Failure to understand and respond to the impact of changing climate and extreme weather events is listed as a key risk on our risk management register, we are required to regularly report and review the controls we have in place to mitigate the impacts associated with climate change. It is important that we develop a strong monitoring and evaluation framework to track our progress, and review the relevance of our actions as new information becomes available. Actions: What we will do to continue to Melbourne’s climate change adaptation capabilities and expertise Goal 5: Continue to build Melbourne’s climate change adaptation capabilities and expertise Goal Action Delivery mechanism Timeframe Business Impact 5.1 Work with industry specific working groups and networks to drive innovation and research in climate change adaptation. Partner Ongoing Subject to annual plan and budget 5.2 Complete an interdependency mapping the city’s infrastructure and service systems relationships and stakeholder networks to enable integrated adaptation across services. Deliver 2017-18 Business as usual budgets 5.3 Continue to develop tools and training to help City of Melbourne staff to: Increase staff understanding and knowledge of impacts of climate change on our assets, services and customers. Integrate climate change adaptation into processes, policies and governance arrangements (including procurement). Deliver Ongoing Business as usual budgets 5.4 Advocate to the Victorian Government to clarify and responsibilities of state and local governments for climate change adaptation. Advocate to the Victorian Government 2017-18 Business as usual budgets 5.5 Develop a monitoring and evaluation framework including the development of defined targets to track and report on progress and relevance of the refreshed strategy. Deliver Ongoing Business as usual budgets
Appendix 1: Climate Change Adaptation Action Gap Analysis Key challenges Existing work that addresses the key challenges What are the gaps or areas that we need to strengthen? How do we fill the gaps? Inundation from floods and sea rise Stormwater capture and reuse at Birrarung Marr, Queen Victoria and Alexandra Gardens, Fitzroy Gardens and Carlton Squares Implementing integrated management at Southbank (Southbank stormwater infrastructure investigation) Finalisation and ongoing improvement of the Integrated Climate Adaptation Model (ICAM) Implementing planning regulations to increase use of domestic rainwater tanks for rainwater storage Reviewed cleaning regime for drains to operate effectively during flood events and drainage upgrades Created checklist/handout for developers outlining options to increase resilience of new developments Creation of Planning Policy 22.23 Stormwater management Sensitive Urban Design) and Policy 22.19 Energy, water and waste efficiency Assisting building owners to implement water targets through the 1200 Buildings program Assisting building owners to implement rain water tanks Incorporating adaptation considerations into Queen Victoria Market renewal Promotion of infrastructure adaptation actions, e.g. ArtPlay cool roof Permeability of the catchment and municipality – increasing the extent of porous surfaces to reduce rainfall run-off where it has been identified as appropriate to do so Urban design policy incorporating adaptation considerations (needs strengthening) Urban renewal areas planning for flooding and sea level inundation risk (this work needs strengthening) Update Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) guidelines Incorporate adaptation considerations into structure plans and associated planning scheme amendments where possible (this work needs strengthening) Undertake flood modelling across the municipality (in progress) Increase permeability across the municipality by introducing permeability targets building on those already in the Elizabeth Street Catchment Plan (green infrastructure, permeable pavements etc.) Work with key partners to develop climate change adaptation plans for urban renewal precincts Investigate innovative integrated water management solutions to improve flood mitigation urban renewal areas
Delivery of communication plans for information sharing during emergency event, for example heat health alerts Providing information to the public during extreme events through information resources such as cool places map, drinking fountain maps, relief centre map Collaborating with external agencies to prioritise and coordinate response clean-up plans for emergency events Delivery of Refuge at Arts House Heatwave and Homelessness Action Plan delivery Revision of the event protocols to enable safe, successful events in extreme weather conditions including: Improved communications with event attendees and organisers regarding precautions Water provision on hot days Event restriction during adverse weather conditions when required and Collaboration with operators to promote responsible alcohol consumption, on hot days, where appropriate. Providing access to safe shelters in the event of mass stranding (ideally located at or near major transport hubs) Reviewing the Community Emergency Risk Assessment within Municipal Emergency Management (MEM) Plan to ensure that climate change is considered Extreme weather plans for vulnerable communities and planning for extreme cold weather Urban design policy incorporating adaptation considerations Need for increased cool spaces/refuges during times of heat Increase social inclusion to build resilience of community to extreme events Need to deal with social responsibility when entering into contracts with others to ensure the community benefits Redesign the public realm for thermal comfort in hotter conditions: implement shading, cool places and public water facilities (needs strengthening) Improvement of building standards Plan for the implementation of adaptation options in existing City of Melbourne buildings adaptation options in existing City of Melbourne buildings Update design guidelines for new City of Melbourne buildings with current knowledge and best practice for adaptation Update capital works guidelines (and decision making process) with Develop additional techniques for cooling public spaces and communicate to workers, residents, and visitors the location of these cool places using innovative techniques Continue to develop innovative and sector leading extreme weather plans to ensure appropriate and inclusive support is provided to vulnerable communities
Reviewing Safe City Cameras to monitor and understand whether there is an increase in anti-social behaviour during heatwaves Reviewing all sub plans of MEM Plan to ensure they consider climate change Collaborating with the Municipal Association of Victoria to advocate on behalf of councils to inform new emergency legislation that defines council roles and responsibilities Redesigning the public realm for thermal comfort in hotter conditions: implement shading, cool places and public water facilities (needs strengthening) current knowledge and best practice for adaptation Insurance and resilience of small business Delivery of Inner Melbourne Climate Change Adaptation Event on Insurance and Climate Change Adaptation Improving the resilience of small businesses Understanding insurance and climate change and educating the community and business on climate risk Legal liability and climate change - investigate and communicate legal liability risks effectively to relevant internal and external stakeholders Develop education materials and engage with businesses regarding planning for extreme weather events Partner with the insurance industry, Resilient Melbourne Office and the Victorian Government to explore options for finance mechanisms that strengthen the business case to leverage for adaptation and maximise climate risk management and adaptation Victorian Government will host a forum on legal liability and land-use planning decisions
Embedding climate change adaptation in the work that we do Undertaking the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2009 comprehensive risk assessment for Melbourne Participating in the Inner Melbourne Climate Adaptation Network (IMCAN) - a multi-agency information sharing network Creating a stronger adaptation in Sustainability Basics training for City of Melbourne staff Asset Management Strategy 2015-2025 delivery Reviewing (periodically) that Council has appropriate insurance to protect assets and infrastructure from climate related events Participating in networks such as C40 Connecting Cities Creating an Internal Climate Change Adaptation Working Strengthening relationships with adjoining municipalities to consider linkages in heatwave response by sharing resources and attending North West Metro Region Collaboration Group, IMCAN and Department of Health and Human Services heatwave planning sessions Maintaining relationships with Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Chief Resilient Officer and Emergency Services Victoria Promoting infrastructure adaptation actions, e.g. ArtPlay cool roof Monitoring performance of ArtPlay cool roof Trialling non-grid or low grid options (includes solar light trial) Working with 100 Resilient Cities and Resilient Melbourne Office Understanding the effectiveness of our adaptation actions Data on the impacts of climate change Clarification on roles and responsibilities of local government Deliver targeted sustainability and adaptation training for City of Melbourne staff adaptation specifications into procurement process Monitoring and evaluating our adaptation actions and progress Real time data capture to provide benchmarks and inform decision making Monitoring and evaluation framework for adaptation Partner with the Victorian Government to clarify roles and responsibilities for climate change adaptation. Developing a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework with Key Performance Indicators for actions