More than 22,000 tube stock trees and 150 advanced trees will be planted in streets and reserves across Brimbank as part of an ongoing program to cool and green the west.
Brimbank Council welcomed $295,956 funding from the Victorian Government as part of Phase 3 of the More Trees for a Cooler Greener West program.
Phase one of the program was launched in September 2021, and since then just over 190,000 trees have been planted across Melbourne’s west, and 500,000 trees will be planted in the west by the time the project is finished.
More Trees for a Cooler Greener West was devised to significantly increase the tree canopy cover in the western suburbs – which has Melbourne’s lowest tree canopy cover – 5.5 per cent. This is way behind its neighbouring regions. The north has the next lowest tree cover at 12.1 per cent and Melbourne’s east has Melbourne’s highest tree canopy cover of 25.9 per cent.
Brimbank Mayor, Cr Bruce Lancashire said low tree canopy cover across Brimbank had several negative health and wellbeing implications for the community, and addressing this was a Council priority.
“Brimbank’s tree canopy coverage has increased from 6.2% to about 10% since 2016 as part of the Greening the West Partnership, and Council’s own investment in tree planting, guided by its 30-year Urban Forest Strategy adopted in 2016. Since adopting the Urban Forest Strategy in 2016, we’ve spent $12 million on tree planting, spending around $2 million annually.
“Council welcomes this new funding from the Victorian Government that will go towards our target of 30% tree canopy coverage across Brimbank by 2046.
“Creating cooler, more shaded and sustainable green spaces is important to support the health and wellbeing of our residents, particularly those vulnerable communities impacted by heatwaves.”
