Published on Thursday, 27 June 2024 at 3:35:00 PM

Vincent’s neighbourhoods will be home to more native street trees and increased habitat in years to come.

With environmental threats impacting street trees, it is important for the City to do everything it can to preserve these trees and enhance its urban canopy coverage.

Trees are well-loved by the community and visitors who enjoy coming to parks. They provide a range of benefits, including increased habitat, biodiversity, canopy coverage, property values and community well-being.

Street trees also contribute to the amenity and walkability of local neighbourhoods as they offer shade and mitigation of the urban heat island effect.

To ensure street trees continue to thrive and the local urban canopy coverage increases year-on-year, Council has approved an amended Street Tree Policy and guidelines.

The policy focuses on enhancing and increasing urban canopy coverage, and ensuring the most appropriate species are selected to fight against current and environmental threats such as climate change, pest and diseases and private developments.

It includes annual target of 75 per cent native species when planting new street trees.

Key changes to the policy include:

• More natives will be planted where possible - we will ensure that there is a variety of species in residential streets so that they are more vibrant with trees of different colours, sizes and life expectancies.
• Work to ensure a more continuous tree canopy by focusing on diversifying species chosen and planting the right tree in the right location.
• Increase in tree hydration - we’re implementing new watering requirements to keep our trees healthy and happy.
• Residents will still have the ability to install a swing, rope ladder, tree house, decoration or lighting, onto their verge tree - a landmark move that was introduced in 2018.
• Street tree protection clauses for developers and landowners.

The policy aligns with the urban greening and biodiversity outcome of Vincent’s Sustainable Environment Strategy 2019-2024.

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