More trees will begin going into the ground across Wyndham this month, establishing green canopies and creating cooler spaces, thanks to the first phase of the Victorian Government’s More Trees for a Cooler, Greener West initiative.
The Government is investing $5 million to plant both mature and young trees across Melbourne’s West. This will deliver more shade and green spaces, driving down pollution, improving air quality and helping tackle climate change.
Residents all across Wyndham can look forward to greener streets, schools, parks and trails with advanced trees and saplings being planted over the coming months.
The first phase of the initiative will see trees planted this spring and next autumn to give them the best chance of survival. Wyndham locations included in this first phase of planting include:
- Mossfiel Primary School, Hoppers Crossing
- Our Lady of the Southern Cross Primary School, Manor Lakes
- Davis Creek Primary School, Tarneit
- Tarneit Senior College, Tarneit
- Baden Powell College (Tarneit Campus), Tarneit
- Tarneit P-9 College, Tarneit
- Manorvale Primary School, Werribee
- Suzanne Cory High School, Werribee
- Nangiloc Crescent Reserve, Werribee (adjoining MacKillop College)
- Parkvista Reserve, Truganina (adjoining Truganina South Primary School
- Werribee River Regional Park, Cocoroc
- Werribee Park, Werribee
Background
Local councils and public land managers were invited to apply for grants of up to $250,000 for new projects and to scale up existing planting projects with a focus on mature trees.
In 2018, Melbourne's west had just 5.5 per cent canopy cover in urban areas compared to 17.4 per cent in the inner south-east and 25.9 per cent in the east. The western suburbs experience the greatest urban heat island effect across metropolitan Melbourne.
The new trees will add to the thousands of hectares of new open space and parklands delivered under the $154 million Suburban Parks Program, which is providing more than 6,500 hectares of parkland, walking trails, bike trails, pocket parks and dog parks – including 22 new and upgraded parks in Melbourne’s west.
For details about projects funded in the first phase visit environment.vic.gov.au/more-trees-for-a-cooler-greener-west
Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio
“We’re planting the right trees in the right places to give families more places to enjoy nature, provide shade and help cool and green the western suburbs.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Tarneit Sarah Connolly
“As Tarneit continues to grow, we’re making sure there are greener streets and open spaces for our local community to enjoy.”
