The City of Joondalup is located in Western Australia in Mooro Country. The traditional custodians are the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation. With a population of 160,995 and a total land area of approximately 99 square kilometres, the City is one of the largest local governments in Western Australia by population. 

The City acknowledges that climate change is an important emerging issue for local government in Western Australia. By 2070 it is expected that the City will have hotter, drier and windier summers with the number of days over 35°C nearly doubling. Winters will be drier, warmer and less windy due to fewer low-pressure systems. Responding effectively to climate change involves being proactive and identifying strategies to implement now that will have generational impacts.

The Climate Change Strategy covers six key focus areas: 

• infrastructure and assets
• parks and reserves
• land use planning and development
• natural environment
• corporate responsibility and good governance
• community wellbeing

The City’s approach to reducing the carbon footprint is multifaceted. It includes City-led initiatives and community education and awareness programs. Through the City’s tree planting programmes, the City is committed to reducing carbon emissions by increasing vegetation cover to combat rising temperatures and the urban heat island effect throughout the City’s public open, space, verges and medians.

The Park Revitalisation Programme aims to reduce the carbon footprint by undertaking eco-zoning and hydro-zoning in City parks. Water consumption is reduced by creating hydro-zones to allow different watering rates to be applied to different areas of the parks. By developing eco-zones turf areas are mulched which reduces water consumption. In 2020-21, the City implemented eco-zoning and hydro-zoning principles in Macaulay Park reducing water usage for irrigation by 42%. Sustainable features to reduce the carbon footprint include use of recycled materials, trees for shade, garden beds planted with waterwise, local plant species and use of removed damaged tree trunks in playgrounds. Tree trunks are retained and stored for re-purposing as nature-play areas eg balancing logs and steppers.

 The Waterwise Verge Rebate Programme supported residents to replace grass, synthetic lawn and hardscaped (e.g. paving) verge treatments with native plants and mulch. The programme aimed to reduce the carbon footprint by supporting positive environmental impacts including increased biodiversity, canopy cover and ecological corridors, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions and water use. The programme included free street trees, native plants, seeds and mulch as well as nursery vouchers and workshops.

 The innovative adoption of a Smart Control Irrigation System resulted in decreasing the City’s groundwater usage by 86,027kL in 2020-21 compared to 2019-20. Previously when it rained, City staff would manually turn off each irrigation controller at individual parks. This proved inefficient and costly, and a poor use of staff time and more importantly impacted the City’s water efficiency. The innovative system means responses occur in real-time to environmental conditions ensuring the City’s irrigation programs are efficient and effective. The technology supports the City to manage and enhance urban parks in a cost-effective manner by improving operational efficiency and reducing water and power usage.

In responding to climate change, the City prioritised initiatives to reduce water usage by improving green urban environments. With the goal to upgrade at least one park per year, the City uses detailed landscaping and irrigation designs to reduce irrigated areas by implementing hydro-zoning, eco-zoning and waterwise landscaping. When upgrading play spaces, poor condition turfed areas are removed and replaced with mulch and nature-based play items and irrigation is switched off. Trees across the City that are removed due to being in poor condition and unsafe are stored and then upcycled and used as nature play equipment in City play spaces. In 2021/22, 10 play spaces were upgraded, converting irrigated turf areas to unirrigated mulched areas.

The City adopts a strategic approach to planning and implementing climate change actions and acknowledges the value partnerships have in achieving successful outcomes. 

Collaboration with the Water Corporation through adoption of the Kep Katitjin – Gabi Kaadadjan – Waterwise Perth Action Plan 2, has assisted the City in working towards being recognised as a world-leading waterwise community including achieving Platinum Waterwise Council status. Biodiversity and revegetation projects in Yellagonga Regional Park are undertaken in partnership with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) and the City of Wanneroo, a neighbouring local government. DBCA partners with the City to identify and protect designated threatened species and ecological communities according to the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

The City is a member of the WALGA Local Government Urban Forest Working Group and the Integrated Weed Management Working Group. The City partners with the Western Australian Planning Commission and the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH) to implement the Better Urban Forest Planning Guide. DPLH provides the City with urban canopy data to identify tree planting locations. The City collaborates with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to identify and respond to weed, feral animal, pest and pathogen threats. The City partners with Birdlife WA, The Forever Project, Duncraig Edible Garden and Friends Groups and local nurseries to educate the community about the importance of protecting and maintaining urban habitat. The City used funding to engage three local waterwise specialist nurseries to supply plants to residents participating in the Waterwise Verge Rebate Program.

Achievements from the implementation of the Climate Change Strategy include:

• The City has increased canopy cover by planting almost 6,300 trees across 12 suburbs over the past five years under the City’s Leafy City Program. Locations for plantings were identified as hot-spots via thermal mapping and tree-canopy surveying.
• An additional 10,000 trees have been planted in the past four years under the Winter Tree Planting Program in parks, medians and streets as well as verges at the request of residents.
• A Waterwise Verge Program has supported 101 residents to create waterwise verges which included plant giveaways and workshops.
• A partnership with BirdLife WA resulted in over 5,000 bird-friendly native seedlings being planted in two urban parks, in collaboration with the community.
• The City’s nursery produces 10,000 native plants annually for Friends Groups to plant in natural areas within the City.
• Use of eco-zoning and hydro-zoning and a smart irrigation system in all City parks and sporting fields generates significant water savings while creating inviting green open spaces for community enjoyment.

Water savings contributed to the City achieving the highest accolade in Western Australia, being recognised as the 2022 Platinum Waterwise Council of the Year and winner of the Water Sensitive Cities Award.

Initiatives implemented through the adoption of the City’s Climate Change Strategy have contributed towards creating cooler, more inviting green urban spaces within the City and resulted in increasing the City’s canopy cover from 9% in 2014 to 12% in 2020 (Better urban forest planning – Perth and Peel (www.wa.gov.au). Positive environmental effects of the initiatives include reduced ambient air temperature and cleaner air through absorption of polluting gases; reduced cooling energy consumption costs and water savings through reduced evaporation rates; increased habitat for wildlife; street appeal and community amenities including safer walking environments and shading and improved community health and wellbeing.

Climate change is an important issue for the City of Joondalup and its residents as it can potentially impact many areas managed by the City including infrastructure, health services, water management, emergency management and the natural environment.

South-west WA has the highest concentration of rare and endangered species on the continent and is already being impacted by habitat fragmentation and will be exacerbated by climate change. Expected climate change impacts within the region include (but are not limited to) reduced water availability; increased bushfire risk; increased spread of vector-borne diseases; and increased threats to habitats of flora and fauna. Perth has the least tree canopy cover of all Australian capital cities, with less than 20% of its area covered. The City recorded 12% canopy cover in 2020 and is subject to the urban heat island effect which will worsen with increased temperatures due to climate change.

The Climate Change Strategy identifies actions to be undertaken by the City which includes a commitment to educate and work with the community towards achieving positive outcomes for the environment. The City has continued to achieve a high level of community engagement by delivering environmental education initiatives for residents, schools, businesses and the broader community. Through various programmes, the City encourages sustainability related to biodiversity, waste, water, transport and climate change.

The City has been identified as a leading local government in Western Australia in successfully implementing strategies to reduce the use of water and encouraging the community to adopt waterwise practices.

 The City’s Smart Control Groundwater Irrigation System project has also featured as a case study to inspire other local governments to introduce waterwise initiatives. The project featured in the 2022 spring and winter issues of the Overflow magazine, a quarterly publication by Irrigation Australia. Irrigation Australia is Australia’s peak national organisation representing the Australian irrigation industry in all sectors from water users, consultants, designers and installers through to educational institutions, government, manufacturers and retailers.

City Plans, Guidelines and other Documents

Climate Change Strategy

Other Support Information

Supporting Documents

Waterwise Case Study

WALGA Local Government Urban Forest Working Group