Transforming Bentley into a model for ecological restoration and biodiversity enhancement.
Through the Nature Positive Bentley initiative, the Bentley Redevelopment Project aims to revitalise a 30-hectare site previously degraded by its use as a sand quarry. This ecological history has left the area with limited biodiversity, but it also presents an exciting opportunity to create a nature-positive urban development. The project seeks to align with regional ecological corridors and achieve ambitious goals for biodiversity and canopy coverage, redefining urban living spaces.
What is Nature Positive?
Nature Positive is a global movement to halt and reverse nature loss, starting with a 2020 baseline. By 2030, the goal is to achieve measurable gains in biodiversity, with full recovery by 2050. At Bentley, this vision translates into:
- A 30% canopy target, providing shade, reducing urban heat, and supporting native habitats.
- A 20% increase in ecological value, improving habitats and reconnecting fragmented ecosystems.
- Read our Tree Retention and Management Approach.
Innovation in Action
Nature Positive Bentley integrates spatial mapping technology with biodiversity-sensitive urban design, setting it apart from traditional urban development. By partnering with Curtin University and Josh Byrne and Associates, the project employs cutting-edge tools to:
- Map environmental data to guide habitat placement.
- Optimise connectivity with existing green spaces.
- Set measurable biodiversity targets supported by academic research.
Benefits for All
We are undertaking this initiative to position the Bentley Redevelopment Project as a Nature Positive leader, delivering lasting value. Our findings will be shared openly to encourage replication and innovation in other projects, amplifying the Nature Positive impact across Western Australia and beyond.
The benefits are broad:
- Environmental: Restores native habitats, improving biodiversity and ecosystem health.
- Social/Community: Creates vibrant green spaces that foster community well-being and recreational opportunities.
- Economic: Leverages ecosystem services such as urban cooling and stormwater management for long-term savings.
- Policy Alignment: Supports government strategies like the Perth and Peel Urban Greening Strategy and DevelopmentWA’s Green Star Communities goal.
Explore related research and insights:
- Stepping stones for wildlife: how linking up isolated habitats can help nature thrive in our cities
- Linking Nature in the City: A Framework for Improving Ecological Connectivity in the City of Melbourne
- Building biodiversity into the urban fabric: A case study in applying Biodiversity Sensitive Urban Design
- Nature-based solutions for urban biodiversity: Spatial targeting of retrofits can multiply ecological connectivity benefits
