Driving Demand for Greenlife through Urban Greening Standards

Urban Greening

Greenlife Industry Qld recognises the vital role that urban greening plays in enhancing liveability, mitigating climate change, supporting biodiversity, and improving public health outcomes.

Greenlife Industry Qld is doing our bit to tackle the problem, including:

connecting growers with urban placemakers like urban developers, landscape construction companies, town planners and local governments
supporting “Greener Spaces, Better Places”, a national initiative that brings together community, growers, government, business, and everyday people to create green spaces in homes, streets, and suburbs
helping retail nurseries market the benefits of gardening to their customers
engaging the general public in growing plants through the Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) and the Queensland Garden Show

Horticultural growers are doing our bit to tackle the problem

Research also shows that urban greening increases property values. Homes and businesses near green spaces tend to sell for more and attract more buyers and tenants.
Greenlife Industry Qld is doing our bit to tackle the problem, including:
- connecting growers with urban placemakers like urban developers, landscape construction companies, town planners and local governments
- supporting “Greener Spaces, Better Places”, a national initiative that brings together community, growers, government, business, and everyday people to create green spaces in homes, streets, and suburbs
- helping retail nurseries market the benefits of gardening to their customers
- engaging the general public in growing plants through the Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) and the Queensland Garden Show

What is Greenlife Industry Qld’s position?

1. Enhance Urban Greening Strategies

We call on governments to develop and implement national and state urban greening strategies with measurable targets for tree canopy cover and green infrastructure. This would include creating a national urban greening data framework to track canopy cover, biodiversity improvements, and community benefits. Local governments should be required to report annually on urban greening initiatives and progress towards set targets with the overarching goal of achieving at least 30% tree canopy cover.

2. Support Green Infrastructure Standards

We support Standards Australia in its work to develop an Urban Green Infrastructure handbook with a uniform framework to guide project planners and practitioners.

3. Integrate Green Infrastructure in Planning

We urge local governments to:

strengthen planning policies to mandate green infrastructure in new private developments and major infrastructure projects
introduce green space zoning requirements to ensure equitable distribution of green areas
invest more in greening public spaces including streetscapes, transport corridors, parks and community gardens
mandate green infrastructure in public projects such as schools, hospitals and transport hubs

4. Use Climate-Resilient, Native Plants

We encourage developers to use climate-resilient and native plant species in urban greening projects, to enhance each project’s sustainability.

5. Create Urban Greening Funds

We call on the federal and state governments to establish dedicated urban greening funds, to support local councils and community-led projects and incentivise property developers, businesses, and homeowners to incorporate green infrastructure such as green roofs, walls, and urban forests.