The City’s first Urban Forest Strategy will preserve, expand and manage the City’s urban forest on both public and private land, to reach 22.6 per cent overall tree canopy coverage in the next 20 years.
Clearly defined targets for management of the urban forest include increasing the overall tree canopy coverage from the current 19.8 per cent.
The biggest rise would be in streetscapes, followed by public open space, residential and then industrial.
Mayor Peter Feasey said the City played a key role in land management and planting and therefore the ability to improve tree canopy coverage.
“To achieve the above targets on City managed land, primarily public open space and streetscapes, it is estimated that 29,889 new trees are needed,” Mayor Feasey said.
“To accelerate this process the City applied for and was successful in receiving a Local Environmental Projects Program grant of $1.84 million over three years for tree planting, following an Election commitment by Member for Brand Madeleine King in 2025.
“This enables an immediate boost to the City’s planting efforts, and plantings with this funding will begin in winter to make our community cooler, support our biodiversity and improve air quality for all.
“Increasing canopy cover is a whole of community responsibility, with the City looking for any opportunity to retain and plant trees in new suburbs, but with the help of landowners, we can make a big impact on our canopy,” he said.
Madeleine King MP said the grant funding will help ensure the City of Kwinana and surrounding suburbs remain great places to live.
“The funding will help address the issues of urban heat and will support measures to conserve, protect, and sustainably manage the precious natural environment,” she said.
“The $1.84 million in grant funding reflects the Government’s ongoing commitment to protecting our local environment and ensuring it remains for future generations to enjoy.”
Canopy goals
Streetscapes: increase by 12 per cent to 22.9 per cent
Public open space: increase by 6 per cent to 30 percent
Residential: increasing 3.6 per cent to 18.3 percent
Industrial area: increase by 2.4 per cent to 9 per cent