Consultation has concluded

We want to help you engage with the strategy and picture a resilient and liveable Adelaide for all. 

Please ask us any questions or post your comments about the strategy.

We'll get back to you as soon as possible.

  • Please don't plant deciduous plants as the falling leaves make the roads look horrible and they block draind

    Scott Hillan asked 5 months ago

    Thank you for your comment and interest in the draft Urban Greening Strategy.

    Decisions on tree species being planted are made by land owners and managers based on their assessment of the look and feel being aimed for in each area, along with working through the limitations on suitable species to plant such as above and below ground infrastructure (e.g. powerlines and sewer pipes). Deciduousness is one characteristic which is considered among many others in deciding which tree species to plant and where. 

    The draft Strategy aims to work with agencies to determine suitable species lists and to expand availability of suitable species across the region, particularly through actions 2.5 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3.

    Consultation on the draft Strategy closes soon and if you haven’t already, I encourage you to further share your views by taking the 10 minute survey.

     

  • Given the significant emphasis on placemaking and project delivery, with grant funding primarily allocated for these purposes, how can we address the issue of inadequate council budgets and resources for ongoing maintenance and placekeeping? Council maintenance departments are increasingly unable to keep up with the growing number of new projects and initiatives. What practical measures can be implemented to ensure more people, vehicles, and funds are available to maintain these additional assets effectively?

    JCD asked 5 months ago

    Thank you for your comment and your interest in the draft Urban Greening Strategy.

    The Urban Greening Strategy is intended to be adopted by the State Government as a whole-of-government strategy, with multiple agencies working to deliver on the outcomes. In addition to being adopted by the State Government, the Strategy will be the first of its kind for metropolitan Adelaide, spanning 18 council areas from the City of Onkaparinga in the South to the Town of Gawler in the North. 

    The draft strategy acknowledges that maintenance requirements can be an impediment to greening. The draft strategy intends to create better maintenance regimes including through how green assets are accounted for and valued, particularly through actions 2.3 and 2.7.

    Determining suitable solutions will require working with partner agencies in order to unpack these challenges and determine solutions. This will require consideration by many owners of public land across Adelaide.

    Consultation on the draft Strategy closes soon and if you haven’t already, I encourage you to further share your views by taking the 10 minute survey.

  • Will local councils be responsible for disposing of the additional green waste produced by increasing spaces dedicated to greenery around Adelaide or is there a city-wide strategy that could be implemented? I work for Adelaide City Council and our green waste facility fills up with green waste in a matter of days before it is mulched. The mulch can't be sold quickly enough and is often dumped in large quantities around the parklands. Excessive mulching can have negative consequences for plant-life including even trees so I think this is an issue that should be taken seriously.

    Matt asked 5 months ago

    Thank you for your comment and your interest in the draft Urban Greening Strategy.

     The draft strategy acknowledges that maintenance requirements (including appropriate disposal of plant material) can be an impediment to greening. The Strategy intends to create better maintenance regimes including through how green assets are accounted for and valued, particularly through actions 2.3 and 2.7.

     Determining suitable solutions will require working with partner agencies in order to unpack these challenges and determine solutions. This will require consideration by many owners of public land across metropolitan Adelaide. Local government has a large role to play in delivering the vision of the draft Strategy, and it is acknowledged that collaboration on implementation will be required.

     Consultation on the draft Strategy closes soon and if you haven’t already, I encourage you to further share your views by taking the 10 minute survey.

  • Does the statergy allow for water to be released into creeks that historically used to carry water during summer, during the summer months of current dryness? 4th Creek comes from Morialta. 'Forever Flowing'. Yet now it dries out every summer and is unable to sustain life forms that it used to historically. Does this stately intend to reverse this environmental damage?

    Maxine Warnest asked 5 months ago

    Thanks for your interest in the draft Urban Greening Strategy for metropolitan Adelaide.

    The upper catchment of Fourth Creek is predominantly natural, and the flow regime is determined by natural climatic variations which impact both groundwater discharge (baseflow) and streamflow, as well as some use of groundwater and surface water for commercial purposes. As there is no reservoir in the upstream catchment, there is no way to release water down the creek. There may be future opportunities for restoration of the urban sections of the creek, including implementation of water-sensitive urban design (WSUD) and biodiversity-sensitive urban design (WSUD) principles. WSUD and BSUD are considered further in the draft Urban Greening Strategy, particularly under Priority Area 3 regarding Building Nature Back In. 

    Consultation on the draft Strategy is open until 28 June 2024 and if you haven’t already, we encourage you to further share your views by taking the 10 minute survey.

  • I live in Devon Park and it is pleasing to see the emergence of green areas along M2 though quite a few trees look like they're already dying. Within the suburb itself, what's currently present are a mish mash of different trees (from past planting) with no clear design vision. Falling branches seem a regular occurence from the gum trees in the area. Having lived most of my life in Singapore, i can say we've been fortunate to have extensive shade from the canopy of our raintrees almost everywhere. The trees are regularly and systematically inspected/pruned for aesthetics and to minimise unexpected accidents. Japan and Korea are other wonderful models with extensive, well planned and manicured green city spaces. I agree also with the gripe that not many trees in SA are above 10m height but unless the powerlines transition to subterranean I anticipate these new trees are likely to just suffer the same fate of an ugly "U-shaped" haircut that i see far too often. Will this strategy be executed in tandem with power networks to avoid this? Beyond the plans to increase green spaces - which i trust will be in consultation with landscape designers, what are the plans for maintenance and upkeep of these areas - an extensive undertaking no doubt - to ensure they don't start to deteriorate soon after establishment?

    Siang Ding asked 5 months ago

    Thank you for your interest in the Urban Greening Strategy and your questions regarding power networks and maintenance and upkeep of public open space.

    The Urban Greening Strategy is intended to be adopted by the State Government as a whole-of-government strategy, with multiple agencies working to deliver on the outcomes. In addition to being adopted by the State Government, the Strategy will be the first of its kind for metropolitan Adelaide, spanning 18 council areas from the City of Onkaparinga in the South to the Town of Gawler in the North. 

    Priority 2 of the Strategy titled ‘Government leading by example’ identifies actions associated with the conflict between trees and utilities and infrastructure, including actions to look at planting near utility infrastructure which includes the range of infrastructure that is built into, on top and below roadways.

    In addition, priority areas 1 and 3 (titled ‘Cooler and greener infill development’ and ‘Building nature back in’ respectively) detail effort to increase tree numbers and distribution across metro Adelaide. Space in an urban area is absolutely a factor making it difficult, and investigations into plantable space, as well as encouraging and incentivising retention of trees or new plantings on private land are some of the actions to address this.

    Maintenance of projects is determined on a case-by-case basis, with negotiation occurring between relevant agencies. The Strategy intends to create better maintenance regimes including through how green assets are accounted for and valued.

    Consultation on the draft Strategy is open until 28 June 2024 and if you haven’t already, I encourage you to further share your views by taking the 10 minute survey.

    Thanks

    Kaarina

  • Please allow water release into 4th Creek that runs from Morialta (which means 'always flowing'). This creek is now allowed to get so dry that it is no longer suitable for sustaining the life it used to for frogs, ducks, equines, koalas, lizards, insects and other life forms. The natural beauty of this once beautiful creek now reeks of waste of opportunity, filled in with cement, dry dirt and rocks where tadpoles once survived.

    Maxine Warnest asked 6 months ago

    Thanks for your interest in the draft Urban Greening Strategy for metropolitan Adelaide.

    The upper catchment of Fourth Creek is predominantly natural, and the flow regime is determined by natural climatic variations which impact both groundwater discharge (baseflow) and streamflow, as well as some use of groundwater and surface water for commercial purposes. As there is no reservoir in the upstream catchment, there is no way to release water down the creek. There may be future opportunities for restoration of the urban sections of the creek, including implementation of water-sensitive urban design (WSUD) and biodiversity-sensitive urban design (WSUD) principles. WSUD and BSUD are considered further in the draft Urban Greening Strategy, particularly under Priority Area 3 regarding Building Nature Back In. 

    Consultation on the draft Strategy is open until 28 June 2024 and if you haven’t already, we encourage you to further share your views by taking the 10 minute survey.

  • Why not encode building developers not to build right up to the boundary, and to build housing with space for trees, to include trees and real open garden space within a site, and not allow the buildings to be all to wall? Why not include space for natural parks within the building developers requirements, and not leave it to later for the public authority to buy a public space? Why not stop the greedy exploitation of property investment over healthy neighbourhoods?

    asked 5 months ago

    Thanks for your interest in the Urban Greening Strategy and your questions regarding planning requirements for housing, trees and private and public open space.  

    The Planning and Design Code, which provides a State-wide approach to planning and development contains several policies relating to minimum site areas, setback sizes and minimum areas for private open space and gardens (among others) that need to be considered when planning and building a house.  It also includes the Urban Tree Canopy Overlay that applies to several residential zones across metropolitan Adelaide and contains policies to encourage the retention of existing trees and outlines the minimum tree planting and soft landscaping requirements in most residential developments. The draft Strategy acknowledges the challenge that infill housing poses for urban greening and the role land-use planning policy plays to facilitate good design outcomes that ensure housing developments protect existing trees and provide sufficient space for new urban greening, supported by adequate soil and water infrastructure. For this reason, a key priority focus of the draft Strategy is creating cooler and greener infill development with several proposed actions to strengthen tree protection legislation and monitor and enhance the Planning and Design Code.  

    In South Australia there is a legislated requirement for land divisions to provide 12.5% public open space (or an option for payment into an offset fund where open space is not provided).  The draft Strategy recognises that not all residents have equal access to urban green spaces and therefore seeks to improve greening equity through the preparation of an open space strategy to identify priority areas for new or improved green open space. This proposed action aligns with the State Planning Commission’s proposal to develop a new open space strategy for greater Adelaide which will identify regional open space connections across new urban areas and support the provision of a range of quality open space. Green Adelaide will work with the State Planning Commission to integrate greening outcomes into the open space strategy.  

    We encourage you to complete the YourSAy survey (if not already) to help us prioritise the actions in the draft strategy.  

  • Hackney Lodge...why are owners of buildings allowed to let them deteriorate b4 our eyes....a blot on our so called green landscape. This building should be fixed up and used as accommodation with trees planted, an greenery

    Lynn Graham asked 6 months ago

    Thanks for your interest in the draft Urban Greening Strategy for metropolitan Adelaide and for your query regarding Hackney Lodge.

    There are specific requirements that relate to state heritage listed buildings, including their upkeep and any restoration works. There may be opportunities for greening of individual sites and these would need investigation in the context of any other requirements. It is understood that Hackney Lodge (also known as Romilly House) was sold in 2022 and the current owners are liaising with the Department for Environment and Water in regards to possible works at the site.

    You may be interested to know that Biodiversity Sensitive Urban Design (BSUD) is an emerging area of focus when it comes to new small and large scale buildings and developments. BSUD aims to create built environments that make a positive on-site contribution to biodiversity while providing other urban greening or development outcomes. BSUD is considered further in the draft Urban Greening Strategy, particularly under Priority Area 3 regarding Building Nature Back In.

    Consultation on the draft Strategy is open until 28 June 2024 and if you haven’t already, we encourage you to further share your views by taking the 10 minute survey.

  • I live in an older suburb (West Croydon) and my street has mature Jackerandas, but for whatever reason, there are 3 missing in my block. I have asked council to replace the ones that are missing, but was told that unless the home owner where the tree is missing requests a replacement. It won't be replaced. Just drive around and there are trees missing everywhere. Council should replace missing trees! Great opportunity missed.

    Missing asked 6 months ago

    Thanks for your comment. The Urban Greening Strategy is intended to be adopted by the State Government as a whole-of-government strategy, with multiple sectors working to deliver on the outcomes. The implementation plan that will be developed to support the Strategy will encourage re-thinking ‘business as usual’ approaches.

    Local councils have been engaged throughout the development of the draft Strategy and will be integral to its success, being major public landholders. Recent tree canopy mapping included in the draft Strategy shows that planting on council land has been a major driver behind overall canopy increases, however there are always improvements to be made. Your comment will be considered in finalisng the draft Strategy.

    Consultation on the draft Strategy is open until 28 June 2024 and if you haven’t already, we encourage you to further share your views by taking the 10 minute survey.

  • Can you install solar panels on your of car park shade structures

    Kait asked 6 months ago

    Thanks for your question. While the installation of solar panels on areas such as car parks helps to make cities more sustainable by reducing emissions, the draft Urban Greening Strategy focuses on increasing urban greenery – green spaces, plants and trees.

    To find out about solar panel installation and whether you need development approval, it is recommended that you contact your local council.

    Consultation on the draft Strategy is open until 28 June 2024 and if you haven’t already, we encourage you to further share your views by taking the 10 minute survey.