Preliminary concept information Green cities fund
About the Green Cities Fund The purpose of the Green Cities fund is to invest in strategic, longer term research which drives a measurable increase in urban green space. The fund is governed by the following vision: By driving demand for increased urban green space, Australia will earn a global reputation as a country committed to urban greening, adding to our international reputation of being a good place to live, work and play. The Green Cities fund builds on the momentum generated by the 202020 Vision and drive co-investment in collaborative and innovative research which addresses the current knowledge gaps across the four investment themes. Programs supported under this fund must be aligned with any one (or more) of the four investment themes: 1. Climatic and environmental: invest in research which leads to increased understanding and application of the positive benefits of urban greening with a specific focus on its role in overcoming Australia s climatic and environmental challenges such as extreme weather patterns and the urban heat island effect 2. Metrics and measurements: investment in research which provides economic measurements on the productivity, health and environmental benefits of increased urban green space 3. Culture and community: investment in research which leads to greater understanding of the cultural and community opportunities and barriers to urban greening 4. Knowledge and information: investment in research and tools to enhance national mapping of urban green space and to overcome the current fragmented approach to planning and designing urban green space Programs enabled by the Green Cities could seek to: Encourage policy development around urban greening Gather evidence to support the community, social and health benefits of green cities Encourage innovation in building design (roof top plantings or vertical gardens for example) Encourage sustainable horticulture production in urban settings Fill the current research gaps around soil, water and climate adaptability in an urban setting Develop tools to measure and report on progress of increasing green space in urban areas Develop tools and technology to improve predictive information on suitable plant species for soil, weather and climatic conditions in specific geographical areas Background The Green Cities fund will leverage the co-investment potential associated with the diverse stakeholder interest and momentum generated by the 202020 Vision initiative. The 202020 Vision is a marketing initiative first established in 2013 to create connections and design new ways to increase urban green space by 20% by the year 2020. As part of this initiative, industry, businesses, non government organisations, researchers and interested individuals came together to discuss the common barriers and challenges facing increased urban green space as part of a national road show hosted in late 2014. The consultation process resulted in the development of the 202020 Vision Plan which identifies 20 top barriers, grouped into five key themes: 1. Climatic and environment 2. Funding and investment 3. Knowledge and skills 4. Policy and planning 5. Culture and community
The outcomes from the 202020 Vision Plan, along with work undertaken by other organisations with similar goals and objectives associated with increasing urban green space, have been used to inform the development of the Green Cities strategy which governs this fund. A copy of the Co-Investment Strategy for Green Cities is available here. 1. Knowledge and information Under this theme, potential co-investors are invited to submit proposals which increase Australia s ability to measure and report on its success in increasing urban greening. Proposals submitted under this theme should also be focussed on the development of tools and resources to assist Australia in overcoming its current fragmented approach to planning and designing urban green spaces. Objectives Objective 1: to promote Australia s commitment to urban greening through the development of new tools which will improve the ability to map increases in urban green space and report on success Objective 2: to drive a nationally consistent approach to the planning and design of urban green space 2. Climatic and Environmental Under this theme, potential co-investors are invited to submit research proposals which will lead to a greater understanding and application of the positive benefits of urban greening. Specifically, this theme is focussed on increasing research knowledge and on the development of tools which will assist Australia to overcome its current and future climatic and environmental challenges such as extreme weather patterns and the urban heat island effect. Proposals should be clearly aligned to the theme outcome that Australia is better placed to manage its future climatic and environmental changes through increased application in urban greening in design. Objectives Objective 1: to increase understanding on the current climatic and environmental barriers to increased urban green space Objective 2: to increase understanding on the role that urban greening plays in mitigating the effects of climatic and environmental change Objective 3: to develop the tools and resources which will lead to increased application of urban greening in design 3. Culture and Community Under this theme, potential co-investors are invited to submit research proposals which will increase understanding of the current barriers to increased urban green space from a cultural and community perspective. To overcome these barriers, greater understanding on the many benefits of urban greening is needed at a grass roots level. Research proposal which drive demand for increased urban greening at a grass roots level are encouraged.
Objectives Objective 1: to increase understanding on the current and possible future barriers to urban greening from a cultural and community perspective Objective 2: to drive grass roots demand for urban greening Objective 3: to improve the health of urban citizens via increased urban greening while increasing the long term sustainability and resilience these areas 4. Metrics and Measurements Under this theme, potential co-investors are invited to submit research proposals which will lead to the provision of tools to provide clear and measurable metrics on the benefits of urban greening from a productivity, human health and environmental perspective. Proposals submitted under this theme should build on previous research and increase demand for further growth in urban greening via increased knowledge. Objectives Objective 1: to drive demand for increased urban greening from a community and planning perspective by building on the current level of knowledge around the benefits of urban greening from a productivity, human health and environmental perspective Objective 2: to develop new and innovative tools which provide tangible metrics and measurements on the benefits of urban greening specifically in relation to productivity, human health and the environment Co-Investment details Respondents are expected to source and provide co-funding to support their concept. The pricing ratio for this fund has been set by the Hort Innovation Board. Under this fund, Hort Innovation will match every co-investment dollar at a ratio of 1:0.8. Co-funding is not a prerequisite for the submission of proposals. Any shortlisted respondent who does not have sufficient co-funding may be invited to collaborate with Hort Innovation to seek alternative sources of project co-funding. Should co-funding be unable to be obtained, Hort Innovation may elect not to proceed with the project. The Process Respondents are invited to submit a preliminary concept form independently or form consortia in order to include the range of services required to complete the program using the online form available here. Proposals will be shortlisted by Hort Innovation in consultation with an independent Expert Advisory Panel. Hort Innovation will develop detailed EOI s for shortlisted proposals with confirmed co-funding. The appropriate and relevant service provider will be invited to respond to the formal EoI. The Timeline Preliminary concepts open Friday 11 December 2015 Preliminary concepts due - Friday January 29, 2016 Short listing of Preliminary concepts by Friday February 19, 2016 Shortlisted proponents invited to submit full Expression of Interest Thursday March 24, 2016 Expressions of Interest close Thursday 24 April 2016 Hort Innovation Board approval Thursday 12 May 2016
Contact details For further information, please contact: Sharyn Casey Relationship Manager, Strategic Co-investments Horticulture Innovation Australia T 02 82952379 M 0414 257 616 E Sharyn.casey@horticulture.com.au Angus Street Relationship Manager, Strategic Co-investments Horticulture Innovation Australia T 02 8295 2370 M 0416 865 868 E angus.street@horticulture.com.au