Bushland and Urban Biodiversity Management in a Changing Climate is the final report of the investigation that looked into the current understanding of the impacts of climate change on local governments ability to manage their biodiversity and bushland assets. The report has been prepared by the Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (EAGA) which was established in 2008 to provide a regional framework for local stakeholders to work together on climate change and greenhouse gas projects in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria.
The new North Sydney Draft Urban Forest Strategy is on public exhibition until 15 April 2011. The culmination of several years of research and mapping of the North Sydney Urban Forest; the Strategy provides an in-depth look at how the ‘green infrastructure’ of the area is performing now and considers how its performance can be maximised into the future. Read the rest of this entry »
At this City Talk Allan Jones MBE will launch the City of Sydney’s green infrastructure plan which will deliver an innovative city-wide decentralised energy, water and waste system. The plan will position Sydney as a global environmental leader energised by local low and zero carbon and renewable energy sources. Professor Tim Flannery will introduce the City Talk with a message for cities to take urgent action on climate change and Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP will talk about how local government must play a key role changing the way we think about energy, water and waste. A panel discussion will follow with David Holden, Climate Strategist–Urban Planning, Kinesis, Robert Murray-Leach, CEO, Energy Efficiency Council and Peter Harcus, Manager Gas Network Development, Jemena Gas Networks (NSW) and Neil Gordon, Manager, Demand Management, Energy Australia. Read the rest of this entry »
Edible street verge gardening is something that has been going on for the past 20 years or so in our cities but is now capturing the public imagination such that the number of plantings is rapidly increasing. For advocates of edible landscaping in our cities, this is good news but for local government the practice can be confusing. What has become apparent during the recent upsurge in the popularity of edible footpath planting is that a set of design and planting guidelines are desperately needed. Read more in this Australian City Farms and Community Gardens Network article.
The Local Government Sustainable Development 2010 Conference is designed to assist local government practitioners to identify, plan and implement best practice sustainable development solutions. Read the rest of this entry »
The Biodiversity Recovery Plan for Gatton and Laidley Shires, South-East Queensland 2003-2008 takes a multi-species recovery planning approach, addressing the conservation and recovery of all known significant species and ecological communities within the defined local government areas of Gatton and Laidley Shires in South East Queensland. Read the rest of this entry »
The ‘Holistic Natural Resource Management of Crows Nest Shire Project’, which I coordinated in 2001-2, saw Queensland’s Crows Nest Shire become one of the first rural local governments in Australia to implement an incentive-based NRM program that included an environmental levy and rate rebates for native vegetation conservation agreements. The Project was later renamed ‘Crows Nest Shire Project Green Nest’. Read the rest of this entry »
I prepared the Gatton Shire Biodiversity Strategy in 2000 as a component of the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) funded Gatton Shire Vegetation Assessment and Conservation Project. The Strategy advanced innovative win-win solutions to benefit both biodiversity and the landholders and community of Gatton Shire. Read the rest of this entry »