Urban Greening & Tree Canopy
A primary climate adaptation pathway open for local government and state government partnership is the greening and cooling of our urban environments. This is a key consideration for urban growth development as well as for urban renewal and infill opportunities.
Current state-based targets from the 30-year Plan for Greater Adelaide, indicate an overarching aim to increase urban green cover by 20% by 2045.
Overarching target | Sub-targets | Measure |
|---|---|---|
Urban green cover is increased by 20% in metropolitan Adelaide by 2045. | For councils areas with less than 30% tree canopy cover currently, cover should be increased by 20% by 2045. For councils areas with more than 30% tree canopy cover currently, this should be maintained to ensure no net loss by 2045. | Measured using software consistently applied to metropolitan council areas (i-Tree, LiDAR). |
The benefits of urban green spaces are diverse and cut across numerous strategic areas including planning, climate change, environmental considerations and emergency management through building community resilience. High-quality green spaces are linked to principles of good design and sustainable infill development that are connected to increases in house prices, the promotion of exercise, contribution to biodiversity and tackling social issues such as health risks and anti-social behaviour.
Urban Heat and Tree Mapping of Adelaide Metropolitan Area
In an urban context, heat, tree canopy cover, water, biodiversity and urban design are particularly relevant for maintaining the wellbeing, liveability, resilience of local communities. This link provides direct access to the Department of Environment and Water's Urban Heat and Tree Mapping information page, and includes links to the Mapping viewer.
Use the Urban Heat and Tree Mapping Viewer
Creating greener places for healthy and sustainable communities
This booklet aims to advocate for quality green public spaces and to provide inspiration and ideas on what is possible in a changing urban profile. Developed through a collaboration between the South Australian Government and the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (SA Chapter) as part of the 'Healthy Parks Healthy People' Intitiave, it promotes the importance and prioritisation of green public space and considers new and different ways of shaping our neighbourhoods.
You Can’t Arb That!
You Can’t Arb That! is a collaboration between the councils across greater Adelaide, the Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island. Council arborists are asked questions straight from the community to help share the important work they do. Resilient East have put together a list of frequently asked questions that compliment the series of videos that are hosted on the Resilient South YouTube channel. The FAQ and videos can be found on the link below.
Learn more about You can't arb that
Creating More Space for Trees – Resilient East
Supported by the City of Adelaide and Resilient East, this study presents the factors at play in determining underground space to plant urban trees. The information contained in this report is applicable to all of greater metropolitan Adelaide, with a particular focus on and examples from the City of Adelaide council area.
Design Guidelines for Street Trees in Challenging Spaces
Taking on some of the challenges discussed in the above report, this presents a series of design guidelines to help us manage our trees in tight spaces. Produced by the City of West Torrens, this project received funding assistance through the State Government's Greener Neighbourhoods grant program and invaluable input from several councils.
Learn more about the guidelines
Which Plant Where
Developed in partnership between Macquarie University, Western Sydney University, Hort Innovation, and the NSW Government, this website provides tools and valuable resources as a culmination of 5 years of research investigating which horticultural species will survive in Australian urban landscapes.
Woody Meadows
The University of Melbourne in conjunction with their research partners have developed resources to help design and install low maintenance plantings of Australian shrubs to improve the appearance and function of landscapes.
Find out more at Woody Meadows
Tree Laws in Australia
Two recent reports have examined the various laws and regulations across Australia regarding the protection of trees at state and local levels. Both reports provide commentary on the state of South Australia's tree protections laws in comparison to other jurisdictions and make recommendations on strengthening these protections, particularly for metropolitan Adelaide:
- Comparison of Australia’s Tree Laws - Produced by Conservation Council SA, this report assesses what other jurisdictions across Australia’s metropolitan cities do to protect their urban forest and establishes best practice, with a particular focus on areas of similar climate, urbanisation and population density.
- Urban tree protection in Australia (University of Adelaide Research Report) - Published in May 2022, this report was prepared for the South Australian Attorney General’s Department Planning and Land Use Services.
Value of Trees on Private Land
Released in August 2022, this report provides a common understanding of the full range of values and benefits provided by green infrastructure on private land. Led by Melbourne Water in collaboration with Living Melbourne stakeholders, the overarching objective of this report is to help encourage canopy cover on private land through having a clear understanding and way of communicating the monetary value and benefits trees provide on private property.
Green Adelaide resources
Looking for help in the garden? Check out Green Adelaide's garden planting guides for information on low maintenance plants that save water and attract birds, butterflies and bees. In addition to this is the newly published Adelaide Garden Guide for New Homes.
Search Green Adelaide resources
Planting trees near powerlines
The Electricity (Principles of Vegetation Clearance) Regulations 2021 set limitations on the types of vegetation that can be planted near powerlines. Download a list of approved and permitted trees.
The limitations to planting near powerlines only apply within certain distances to the centreline of the powerlines. These distances depend on the voltage of the powerlines.
