VICTORIAN Minister for Environment, Gavin Jennings says a ‘green roofs’ research project envisions the States future skyscrapers covered with trees, plants and lawn.
According to the Minister, the State Government has contributed $120,000 over three years to the University of Melbourne’s Green Roof Research Program which will look at tackling climate change through planting vegetation on city roofs.
The Minister says the Australian-first research project would examine the best green roof design model for Australian conditions. Placing vegetation on the roofs of buildings is known to help cool the urban environment especially during summer heat waves.
Green roofs are also said to assist with building heating and cooling costs, improve the quality of stormwater flows which end up in rivers, create an urban biodiversity habitat and help reduce noise.
Jennings says in addition to making cities more attractive, green roofs also enhance the liveability of the urban environment by creating opportunities for people to enjoy the outdoors. We have to find our own solutions as Australia has a unique environment and the plants and substrates used in other parts of the world may not work here.
The Minister says a lot of building owners are interested in establishing green roofs and the Green Roof Research Program will help inform them about which plants are best adapted to be grown on roofs, which soils are most appropriate and what the impact is on stormwater run-off.
The Green Roof Research Program is also being funded by a $1.33m Australian Research Council 2009 Linkage Project grant which includes a monetary contribution from Melbourne Water and in-kind support from Melbourne City Council and the Committee for Melbourne.
The Green Roof Australia Conference will be held at the University of Melbourne’s Burnley Campus from 23 to 25 September.
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