Green Adelaide is one of 9 landscape boards. It was created on 1 July 2020 under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019, following a range of reforms to the natural resource management (NRM) system.

Green Adelaide’s region spans 17 metropolitan councils (from Gawler River in the north to Sellicks Beach in the south) and about a third of Gulf St Vincent. You can view the Green Adelaide region boundary and local council areas on this interactive map.

For the first time, metropolitan Adelaide has a government organisation sharply focused on making progress towards a climate-resilient and ecologically vibrant city stretching from the hills to the sea.

The Act requires us to prepare a 5-year Regional Landscape Plan to deliver practical outcomes across the following 7 key priorities:

Coastal management

We will help conserve and restore Adelaide’s unique coastline to benefit our way of life, our economy and provide vital habitat for native plants and animals.

Water resources and wetlands

We will protect, enhance and restore Adelaide’s water resources (our rivers, wetlands, groundwater or underground water and lakes) to help preserve these essential ecosystems and the wildlife that call them home.

Green streets and flourishing parklands

We will increase tree canopy cover and green spaces to create cooler urban areas that encourage biodiversity and improve community health and wellbeing.

Biodiversity and water sensitive urban design

We will build industry and community capacity to design cooler, greener and nature-friendly developments and infrastructure.

Controlling pest plants and animals

We will help coordinate the management of invasive pests to support an Adelaide that is rich with healthy biodiversity.

Nature education

We will grow nature and sustainability education in Adelaide to support children and adults to connect with the environment.

Fauna, flora and ecosystem health in the urban environment

We will create more urban spaces for plants and animals to thrive in which in turn provides people a better quality of life.

The draft Regional Landscape Plan was developed based on feedback from:

• the NRM system reform consultation during 2018
• stakeholder* consultation during mid 2019
• stakeholder* consultation during November and December 2020.

*Stakeholders included representatives from local councils, government agencies, the environmental sector, industry peak bodies and Warpulai Kumangka (Green Adelaide’s Kaurna Advisory Group).

Green Adelaide is primarily funded by the Landscape Levy, which is collected through local councils.

The levy is paid by all ratepayers across the state to fund their local landscape boards to protect and enhance the environment.

The levy recognises that all residents and landowners have important roles and responsibilities around enjoying, managing and protecting our landscapes.

Everyone across the region is both an investor and a beneficiary.