Streetscape Biodiversity Project
The City of Melbourne has collaborated with the University of Melbourne to develop and test a palette of understorey plant species suitable for the harsh growing conditions of streetscapes that can also support biodiversity and provide a more attractive landscape for the public.
The City of Melbourne’s Nature in the City Strategy aims to increase biodiversity and habitat and develop a more ecologically connected urban landscape.
A key action of the strategy is to undertake plantings to increase understorey habitat on City of Melbourne managed land by 20 per cent by 2027. Much of the land managed by council is part of the streetscape and the opportunities for establishing native understorey in council’s many heritage-listed parks are limited. Consequently, there is a need to explore how native understorey vegetation can be grown in streets to meet our strategic goals.
As part of the Streetscape Biodiversity Project, we have designed, installed and are currently monitoring a suite of biodiversity streetscape plantings. These sites can be found in:
- Arden Street, North Melbourne
- Park Street, Parkville
- Docklands Drive, Docklands
- Clowes Street, South Yarra.
Evidence-based recommendations have been developed in collaboration with the University of Melbourne to assist with the design, construction and maintenance of streetscape plantings that are successful, cost-effective and improve biodiversity and amenity.
Recent research in Melbourne has shown that increasing the complexity of understorey vegetation and the percentage of understorey that was native had positive effects on bat, bird and insect communities.
This resource for landscape architects and other urban design professionals aims to promote greater integration of biodiversity habitat into existing urban landscapes to create a more ecologically connected city.
Streetscape biodiversity resources
- The Urban Nature Planting Guide contains ecological and horticultural information for over 100 species suitable for use in urban landscapes.
- A guide to creating a biodiverse streetscape planting that includes information on site preparation and planting.
- A case study that documents the recent implementation of biodiverse plantings within the City of Melbourne and addresses key insights, challenges and lessons: