Treenet Symposium Speaker

Geoff Connellan

Biography

Geoff’s expertise is focussed around urban horticulture water management. Following his work with the University of Melbourne, Burnley Campus, in research, teaching and outreach, he has been providing consulting services in water management for sustainable green space since 2007.

Development of water management plans, evaluation of irrigation system performance and water use efficiency and irrigation design solutions for turf, urban trees, high value landscapes, green roofs, multi-story building plantings and botanic gardens are part of the services provided.

He is author of key open space text; Water Use Efficiency for Irrigated Turf and Landscape, published by CSIRO, March 2013. He was the Principal Consultant for the development of Best Practice Guidelines for Functional Open Space, published by Smart Water Fund and City West Water, in 2015.

Geoff has presented and published widely, both internationally and in Australia, on numerous urban water management topics.

In 2021 he presented a webinar for Stormwater Qld on the topic: Is passive irrigation enough to meet urban forest targets?

He has been a member of the Stormwater (Vic) Committee (2014-2018) and has presented at several state and national stormwater conferences.

He has been a judge for the National Stormwater Awards hosted by Stormwater Australia.

He is an Honorary, School of Ecosystems and Forest Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne.

In May 2008 he was awarded the National McLean Iedema Award in recognition for his outstanding contribution to irrigation in Australia. He is a Life Member of IAL.

Session Abstract

Achieving sustainable green infrastructure – Is there a formula?

Green infrastructure is now an essential part of a city. Often known as blue-green and grey-green schemes.  Justifications include environmental and social benefits, water management and climate mitigation. Terms such as sustainability and resilience are often attached to green space messaging. What do these terms mean when planning and designing green infrastructure projects?

Sustainability can be described as being about meeting our current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainability is commonly focussed on resource inputs and their potential depletion.

Understanding and providing for current and future needs is essential. Green space services need to be relevant, defined and ideally quantified.

Green space water schemes commonly involve a combination of mechanical and natural systems.  Natural (plant based) systems are complex, involving many interacting processes. Specialist knowledge and skills are required to develop long life green systems.

Sound scheme design processes require data, input and output. Currently there are very little data describing the green space outcomes or services side of the equation.

The following strategies provide a base leading towards sustainability.

  1. a) Strengthen the $ value of green infrastructure services
  2. b) Define the green space primary and secondary services to be delivered
  3. c) Encourage multi-disciplinary engagement, in the planning and development of schemes. Plant, natural systems, specialists e.g. arborists, horticulturists, soil scientists.
  4. d) Identify conditions that are potential sources of outcome vulnerability (failure, death)
  5. e) Evaluate effectiveness of supplementary water delivery.
  6. f) Measure and report performance in quantitative terms.

Each of these to be reviewed as part of the sustainable green infrastructure discussion.

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We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

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