Australia is facing severe water scarcity due to a rapidly growing population combined with climate variability and change. In response, innovative infrastructure that integrates stormwater harvesting with urban greenery is emerging as a promising solution, offering extended asset lifecycles and lower maintenance requirements. The Port Pirie Regional Council has identified large-scale implementation of passive irrigation for street trees as a key opportunity to address a variety of urban and environmental challenges. These challenges include reducing stormwater runoff, supporting tree establishment, creating greener and cooler streetscapes, mitigating the urban heat island effect, enhancing overall amenity, and bolstering climate resilience. Council also anticipates that passive irrigation will lower ongoing costs related to tree maintenance and replacement and alleviate pressure on drainage infrastructure.
By scaling up system integration across its growth areas, the Council aims to fully capitalise on the benefits of passive irrigation while tapping into the potential offered by greenfield development. Key success factors such as enabling policies, strong collaboration, and dedicated project champions have led to the rapid maturation of the industry, strengthened partnerships, and substantial reductions in system costs. In the long term, widespread implementation of passive irrigation will ensure that future trees have access to stormwater, fostering vibrant, liveable streetscapes for the residents of Port Pirie Regional Council.