Hobsons Bay is launching an exciting campaign to encourage residents, businesses, and industrial areas to help build our urban forest.
As part of Council’s Urban Forest Strategy, the community is invited to plant a virtual tree where they would like to see a real one.
The draft Urban Canopy Delivery Plan maps out trees to be planted over the next 10 years, as well as incorporating recently planted trees.
The draft plan prioritises areas that currently have a minimal tree canopy, have high heat vulnerability and high pedestrian activity such as around schools, parks, playgrounds, kindergartens and libraries. High priority suburbs include Altona Meadows, Laverton, Seabrook, Altona North and Brooklyn.
‘Harder to plant’ locations, such as shared paths, carparks, asphalt and commercial and industrial areas, will also be part of our future urban forest through water sensitive urban design that can harness new technology to passively water trees.
The community can get involved by:
- providing feedback on the priority planting areas and locations identified in the draft plan and where more tree cover is required
- attending an online webinar on Monday 25 October, 6pm to 7.30pm and Wednesday 3 November, 10am to 11.30am to speak with industry experts and find out more about the draft plan
- identifying areas on private land where Council can partner with local landowners, businesses, and organisations to add extra greenery
- requesting a tree that Council will deliver for residents to plant on their own property
- entering a social media competition to share a photo of a tree you’ve planted from Council’s Brooklyn Tree Giveaway earlier in the year, for the chance to win one of three Newport Lakes Native Nursery vouchers. To enter, share a photo on social media in a public post, using the hashtag #BuildingOurUrbanForest. Competition closes 30 November.
- ·nominating a street to be part of the ‘Green Street’ program and be directly involved in selecting and caring for the trees.
As well as the draft Urban Canopy Delivery Plan, Council’s Urban Forest Strategy consultation identified the Lagunaria patersonia species (commonly called Itchy Bomb Tree or Norfolk Hibiscus) as an unsuitable urban tree species which commonly causes skin irritation and is now regarded as an environmental weed. Residents can now nominate for an Itchy Bomb Tree to be replaced.
For details on all of the great ways to get involved in the Urban Forest Strategy above, visit participate.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/urban-forest-strategy
Feedback on the draft Urban Canopy Delivery Plan closes Wednesday 24 November.
Quotes attributable to Mayor of Hobsons Bay Cr Jonathon Marsden
“The draft Urban Canopy Delivery Plan is the next step to bring the highly popular Urban Forest Strategy to life. Through last year’s Urban Forest Strategy consultation, we know Hobsons Bay values trees and sees the benefits – improved air quality, reduced ground temperature, enhanced liveability and more shade on buildings and open spaces.
“Not all trees are equal and the right trees for each street, park, reserve and private property will do wonders for our streetscapes, bringing economic benefits, creating wildlife corridors and cooling our streets. The Urban Canopy Plan ensures the right trees are going in the ground, where they are needed the most and provide the best return on investment.
“It is crucial that we all work together to build our urban forest and achieve our target of 30 per cent tree canopy by 2040. Tell us where we should prioritise planting on Council land, identify private and industrial land that need extra greenery and plant a free tree on your property.”
