Streets to get greener with Adelaide planting trees to make the city more eco-friendly. Image: Ryan Smith
Adelaide City Council has initiated an ambitious transformation of its streets to become greener and more environmentally friendly by creating space to plant new trees.
The new work on Gouger Street next to Adelaide Central Market is the first of its Greener Streets program, valued at $1 million, where space is being created for new trees near the market at a cost of $190,000.
These works involve planting four trees as well as widening the central median strip.
In addition to helping improve the city’s air quality, visual amenity, liveability and offer shady spots, one of the big challenges that the city faces is boosting safety, which is a significant part of the works according to Deputy Lord Mayor Houssam Abiad.
Mr Abiad said the works will provide a safer route for pedestrians and cyclists crossing Gouger Street as well as additional bike parking.
This crossing forms part of the city’s key north-south ‘walking and cycling’ link between Gouger Street at the Central Markets and South Terrace at Veale Gardens, through Compton, Russell and Owen Streets.
“This is the start of a broader transformation of our streets as we test new ways to introduce trees in difficult urban spaces,” Mr Houssam said.
The program is also linked to the city’s Smart Move strategy, which is designed to increase the number of people who walk and ride in the city by improving the quality and safety of walking and cycling infrastructure along local streets.
Not unlike City of Sydney Clover Moore’s ambitious but controversial plans and strategies to make her own town more bike and pedestrian friendly by installing bike lanes and overhauling George Street to block out cars and roll out a light rail extension to Circular Quay.
Adelaide’s strategy also aims to maintain good vehicle access and on-street parking for residents businesses and visitors.
But there are some major challenges in planting new trees, and some of these have the potential to run up costs in the long run if the council doesn’t get to the root of the problem.
And that problem is that the planned median strip runs over an old vitreous clay sewerage main, which is highly vulnerable to tree roots wrapping around the pipes and causing potential damage or even blockage.
The council is working closely with SA Water on the Gouger Street project to address the issue.
SA Water’s Environmental Impact Assessment Officer Alex Czura said the pipes run approximately four metres deep below many of the city streets.
“These pipes have previously prevented trees being planted in certain areas due to the risk of tree root intrusion,” said Mr Cruza.
“However, an innovative design solution including liners and soil moisture probes will allow Council to plant the new trees while still protecting some of SA Water’s vital assets.”
According to the council, the expanded median strip is expected to be completed by early February and the trees will be planted in April (during cooler weather conditions) to allow the trees to thrive and grow quickly.
Other projects currently being developed as part of the Greener Streets program include a green wall at Council’s own building at 25 Pirie Street; a residential greening pilot in the west end; and additional trees and greenery for some of the city’s key streets.
