Nature-based Green Infrastructure (GI) assets are managed by Councils to provide essential, cost effective, sustainable, climate-resilient services and community wellbeing and environmental co-benefits. However, a lack of best practice guidance means most are not included in asset management planning or plans with the risk they are undervalued, unfunded and investment is wasted.
Nature-based GI assets include: urban forests, gardens, green roofs and walls, bioswales, rain gardens, constructed wetlands and living shorelines such as oyster reefs, mangrove forests, seagrass beds. The services provided include coastal protection, slope stabilisation, reductions in the urban heat island effect, improvements to air and water quality, reduced flooding, improved human wellbeing and enhanced biodiversity.
The Asset Management for Green Infrastructure Project is developing a best practice e-book containing practical knowledge, supporting tools, tables and templates and stand-alone online learning program for Council asset and financial managers, environment officers, engineers and consultants. Outcomes will be the inclusion of GI into asset management registers and strategic, long-term financial and asset management plans to optimise the services provided by GI assets for our communities.
Content will include: land, water and coastal GI assets; valuation and condition assessment methodologies; co-benefits; service provision; demand management; lifecycle analysis; risk assessments; long-term strategic and financial management planning; costs; threats; case studies; decision tools and templates.
The Asset Management for Green Infrastructure project will be completed in December 2025 and is a collaboration between the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA), South Australian Coastal Councils Alliance (SACCA), Water Sensitive SA (WSSA), the Landscape Foundation Australia (LFA), Arboriculture Australia, Living Shorelines Australia, Green Adelaide and the Australasian Green Infrastructure Network and South Australian Councils. The project has been funded by IPWEA, project partners and the Local Government Research and Development Scheme administered by the Local Government Association of South Australia.