The ACT Government has published Gawari Ngilanmanyin, a climate-wise landscape guide for industry professionals and homeowners to ensure a greener, more sustainable capital.
“Climate-wise landscapes are essential to our city as we enter a future that is increasingly impacted by climate change,” Rebecca Vassarotti, ACT Minister for the Environment, said. “Creating and supporting greenery in our city can help keep our public spaces cool as our region experiences more extreme weather events.
“Climate-wise landscapes capture and use water in sustainable ways, merge landscape with structures, group the right plants together, and set foundations for all things to thrive.”
The title (pronounced ga-wa-ri nillan-man-nyin) means ‘remembering the bush’, and reminds us of the importance of Ngunnawal Country and people to our city, Ms Vassarotti explained.
“Canberra sits on Ngunnawal Country, and the contribution to the guide from Traditional Custodians, including the ACT Government’s Dhawura Ngunnawal Caring for Country Committee and the Winanggaay Ngunnawal Language Aboriginal Corporation, was paramount.”
The ACT Legislative Assembly recently reaffirmed its commitment to work collaboratively to protect biodiversity and ecosystems in the Territory, and the ACT Government has committed to having 30 per cent urban canopy cover and 30 per cent surface permeability across the city by 2045, Ms Vassarotti noted.
“This guide is one way we are working with the construction industry to achieve our targets and support healthier, liveable, and sustainable communities.
“Architects, landscape architects, developers, community groups, and other planning professionals can use the guide to inform their designs and take into account the different aspects of climate-wise landscapes such as soil, water, plants, materials, layout, and location.”
The guide complements other work including the recently announced $2.7 million investment to undertake biodiversity mapping and restore and protect 20 sites across Canberra over the next two years, which will involve government land managers, citizen scientists, and First Nations knowledge holders, Ms Vassarotti said.
To download the guide and find out more, visit climatechoices.act.gov.au.
