19 Feb, 2017

Pockets of Green Coming for Autumn

Now is an ideal time to start those greening projects to enhance your property and help green the city with Council’s next Green City Grant Program opening today.

The program encourages residents, businesses and property owners to create their own pocket of greenery in the city.

Green grants meeting up to half of the cost of eligible greening projects start at $500 for residents and $1,000 for businesses and property owners, up to a maximum grant of $10,000. Grants can include a range of greening criteria such as vertical gardens, green facades, window boxes and greenery that spills over balconies like vines or climbers on verandahs.

Lord Mayor Martin Haese said the program offers a great opportunity for residents and businesses to benefit from the creation of their own patch of greenery, including a greater street presence and a more attractive and pleasant experience.

“Council has doubled funding for the grant program since it opened last spring, bringing the total funds allocated to green grants to $200,000,” said Martin.

“Doubling the funding available could translate into dozens of greening projects – an exciting prospect that could add many square metres of greenery across the city.

“We’re very interested in receiving joint proposals from applicants who’ve decided to work together on a single, possibly larger scale greening project.

“We welcome applications for smaller but equally significant greening ideas that collectively will help increase the amount of green space across the city.”

Wade Galea, owner of city eatery Jack Greens, is in the process of finalising a green wall outside the new James Place store.

“We needed a way to helps us stand out in a busy pedestrian location like James Place and give our store a point of difference from other businesses in the street,” said Wade.

“The grant program was a great incentive for us to work through our ideas and create something that sends a positive message about our business and what we stand for, and we’re all about being green, so a green wall was right up our alley.”

Sophia Leopardi, a partner at Williams Burton Leopardi Architects is part of the team responsible for restoring the Darling Building on Franklin Street to its former glory.

“We’re about to install large ivy-filled window boxes below each of the building’s seven street level windows as part of the grant and give the building a fantastic final finishing touch,” said Sophie.

“Franklin Street is quite hot with lots of buildings and concrete and we wanted to help soften a small part of the street, not only for the users of the Darling Building but for the whole street to enjoy.”

Daniel Gannon, SA Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia, said that the property sector has an opportunity to show leadership in sustainability.

“The built environment makes up 23 per cent of emissions across Australia and, while our sector contributes to these emissions, we acknowledge we can be part of the solution,” said Daniel.

“Council’s latest Green Grant Program demonstrates how property owners can play their role in the sustainability space and we commend the Lord Mayor and Council for providing these incentives for property owners.”

Applications open Monday 20 February and close on Tuesday 18 April with priority given to projects in places that currently have little or no greenery. For more information visit cityofadelaide.com.au/greencitygrants

Green City Grant Program
Council has allocated a total of $200,000 to this project through the Greener Streets Program in the 2016/17 Business Plan & Budget.

The Green City Grant Program will help Council achieve one of its key 2016-20 Strategic Plan goals of increasing the amount of green space and greenery in the built-up areas of the city by 100,000 square metres over the next four years.

Applications for grant funding are welcomed from all areas of the city; however preference will be given to projects in locations with little to no greenery, projects that are especially creative or innovative proposals that will provide a significant amount of greenery once fully grown.

Residents, businesses and building owners have eight weeks to submit an application by the closing date on Tuesday, 18 April 2017.

Eligible greening projects must be visible from a street or other public place and complement the character of the surrounding area.

Full details about the Green City Grant Program, including the eligibility criteria and how to submit an application is available at: cityofadelaide.com.au/greencitygrants

Matt Halliwell