarises the discussion from this event.
Infill housing and tree loss
Between 2013 and 2016, Adelaide experienced a 1.9% drop in tree canopy, and 2.6% increase in hard surfaces[i].
Much of this tree canopy loss comes from the removal of non-regulated trees on private land, where there is no requirement to preserve them.
Local governments have limited space to plant trees, and the space they do have is heavily contested with services, driveway crossovers, footpaths and other services. Public verges generally already have a high level of tree canopy.
There are difficulties in selecting tree species due to leaf litter, disease and water resilience and other factors, which can lead to complaints and criticism of trees, generally directed towards local governments.
While land developers are primarily motivated by profit, some high-end and more sophisticated developers are incorporating more greenery into their projects in recognition of the added value it brings. However, suburban infill developments from smaller developers and investors are generally less concerned with higher-value outcomes.
Green Adelaide has stated an ambition to encourage the retention of mature trees, and for developments to provide more than the minimum landscaping requirements. However, this goal may be difficult to achieve through the planning system given its current development-oriented nature.
Barriers, capacity building and education
There is a view that a majority of people are disengaged with environmental issues such as urban greening. Many individuals may adopt the attitude that activities on their land make little difference to the whole.
Behavioural change is most likely to come from promoting the benefits of a healthy natural environment. To this end, there are several ways to encourage more environmentally supportive behaviour.
Recognising the monetary value of trees could provide an important incentive to retain trees. A recent economic valuation of the trees in Hazelwood Park (a high land value area in the eastern suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia) found the trees to have a structural value of up to $65,000 per tree[ii]. Further research on the monetary value of trees (and associated replacement values / costs) should be explored.
It is also assumed there is a link between greenery and tree canopy cover and land values. Further research is also recommended in this space.
Studies from Adelaide[iii] and Flinders[iv] Universities have shown the importance of microbiomes to human health. Such studies have shown that soil health is linked to human health, and that even walking through a healthy and biodiverse area can improve health.
These elements relate to the concept of biophilia, the innate need for human connection to nature. This suggests that nature is essential for our wellbeing.
The Green Adelaide plan includes nature education as a priority, with a focus on nature stewardship. Introducing children to nature early in life has a major impact on their attitudes to the environment later in life.
Green Adelaide has stated a goal to improve regional coordination and promote best practice. The distinction in roles between Green Adelaide and local government is likely to see Green Adelaide be best placed for capacity building, research and development and metro-wide collaboration and outcomes.
The draft plan’s goals on water sensitive urban design (WSUD) and biodiversity sensitive urban design (BSUD) include overcoming implementation barriers as an outcome. Overcoming the barriers to implementing increased greening and tree canopy should also be stated as an outcome.
Summary
The panellists concluded with the following suggestions for Green Adelaide:
The plan generally says all the right things.
Green Adelaide should use its platform to promote great collaborative projects.
The plan needs to address the barriers to making greening happen.
Don’t underestimate the capacity of citizens to make changes – but more promotion, sharing and support is required for them to do so.
There is a need to celebrate successful projects and inspire people.
The Urban Future Exchange (previously known as the Australian Institute of Urban Studies SA) recommends further discussion and research on the monetised and non-monetised value of urban greening and exploring ways to incorporate these values into the planning system and development process.
In its submission on the draft plan, the Urban Future Exchange (previously known as the Australian Institute of Urban Studies SA) recommended a number of specific points in relation to the draft plan, which can be read here.
The Urban Future Exchange (previously known as the Australian Institute of Urban Studies SA) also supports the intent of Green Adelaide’s proposed iconic projects, and offers the following suggestions for additional projects:
Rewilding the Adelaide Park Lands and Karrawirra Parri.
Reinstating natural stormwater and open space systems across metropolitan Adelaide, with associated recreation reserves and linear parks.
Partnering to develop the next ‘Lochiel Park’. This could be a world-leading project that demonstrates best practice in BSUD and WSUD, maximises canopy cover and climate resilience, and importantly, promotes the benefits of living in such an environment.
Urban Future Exchange (previously known as the Australian Institute of Urban Studies SA) welcomes input from its members, public leaders, policymakers, stakeholders and the wider public and is open to further discussion on issues relating to greening and urban environmental health.
References
[i] Greener Spaces, Better Places (2017), Where Should All The Trees Go?
[ii] https://www.burnside.sa.gov.au/Environment-Sustainability/Trees/Hazelwood-Park-Tree-Assessment
[iii] https://sciences.adelaide.edu.au/news/list/2019/11/06/biodiverse-soil-dust-linked-to-reduced-anxiety
[iv] https://www.flinders.edu.au/research/braveminds/the-microbes-that-are-key-to-our-health
