VICTORIAN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION CASE STUDIES This suite of case studies showcases examples of In support of this, state and territory governments would how Victoria's local and state governments are fulfilling focus their efforts on climate change adaptation to increase responsibilities in climate change. In 2012, environment our resilience against extreme events and natural disasters. ministers around Australia agreed on a pathway forward The case studies aim to enable both spheres of government to better coordinate government action on climate change. to learn from the experiences of others, innovate, build It was determined through the Council of Australian business cases to drive action in adaptation, and explore Governments (COAG) Select Council on Climate Change potential partnerships and supportive networks. that the Commonwealth would take on primary responsibility for emissions mitigation as part of the global effort to reduce greenhouse gases. The adaptation responsibilities set out in the Victorian Climate Change Adaptation Plan and demonstrated in this booklet are: Local Government State Government The local government sector The Victorian Government’s critical is responsible for: roles and responsibilities are defined in terms of these key strategies: Managing risks and impacts to public assets owned and managed by local government Managing risks to public assets and services and to local government service delivery managed by the Victorian Government – including managing risks to assets and – including embedding climate change infrastructure such as local roads and considerations into risk management and providing ongoing service. business planning for assets and critical service delivery. Supporting measures to build adaptive capacity and climate resilience in local Managing risks to Victoria’s natural assets communities – including delivering and natural resource-based industries – information about relevant climate risks including developing overarching policy settings and direction for addressing Collaborating across councils and, with the climate risks to biodiversity, soils, waterways Victorian Government, managing regional and land, coastal and marine ecosystems. climate change risks. Building disaster resilience and integrated Implementing relevant legislation to promote emergency management – including adaptation (e.g. the Emergency Management reviewing and reforming emergency Act 1986) – including, ensuring that through management arrangements. administering local planning schemes they appropriately incorporate climate change Improving access to research and considerations and that decision-making information for decision-making – is consistent with State Government by supporting coordinated research adaptation approaches. and information provision to assist all parties to adapt. Contributing appropriate resources to prepare, prevent, respond and recover Supporting private sector adaptation – from detrimental climate impacts. by developing policy settings that support appropriate risk allocation, remove barriers to effective adaptation and promote business innovation. Partnership with local government and communities – including providing a basis for ongoing engagement with Victorian councils and their communities. VICTORIAN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION CASE STUDIES / PAGE 1 CONTENTS PAGE Statewide Map 2 Case Study 1 / Growing Green Guide 4 Case Study 2 / Melton risk register trial project 6 Case Study 3 / Greater Bendigo Rural Support Network 8 Case Study 4 / Gippsland Local Coastal Hazard Assessment 10 Case Study 5 / Hobsons Bay City Council Heat Health Response Plan 12 Case Study 6 / Climate-smart agricultural development in Goulburn Broken 14 Case Study 7 / Climate resilient Communities of Barwon South West 16 Case Study 8 / Wimmera and Central Highlands Bioenergy Project 18 Case Study 9 / Victorian Adaptation Coordinating Committee 20 Case Study 10 / Mountain Pygmy-possum 22 Case Study 11 / East Central Bushfire Risk Landscape 24 CASE STUDIES / STATEWIDE MAP Loddon Mallee Grampians 6 Hume 3 8 10 Gippsland 2 Greater 4 Barwon 5 Melb South West 1 11 7 9 Statewide CASE STUDY 1 / CASE STUDY 2 / Growing Green Guide Melton risk register A practical guide providing advice trial project on the design and construction of Embedding climate change risks green roofs, walls and facades. into council risk management frameworks. VICTORIAN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION CASE STUDIES / PAGE 3 CASE STUDY 3 / CASE STUDY 4 / CASE STUDY 5 / Greater Bendigo Rural Gippsland Local Coastal Hobsons Bay City Council Support Network Hazard Assessment Heat Health Response Plan A network assisting local communities A localised technical assessment Informing the community of affected by extreme weather events. helping decision makers plan for practical ways to manage during and manage the impacts of sea level heatwaves. rise, storms and flooding. CASE STUDY 6 / CASE STUDY 7 / CASE STUDY 8 / Climate-smart agricultural Climate resilient Communities Wimmera and Central development in Goulburn of Barwon South West Highlands Bioenergy Project Broken Producing region-specific data Providing energy security through a Creating a resilient agribusiness to better inform councils planning bioenergy demonstration plant for sector in the Goulburn Broken region. and preparations for extreme Beaufort Hospital and demonstrating weather events. the regional benefits of bioenergy. CASE STUDY 9 / CASE STUDY 10 / CASE STUDY 11 / Victorian Adaptation Mountain Pygmy-possum East Central Bushfire Coordinating Committee Increasing the ability of the endangered Risk Landscape Driving adaptation policy across Mountain Pygmy-possum to adapt to Planning to reduce the impact of the Victorian Government. environmental challenges that come major bushfires on communities, with climate change. infrastructure and the environment. CASE STUDY 1 / GROWING GREEN GUIDE A partnership of four inner city Melbourne councils, led by the City of Melbourne, is supporting community and private sector adaptation to the urban heat island effect through the release of an innovative guide to green walls and facades. Demonstrating adaptation responsibilities: > Local Government: supporting adaptive capacity in communities and collaborating across councils > State Government: improving access to research and information and partnering with local government Lead organisation City of Melbourne with other Inner Melbourne Action Plan (IMAP)Councils (City of Port Phillip, City of Stonnington, City of Yarra) Partners University of Melbourne and Victorian Government Whittlesea Sunbury Cost and Funding Source Healesville Melton $$$ through Victorian Adaptation and Sustainability Partnership and local government funding Lilydale Warburton Melbourne Broader benefits Werribee Valuable information for businesses, greening our Dandenong cities, improving health in urban areas Further information Frankston www.growinggreenguide.org or Project Manager, Lang Lang City of Melbourne on (03) 9658 8097 or Portsea [email protected] Rosebud Location Inner Melbourne Project Area Costs: $$$$ > 500,000 $$$ 100,000 – 500,000 $$ 10,000 – 100,000 $ < 10,000 VICTORIAN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION CASE STUDIES / PAGE 5 1 Project Summary > The project was based on an identified need – there had been many studies about why green roofs, walls The Growing Green Guide is a practical tool that provides and facades were not being built more often in Australia, guidelines for the design, construction and maintenance but there were no guidelines available for the Australian of green roofs, walls and facades. The tool was created to context. support the adaptive capacity and climate resilience of local communities and private industry. The project involved Tips from the project team a partnership of all Inner Melbourne Action Plan (IMAP) councils, representatives of the University of Melbourne > Ensure your project idea has broad interest and caters and the state government, with community and business to an identified need. Engage with the people who want engagement included early in the project. The guide is that need or gap filled. written for professionals, such as local government staff and > Recruit dedicated project officers if the project budget industry, who may be involved in the design, construction allows. This enables a concerted effort to be expended and maintenance of green roofs, walls and facades. It is on the project. also relevant to developers, homeowners, and state and federal governments. > Allow plenty of time to go back to your stakeholders and rework the product. Why did the work happen? What happened when the project Melbourne’s paved surfaces trap unwanted heat in finished? summer. This extra heat can lead to health problems, increased energy use and reduced quality of life. Climate The Growing Green Guide project leaves a considerable change, compounded by urban growth, means temperatures legacy, having catalysed a number of related projects and in the city are projected to be hotter in the future. The city actions, including: also faces challenges from rainwater runoff and flooding in storm events. Green roofs, walls and facades can: shade > The release of the Growing Green Guide under a Creative and insulate buildings; reduce the peak flow of water run Commons licence to encourage periodic updates and use off during storms; filter the air and rainwater to reduce of the information in a range of places – there has already pollution; provide habitat for wildlife; and reduce noise