Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Melbourne’s $51m plan for a greener, cleaner city

The City of Melbourne Council has unveiled a $51 million investment plan for the city’s sustainability sector that seeks to create more green spaces and support a range of new jobs.    

Lord Mayor, Sally Capp says the draft Budget 2023–24 includes $26.5 million to protect and maintain the city’s parks and gardens, boost community health and wellbeing and make Melbourne one of the greenest cities in the world.   

“We’re planting the seeds for tomorrow, while caring for our city and its people today,” she said.

“As our population grows, it’s vital we create new open space, support cleaner jobs and continue combatting climate change. That’s why we’re committed to delivering projects like Power Melbourne, FOGO and zero carbon buildings.

“This draft Budget also recognises the important role our parks, gardens and open spaces play in making Melbourne one of Australia’s most liveable cities – boosting the health and wellbeing of those who live, work and visit.”  

$2.4 million has been committed to grow the city’s urban forest – including $1.7 million for Council’s annual tree planting program to add 3,000 trees across the municipality.   

The Council is also charging ahead with plans to combat climate change and achieve net zero emissions, investing $1.5 million in the landmark Power Melbourne project – an additional $850,000 compared to last year.    

“We know cleaner energy and sustainable building reduces operating costs and makes city infrastructure more resilient in the face of climate change,” said Sustainable Building portfolio lead Councillor, Elizabeth Doidge.  

“We want to see our city buildings zero carbon ready by 2040 or sooner – and we’re confident this draft Budget supports our ambitious goal.”  

Council says work will ramp up in the coming year to install the first neighbourhood scale battery at Library at the Dock, providing 100% renewable energy to the community under the Power Melbourne project.    

Council will also spend $16.5 million to secure new open space across the municipality, including two pocket parks for Chapman Street, North Melbourne and Miles and Dodds Street Reserve in Southbank.    

In the next 12 months, construction will start on the Bedford Street Pocket Park, adding an extra 2,000m2 of open space in North Melbourne – the size of two Olympic swimming pools. In partnership with the Victorian Government, the project will deliver new play and picnic facilities, 48 new trees and safer pedestrian crossings.        

Over half a million dollars will be spent on the Climate Adaption Streetscapes Renewal Program to create new and improved spaces for trees in city streets, with an additional $150,000 to support soil remediation works in median strips to help more trees grow.    

“We’re investing nearly $36 million to protect, maintain and enhance our urban environment – supporting our campaign to make Melbourne our Big Green City,” 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 – so greening our city has never been more important.”  

With support from the Victorian Government, $2.3 million will be spent on a stormwater harvesting project to drought-proof Princes Park.   

Council will invest $1.1 million to continue the rollout of its popular Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) collection services into mixed-used residential and commercial buildings. The program was introduced to more than 23,000 households and apartments across the municipality in 2022, diverting more than 1,500 tonnes of organic waste from landfill.    

To create more sustainable buildings and support the city’s transition to gas-free operations, more than $3 million will be provided as Council works towards becoming a zero-carbon city by 2040.    

In 2023–24, the City of Melbourne will release its Zero Carbon Buildings Plan, accelerating retrofits across the municipality. Buildings currently account for almost 70 per cent of the city’s emissions.    

Council says it is also taking bold action to raise the planning standards for environmentally sustainable design, introducing stronger planning controls for developments – greening more buildings and reducing energy costs for businesses and homes.   

The draft Budget will provide $2.85 million on sustainability and gas-free initiatives at Council-owned facilities, including the North Melbourne Baths, Carlton Baths and the Boyd Community Hub. Work will focus on transitioning to renewable electricity to help slash emissions.     

Council will invest more than $100,000 to help better prepare for natural disasters including floods, pandemics and heatwaves, and fund new technology solutions.     

The draft Budget 2023–24 will be formally announced tomorrow, with public consultation to follow until midnight Thursday 8 June.     

   

Latest Articles