Framing adaptation in the Victorian context - case study report of City of Melbourne

The purpose of this report is to present a summary of findings of qualitative research into institutional barriers and opportunities of climate change adaptation, conducted by the Victorian Centre for Climate Change Adaptation Research (VCCCAR) in collaboration with the City of Melbourne (CoM). In 2011/12, the CoM was a case study partner in the VCCCAR project 'Framing multi-level and multi-actor adaptation responses in the Victorian context'. This report is a research output of that project. The CoM municipal area covers the central business district of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria. Its major features include the Port of Melbourne, sporting, leisure and arts complexes, parks and gardens, as well as universities and hospitals. The CoM has addressed climate change adaptation through a range of strategic planning and implementation processes, including the development of a Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. In this report, we present key topics and discussion points raised during six focus groups to provide feedback to the CoM on the research participants' view on its adaptation process to date. This information can help guide the CoM's further adaptation activities. The research was conducted over a period of seven months, using a collaborative and qualitative approach. CoM staff from different business areas took part in the research, which was facilitated by the Sustainability Branch. The research methods used were focus groups and informal key informant interviews