Councils get greener with neighbourhood grants

The Marshall Liberal Government has awarded more than $640,000 in funding to local councils to support efforts to keep suburban streets green and cool, as part of the Greener Neighbourhoods Grants Program.

Minister for Environment and Water David Speirs said seven projects in six councils across Adelaide have gained funding for works focused on street planting and water sensitive urban design – to help create greener and cooler neighbourhoods.

“The Greener Neighbourhoods Grants Program is an important step in addressing our changing climate,” said Minister Speirs.

“It aims to support councils to keep our suburban streets greener and cooler using best practice urban design.

“The successful applicants have demonstrated their projects will increase urban green cover, reduce urban heat across metropolitan Adelaide to improve liveability, create habitat for wildlife and generally improve the natural character and residential amenity of our urban environment. It’s also hoped the projects will lead to an overall improvement in community health and wellbeing.”

Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government Stephan Knoll thanked councils for applying and congratulated the successful applicants on their initiatives.

“There are some fantastic projects which will improve our local communities through practical environmental action by putting more trees on our suburban streets,” said Minister Knoll.

“The Greener Neighbourhoods Grants Program is a good example of the State Government working with local councils to deliver positive outcomes.”

The Greener Neighbourhoods Grants Program is a Marshall Liberal Government commitment of $2 million over four years to support councils located within the proposed Green Adelaide region in keeping Adelaide’s suburban streets green and cool.

The Greener Neighbourhoods Grants Program will contribute to the following objectives:

• Progress against the target in the 30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide to increase urban green cover by 20 per cent by 2045;
• Reduction of the urban heat island effect across metropolitan Adelaide;
• Creation of habitat for wildlife and improving natural character in the urban environment;
• Improved community health and wellbeing; and
• Involvement of the local community and Kaurna people in greening neighbourhoods.

To find out more about how the State Government is transforming Adelaide into a world-leading, sustainable, green and climate resilient city visit the Green Adelaide website.