Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

$10 million initiative to change the greening of public spaces

$10 million initiative to change the greening of public spaces
July 17, 2016

A future where landscapers, local councils and developers can quickly determine the best long-term plant species to establish, in the face of climate change and other challenges, may not be too far away.

Two of the nation's leading universities, the NSW Government and Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA) have announced a $10 million research consortium that is working to make this a reality.

Developed through Horticulture Innovation Australia's Green Cities fund, and being delivered through a partnership with Macquarie University, Western Sydney University and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, the extensive project is expected to be complete in 2021.

It aims to deliver a host of outputs including new research on plant water efficiency and heat stress, case-study demonstration sites and a website which makes it easier to select plant species across the country based on future climate predictions.

Macquarie University project lead Professor Michelle Leishman said given that 90% of Australians live in cities and towns, urban researchers and plant ecologists have a key role to play in better understanding which, where and how urban plants can best provide health, wellbeing and liveability outcomes both now and in the future.

Professor Leishman stated “increasing urban greenspace is not just a matter of more trees and more plants, we must be strategic in what we plant, and where we plant.

"This research will ensure that urban plantings take into account the aesthetic value of different plants, their performance in urban environments, their suitability for different types of environment in cities, and their capacity to cope with climatic changes in the future."

Professor David Ellsworth from Western Sydney University's Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment said the new consortium will increase the industry's ability to deliver resilient urban greenspaces in conditions of greater rainfall variability, heatwave frequency and drought conditions predicted in coming decades.

Professor Ellsworth added “this research will inform the choice of plants for greening cities by considering their climate tolerance and their value as urban plants, so that we can ensure that the plantings of today are sustainable, resilient, attractive and durable under even the toughest of climates tomorrow."

Horticulture Innovation Australia Chief Executive John Lloyd said the organisation's recently established Green Cities strategic co-investment fund will play a key role in boosting urban green space by investing in research which will help to overcome the current barriers, concluding “this is an exciting project as it will not only help the nursery industry to identify 'future-proof' native and exotic species for enhancing urban greening, it also has the capacity to benefit Australian urban environments for years to come."

This project is being delivered in line with the 202020Vision – a collaborative initiative that is working to make Australia's urban areas 20% greener.

29th June 2016 - RESTORING THE PARRAMATTA RIVER’S ENDANGERED ECOSYSTEMS AND NATIVE SPECIES TO IMPROVE SWIMMABILITY

27th June 2016 - CLIMATE CHANGE A MASSIVE THREAT TO GLOBAL HERITAGE AND TOURISM

18th May 2015 - CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON FIRST HORTICULTURE EXHIBITION CENTRE IN SYDNEY

5th March 2014 - 100 PARTNERS BACK 202020 VISION FOR AUSTRALIA’S URBAN GREEN SPACE

8th March 2012 - URBAN DESIGN CAN BOOST ACTIVITY AND HEALTH


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

BioLab Australia Pty Ltd

BioGuard is Australia and New Zealand’s most trusted supplier of premium, innovative and affordable commercial water treatment systems and chemicals. BioGuard offers a comprehensive range of…

read more

Aquatics / Technology / Waterparks

 
 

SportEng

ABOUT SPORTENG specialises in the Planning, Design and Construction inspection of Fields of Play for all sports. Blending engineering with the specialist knowledge gained from working closely with…

read more

Consultants / Recreation / Sport / Surfaces / Venues

 
 

Abel Sports

INTRODUCTION Abel Sports is Australia’s leading manufacturer and suppliers of Goal Posts, sports ground safety netting systems and coaches boxes for Stadiums ,Sports Clubs, Councils and…

read more

Recreation / Sport / Venues

 
 

Summit Fitness

Summit Fitness Equipment is now part of NovoFit - see www.ausleisure.com.au/suppliers/novofit/

read more

Fitness / Recreation / Technology / Wellness

 
 

Spill Station Australia

Compliant chemical storage and decanting solutions. Includes spill kits, spill containment pallets, chemical decanting decks and safety shower and eyewash equipment. See our full range of solutions

read more

Aquatics / Safety / Security / Venues

 
 

PaySmart

Headquartered in Brisbane with an Australia-wide network of satellite offices, PaySmart is one of Australia’s largest and longest-standing direct debit billing companies. In 1996 we began…

read more

Access / Billing / Fitness / Technology

 
 

Chadson Engineering Pty Ltd

Australia’s leading manufacturer of horizontal and vertical media filters suited to all types of commercial pools, water playgrounds marine parks, aquaculture and zoos. They are an ideal…

read more

Aquatics / Technology / Waterparks

 
 

Active World

Since 2019, Active World's development team has been delivering a comprehensive single solution that caters to the diverse requirements of successfully operated and managed leisure centres. The…

read more

Aquatics / Billing / Fitness / Recreation / Technology

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business