South Australian Government expands greening of streets program to regional towns

South Australia’s Greener Neighbourhoods Grants program has already seen nearly 10,000 trees and shrubs planted across metropolitan Adelaide and a new round of State Government funding of almost $2 million will see the program expanded to include regional towns as well as the city. 

The successful projects will increase urban green cover, reduce urban heat, create habitat for wildlife and generally improve the natural character and amenity of the state’s built-up environments.

Round three of the Greener Neighbourhoods grants program will see 16 projects worth $4.3 million in total receive the funding and result in thousands of extra trees being planted on South Australian streets.

South Australian Minister for Environment and Water David Speirs said the Greener Neighbourhoods program is another example of the South Australian Government taking practical action against climate change.

“These grants will assist local councils to increase greenery and make our suburbs and regional centres more liveable, contributing to the climate-resilience and the health and wellbeing of local communities,” Minister Speirs said.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the popularity of our parks and other public open spaces and by increasing the amount of trees along streets and paths throughout our suburbs and regional cities we are making nature even more accessible as part of people’s everyday lives.

“Adelaide has just been ranked the third most liveable city in the world as well as the second-ever National Park City and programs such as this will further enhance our growing global reputation as one of the safest and most attractive places in the world to live, work and raise a family.”

Professor Chris Daniels, Presiding Member of the Green Adelaide Board, also congratulated the successful applicants on their initiatives and added “there are some fantastic projects which will improve our local communities through practical environmental action by putting more trees on our suburban streets.

“The Green Adelaide Board has provided funding for these on-ground works in the metropolitan environment over the last two years, as part of our vision to make greater Adelaide cooler, greener and wilder.”

To find out more about the Greener Neighbourhoods Grants program visit greenadelaide.sa.gov.au/grants/greener-neighbourhoods-grants