Understanding the social and environmental values of green and blue infrastructure
We are working with Perth’s Water Sensitive Transition Network to put environmental, social and economic values on the benefits of green and blue infrastructure in Perth and Peel.
Background
Lower rainfall over the past 40 years has significantly affected stream flows and groundwater supplies in Perth – a 12% drop in rainfall since 1990 has reduced stream flows to Perth’s reservoirs by 50%. So, securing water supplies in Perth and other urban areas in Western Australia involves considering all water supply options, including integrating green–blue assets. These assets include wetlands, waterways, parks, bushland, green corridors, stormwater assets and trees.
What we’re doing
This project aims to provide evidence that illustrates the value of investing in green–blue infrastructure.
It involves:
- identifying the priority ecosystem services to be provided by green–blue infrastructure e.g. water treatment, flood management, heat mitigation, population health and wellbeing, biodiversity and habitat, cultural values
- identifying potential beneficiaries of these ecosystem services e.g. the community, governments, businesses
- identifying the green–blue assets that best deliver the ecosystem services
- quantifying and valuing the ecosystem services
- developing ‘killer facts’ and supporting materials.
‘Killer facts’ are punchy, memorable, headline-grabbing statistics that capture attention and fire people up about changing the world.
How it will help
This project highlights the important role green–blue infrastructure can play in creating climate-resilient urban areas. The ‘killer facts’ can be used to:
- protect and restore existing green–blue infrastructure
- support the design and installation of new infrastructure
- explore current and novel funding and financing opportunities for green–blue infrastructure
The CRCWSC has produced research, guidelines and
tools related to the following topics:
Integrated Urban Flood
Management
Climate change
mitigation
Community
engagement
Economics and
business case