ENVIRONMENT

COMMUNITY SPACE

A study by Arup (2014) outlines that the design of communities on a local and neighbourhood scale plays an integral role in establishing resilient and sustainable communities. Northcote’s progressive and sustainability-focused community attitudes are evident in the community gardens, parks and vegetated nature strips spread throughout the western portion of the precinct (see map right). Land parcels surrounding the Mernda line corridor host a variety of inclusive community foci. One of which is the Northcote Community Garden (see Figure 31), which encourages residents to contribute to sustainable initiatives such as a community composting system. Other spaces along the train line offer opportunities to re-invigorate already established spaces, such as tennis courts, basketball courts and playgrounds. A unique asset of the suburbs is residents’ enthusiasm to develop nature strips into both garden patches or vegetable gardens. This is concentrated most predominantly around Croxton Primary School and Northcote Station.

CANOPY COVER

Adequate canopy cover is a key element of a climate ready precinct. Canopy cover significantly reduces both carbon emission and urban heat. A 10% increase in canopy cover and vegetation can also reduce surface temperatures by 1 degree when exposed to daytimesunlight (Norton, et al. 2015). Over the last 4 years Northcote has experienced an increase in vegetation cover of 5-10% across the entire suburb. Majority of canopy cover is prevalent along Merri Creek and Northcote Golf Course. However, due to the expected increasing in global temperatures, it is integral that canopy cover is focussed on areas such as streetscapes and small scale vegetation integration, as well as implementing increased canopy cover in existing open spaces.

COMMUNITY SPACE

OPEN SPACE

Green spaces within a region can be assessed through the theory of corridor, patch and matrix (Coutts, 2016). This specifies how the interplay of large open spaces (patches) and elongated narrower patches (corridors) creates a connected system in what is known as a matrix. The establishment of a matrix is a key element of creating a functional and cohesive network of green spaces. As shown by the isometric map, Northcote currently holds a high concentration of green space patches, however access to these green spaces is limited in areas due to their functions. This is evident in the variety of green spaces that are defined as part of school lots, thus not accessible to a high proportion of public use. Northcote private golf, is also not open for public use creating a lower variety of accessible open space in the northern portion of the suburb. Corridors between these green spaces also have the capacity to be greatly improved as both land parcels that follow St Georges Road, the Mernda Train Line and Hurstbridge Line, offer minimal levels of vegetation and canopy cover on largely vacant land parcels. Merri Creek however offers a shaded and dense ecological corrdior within the subrb, however it currently lacks clear pathways, signage and lighting for users.

Northcote Golf Course approx. 25.7ha All Nation Park approx. 13.9ha McDonell Park approx. 8.87ha

Merri Park approx. 5.85ha Johnson Park approx. 2.08ha Gumbri Park approx. 1.64ha

Figure 32, Merri Creek

FLOODING AND EROSION

Due to Northcote’s undulating typography, the precinct is subject to areas of flooding and inundation. This poses challenges toward the management of storm water run-off particularly around Merri Creek which has undergone a process of ecological rehabilitation in recent years. Other areas of considerable inundation risks surround north High Street and McDonnell Park.

This is reiterated in the special building overlay(VPA, 2018) allocated to areas subject to flood and inundation risks. Thus, presenting challenges to the integration of mixed use and higher density development within these areas. Erosion and erosion management is also a subsequent issue within inundation and flooding of Merri Creek. There is currently areas of mixed use and development allocated within erosion zones, which must be managed strategically in future to ensure a climate resilient and adaptive built environment. Land Contours Map

Figure 33, Gadd Street Carpark

Figure 34, All Nations Park Car Park

URBAN HEAT AND HEAT VULNERABILITY

Urban heat and increased areas of heat vulnerability pose major threats to the climate resilience of urban areas. Northcote experiences high levels of urban heat, of temperature 5-10 degrees higher than rural surroundings (Sun et al, 2019). This can be attributed to the concentration of dark impervious services evident in carparking across the suburb. In particular sites such as Northcote Plaza and Northside Boulders, maintain considerably high surface temperatures during daylight hours due to asphalt finishes, and lack of vegetation (see upper right map). Heat vulnerability conversely is measured using a heat vulnerability index and whereby stakeholders are considered within rating the heat vulnerability of an area. St Joseph’s Home, an aged care facility in the centre of the precinct, is thus rated the highest HVI, due to the vulnerability of its elderly residents (see Figure 36). Thus, strategic greening of both the aged car facility and existing car parks should be considered to improve resilience in future.

Figure 35, Seperation Street

Figure 36, St Joseph’s Aged Care Home Northcote Heat Vulnerability Index Map