Australian Landscape Management and The Centre for Urban Horticulture at Melbourne University have recently assisted Melbourne City Council Parks and Recreation Department in developing strategies for the achievement of reductions in the use of potable water in landscapes.

These water savings objectives have been developed within the context of overall council goals outlined in councils Draft Sustainable Water Management Strategy published in October 2002.

Specific areas examined included:

• Definition of the areas where potable water is used (e.g. parks, gardens, ponds, water features, recreation centres, depots etc)
  
• Confirmation of total water consumption and assessment of the relative importance/ potential for each area to deliver savings
• Development of a database tool to integrate and manage irrigation system, site and asset data, GIS and water consumption data.
• Adequacy of water recording practices
• Modelling of water use efficiency for council irrigation systems
• Investment options/priorities necessary to achieve reductions in potable water consumption

Location: City of Melbourne

irrigated grass and trees @ Gosch's Paddock, City of Melbourne

turf areas consume the majority of water in open space