Haines Street urban greening

Located at the busy intersection between Haines Street and Abbotsford Street, North Melbourne, 61 and 61A Haines Street form one of four substantial medium-density housing complexes. The complex interfaces directly with the public as a 24/7 accessible thoroughfare, and is located with walking distance to North Melbourne Primary School, Gardiner Reserve and Lady Huntingfield Children's Centre.

The Haines Street urban greening project builds on a range of research that suggests that green spaces and quality public, communal space enhances social life. Recently, the car park has been blossoming into a communal play space for children. Urban greening principles have been adopted to enhance communal use of the car park common ground, by slowing traffic and creating pedestrian only gardens within the car park.

The project includes:

• fruiting trees and herb beds
• native flowering ground covers
• vertical gardens
• three 2000 L rainwater tanks
• compost bins
• seating areas for relaxation.

A future plan is in place to completely remove asphalt and substitute with permeable paving, along with additional of solar panels to the roofs.

Environmental

• Total additional green cover of 183 m2, through ground, canopy and vertical wall greening.
• Wide range of native flowering plants and trees, which will serve as habitats and food sources to increase bird life and pollinating insects.
• Compost bins will be provided for use on the garden to encourage residents to reduce food waste and be more sustainable.
• Greening will provide cooling benefits to the carpark.

Community

• Strengthening the private and public interface through low lying planting, shared seating, new bike racks and child-friendly landscape elements.
• Supporting safe passage through the site and encouraging communal use of the common ground, particularly children.
• Gardens will include herb beds, which residents can plant into, encouraging participation and interaction.