Melbourne invests $50m to become a green, sustainable city
A raft of measures in the 2022-23 draft budget include creating new open space, protecting parks, progressing the Power Melbourne project and cutting emissions.
The City of Melbourne is investing more than $50m to combat climate change and create a greener more sustainable city.
A raft of measures in the 2022-23 draft budget include creating new open space, protecting parks, progressing the Power Melbourne project and cutting emissions.
Futureproofing the city
Lord mayor Sally Capp said investing in a greener future for Melbourne will protect the environment, create clean jobs and futureproof the city for generations to come. She said the draft budget also recognises the important role parks, gardens and open spaces play in making Melbourne more liveable and maintaining the city’s status as Australia’s “garden capital”.
She added: “We’re getting on with Power Melbourne, making our city a clean energy superpower. We’re also delivering multiple key sustainability projects, because the decisions we make today provide a vital pathway to progress our net zero goals.”
More than $26m has been committed to protecting and maintaining the city’s parks and gardens, along with an additional $1.6m to replace public toilets in Fitzroy Gardens and Carlton Gardens, and $2m to improve the southern sports field in Fawkner Park.
We’re also delivering multiple key sustainability projects, because the decisions we make today provide a vital pathway to progress our net zero goals”
The City of Melbourne will also spend $17.5m in the next year to secure new open space across the city. The primary focus will be on securing open space in the city’s most densely populated suburb – Southbank – with $25m committed over the next four years.
An extra 2,000 square metres of open space will also be created in North Melbourne – the size of two Olympic-sized swimming pools – as part of the $5m Bedford Street Pocket Park project. In partnership with the Victorian Government, the project will deliver new play and picnic facilities, 48 new trees and safer pedestrian crossings.
The city council will continue to build on its commitment to combat climate change and move towards net zero emissions with a $650,000 investment in the landmark Power Melbourne project, which seeks to create a neighbourhood scale battery network to supply renewable energy to the community.
Work in the coming year will focus on engaging with the community, as well as designing and funding the first batteries in partnership with the private sector.
More than $1.2m will also be spent on sustainability and gas-free initiatives at council-owned facilities, including the North Melbourne Town Hall and Carlton Baths. Work will focus on transitioning to renewable electricity to help slash emissions.
The city’s green canopy will be vital in efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change, with $1.8m for the annual tree planting programme to deliver 2,400 new trees across the municipality.
The programme will focus on climate resilient species of trees, ensuring Melbourne’s green canopy can better survive drought and heat and continue to cool the city.
Building resilience
Significant work will be undertaken to improve storm water harvesting across the municipality, collecting water from drains and roads to help irrigate and drought-proof the city’s parks and gardens.
For the first time, the City of Melbourne will also invest $200,000 to help better prepare for natural disasters including floods, pandemics and heatwaves, and fund new technology solutions.
“We’re proposing to invest more than $44m towards existing and new parks and gardens to help ensure the city remains green and vibrant for future generations,” said environment portfolio lead councillor Rohan Leppert.
“Melbourne’s urban forest, parks and gardens are some of our most valuable assets, and a key tool in our efforts to combat climate change”
“Melbourne’s urban forest, parks and gardens are some of our most valuable assets, and a key tool in our efforts to combat climate change. With our unique environment and biodiversity at risk, it has never been more important to invest in greening projects.”
Sustainable building portfolio lead councillor Elizabeth Doidge, added: “We know that cleaner energy and sustainable building reduces operating costs and makes city infrastructure more resilient in the face of climate change.
“By converting our own buildings to renewable energy, we’re creating a clear guide for businesses, government and industry to follow. The North Melbourne Town Hall and Carlton Baths transition is another big step forward to reduce emissions and achieve net zero.”
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