Balance between protecting natural assets & growing population

This solution addresses negative impacts on natural assets and ecosystems in Melbourne, Australia for local communities

Problem Description

Although our unique natural environment poses threats such as bushfires and floods, we also directly rely on it for our livelihoods and wellbeing. Melbourne’s parks, forests, gardens and wetlands help clean the air we breathe, reduce noise, regulate the climate, filter water, and give us places for recreation, to name just a few. Our natural assets are coming under increasing pressure as more development is needed to support our growing population. By protecting our natural assets and exploring imaginative ways to put nature back into communities, our city will save money in the long run and support the long term resilience of Melbourne.

Building Blocks

Story

"Balance between protecting natural assets & growing population" is 1 of 4 goals of Melbourne’s Resilience Strategy. People are at the heart of all cities. A resilient Melbourne will draw on the strengths of our diverse communities and geographies, including our Indigenous communities, to pursue our shared interests, embrace our differences and be stronger together. We will help communities prepare for change and whatever the future may hold. We will work today, tomorrow and together, towards a more viable, sustainable, livable and prosperous Melbourne.

Resources

Organisations Involved

Contributed By

  • Toby Kent, Chief Resilience Officer, Resilient Melbourne
  • Maree Grenfell, Resilience Coordinator, Resilient Melbourne

Solution Stage

One of the 7 stages of an innovation. Learn more
STAGE SPECIALIST SKILLS REQUIRED EXAMPLE ACTIVITIES RISK LEVEL AND HANDLING FINANCE REQUIRED KINDS OF EVIDENCE GENERATED GOAL
Developing and testing3
Mix of design and implementation skills
  • Rapid prototyping
  • Service, product and process design
  • Co-design
  • User-design
  • Light-touch evaluation
  • Cost-benefit modelling
  • Randomised control trials
  • High failure rate should be an explicit expectation
  • Visible senior leadership essential
HIGH
  • Grants, convertible grants/loans
MEDIUM
A stronger case with cost and benefit projections developed through practical trials and experiments, involving potential users
Demonstration that the idea works, or evidence to support a reworking of the idea

Key Details

Activity