Grants for greener neighbourhoods

Greater Sydney will be a greener, cooler place for people to enjoy, under a new initiative to support significantly increased urban tree cover.

The NSW Government’s Greener Neighbourhoods program will provide up to $1.65 million in total funding to Greater Sydney’s 33 councils to enhance tree canopy in local neighbourhoods.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the Government aimed to increase Greater Sydney’s tree cover from around 21 percent to 40 percent by 2036.

“Trees and urban greening are essential to healthy and happy neighbourhoods, and we want to help councils increase the number of trees in our suburbs,” Mr Stokes said.

“This new initiative builds on our work to make Sydney a more sustainable and liveable city – it’s part of our plan to see one million trees planted by 2022.”

Grants of up to $50,000 are available to each of the Greater Sydney’s 33 councils for planning work to improve local urban forests.

Councils will also be given fresh data about the extent of Sydney’s canopy cover, along with a Greener Neighbourhoods Guide to assist with the development or updating of urban forest strategies.

“Councils have a major role to play in expanding tree canopy and urban greening across Sydney and we’re working with them to deliver a greener, more connected city,” Mr Stokes said.

The Greener Neighbourhoods program has been co-designed by the NSW Government in consultation with councils and in partnership with Resilient Sydney.

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