by Brenton Greer
As part of the South Australian (SA) Government’s natural resource management reform agenda, Green Adelaide will be established as a regional landscape board to deliver natural resource management functions in metropolitan Adelaide.
Green Adelaide will focus on enhancing the city’s urban ecology and investing in the natural environment to improve overall community wellbeing. Furthermore, the Green Adelaide Board will provide an exciting opportunity to join up the management of key areas of urban water, coasts and greening to make Adelaide a climate-resilient city.
The proposed Green Adelaide region will encompass 17 metropolitan councils and about 1.3 million South Australians. It will be a strategic and influential organisation that drives innovative reform and delivers practical outcomes across seven key priorities:
- Coastal management
- Urban rivers and wetlands
- Green streets and flourishing parklands
- Water sensitive urban design
- Controlling pest plants and animals
- Nature education
- Fauna and flora in the urban environment
Partnerships and collaboration will be vital for Green Adelaide to achieve its priorities. The water industry has a key role to play in helping to improve the management of Adelaide’s rivers and wetlands through a united, cross-boundary approach. This ‘hills to sea’ approach to urban water management will consider water sensitive urban design, re-use of water, public amenity, flood management and the quality of water entering the gulf. If you are interested in discussing about how your organisation can collaborate with Green Adelaide on water management issues please contact dew.greenadelaide@sa.gov.au.
Green Adelaide will be governed by an expert, skills-based board of up to 10 people appointed by the Minister for Environment and Water. The Board's activities and funding across its seven priority areas will be guided by a five-year regional plan developed in consultation with its community and key stakeholders.
Early initiatives aligned to Green Adelaide include the Greener Neighbourhoods grant program for local councils to help keep the state’s suburban streets green and cool; establishing Glenthorne National Park; and setting Adelaide on the path to becoming one of the world’s first National Park Cities.
The Green Adelaide Board will be appointed following passage of the SA Government’s Landscape South Australia Bill through Parliament. Green Adelaide is currently working with the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board and the Department for Environment and Water while consulting with key stakeholders to develop arrangements for the transition to the new legislation.
If you want to find out more about Green Adelaide, joins us on 16 October 2019 for an AWA policy discussion on the role of water in greening Adelaide. Details can be found here.
Brenton Greer is the Director of Green Adelaide.
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