Green Infrastructure Management Manual Launched
IPWEA has officially launched the Green Infrastructure Management Manual (GIMM) — a comprehensive guide for managing living, nature-based assets.
Cover image: Green Infrastructure Management Manual
Developed by the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) in partnership with the Local Government Association of South Australia (LGA SA), Green Adelaide and a consortium of national organisations, including the Landscape Foundation of Australia (LFA), the Manual marks a turning point in how communities value, plan and manage their green infrastructure.
“The development of the manual is a significant step in having the value of nature in our cities understood and protected,” said Professor Chris Daniels, Presiding Member of Green Adelaide. “Our vision is for a cooler, greener, wilder Adelaide – and critical to that is building real appreciation for green infrastructure and the value that it provides.”
Why It Matters
Green infrastructure – including urban forests, green roofs and walls, wetlands, community gardens, and living shorelines – delivers essential services such as cooling cities, improving air and water quality, reducing flood risk, and supporting biodiversity.
Yet, these assets have rarely been recognised in traditional asset and financial management systems. The new Manual provides the tools and frameworks to integrate nature-based assets alongside “grey” infrastructure like roads and pipes – helping to ensure they are valued, funded, and maintained over their full lifecycle .
“Green infrastructure delivers essential, cost effective and climate resilient services and should be treated as core infrastructure alongside roads and pipes,” said The Hon. Emily Bourke MP, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport .
What’s Inside the Manual
Spanning 270 pages, the GIMM provides detailed guidance on:
Definitions and classifications of green infrastructure
The asset and financial management process
Practical details for 24 green infrastructure asset types
Lifecycle activities, risk, cost and value insights
Case studies, tools, and links to further resources
Designed for use by landscape architects, engineers, asset managers, arborists, ecologists, and decision-makers, the Manual aligns with ISO standards and supports global application.
Collaboration and Leadership
The Manual was produced through extensive collaboration between:
IPWEA
LGA South Australia
Green Adelaide
Arboriculture Australia
Living Shorelines Australia
Water Sensitive SA
South Australian Coastal Councils Alliance (SACCA)
Australasian Green Infrastructure Network
Landscape Foundation of Australia (LFA)
Funding was provided by IPWEA, project partners, and the Local Government Research and Development Scheme, administered by LGA SA.
A New Chapter for Green Infrastructure Stewardship
As a contributing partner, the Landscape Foundation of Australia is pleased to have supported this landmark initiative. The GIMM provides a bridge between ecological design and asset management, ensuring that living systems are valued as essential infrastructure for resilient, liveable cities.
“This world-first management manual will help councils integrate living green infrastructure into their asset planning and deliver stronger local environmental outcomes,” said Mayor Heather Holmes-Ross, LGA SA President.
Access the Manual
The Green Infrastructure Management Manual is available free of charge via: