Green Infrastructure Citylab launched

On 23 January 2014, GCRO launched a Green Infrastructure Citylab as part of a project on Green Assets and Infrastructure. The Citylab builds on the foundation laid by the 'State of Green Infrastructure in the GCR' report, launched in July 2013. The Green Infrastructure Citylab creates a platform that facilitates the co-production of policy relevant knowledge between government practitioners and researchers. The aim of this Citylab is to collectively develop, over the course of two years, a Green Infrastructure Plan for the Gauteng City-Region that will feed into the Gauteng Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan currently being developed by the Gauteng Planning Commission (GPC).

Participants in the first meeting of the Citylab included representatives from the City of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, GDARD, GPC, Mogale City, SANBI and the GCRO. The session focused on introducing the concept of green infrastructure and setting the Citylab agenda. GCRO’s 'State of Green Infrastructure' report laid the base for the presentations and subsequent discussion. The discussion proved valuable in highlighting some of the challenges faced by cities in protecting green assets and promoting the idea of green infrastructure, and in defining key areas that will need to be unpacked in greater detail in future Citylab sessions. Participants showed commitment and enthusiasm for being part of the Citylab and developing a Green Infrastructure Plan for the GCR.

The second Citylab session will be held in February 2014 and will focus on valuing green infrastructure and on spatial data challenges.

For more information, contact Christina Culwick.