20 Nov Australia has the vision for greener cities
I was excited to be a part of the launch of 202020 Vision earlier this month on the site of Sydney’s ‘The Goods Line’. This 500-metre stretch of disused railway track is being transformed in the new year into a urban green oasis spanning from the one end of the Devonshire Street Pedestrian tunnel, through Ultimo and ending at the Powerhouse Museum.
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It will feature trees, grass and gardens coupled with bike paths, WIFI-enabled study pods and other communal outdoor spaces that will bring life to this otherwise lifeless expanse of concrete and gravel.
Urban green spaces such as this are vital for improving the liveability of our city areas. It has long been known that they improve the general health and well-being of their surrounding communities, but current research is now showing just how important they are for the psychological health of both residents and visitors. They have been shown to improve attention spans, decreasing stress and even increase emotional well-being and behaviour in children.
Green space also provide a real solution to help curb the heat island effect within our cities due to the natural, cooling effect evapotranspiration has on it’s surroundings.
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The good news is ‘The Goods Line’ is just one of many projects of it’s kind underway nationwide that are aimed at injecting green back into our often grey cities. It seems the voices of over 89% of Australian’s who said they wanted more green space in their cities are finally being heard (2011 Newspoll survey).
So then, what is ‘202020 Vision’ all about? It’s all about increasing urban green space in Australia by 20% by 2020, making our urban areas a better place to live, work and play. It brings together key industry stakeholders to help make this happen including representatives from government, academia, as well as those in the private sector who can pledge their support and make a commitment to the goal.
It is hoped that by showcasing their positive projects others will be encouraged to increase the green space allocations and integrations in their projects. This is something we will all reap the rewards of in future years.
For more information or to see some inspiring green projects check out www.202020vison.com.au
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