Cr Jonathon Marsden
I love our open spaces. If you share my love of nature and conservation then Council has a number of projects that you can help shape right now.
We aim to increase Hobsons Bay’s tree canopy to 30 per cent by 2040. This is one project that I am particularly proud of.
We’ve just had a bumper planting season and, in preparation for planting over the next 10 years, the community is invited to plant a virtual tree on an interactive map to show us where they’d like to see a real tree planted.
We will prioritise areas that currently have minimal tree canopy and are particularly vulnerable to high heat and pedestrian activity—such as around schools, parks, playgrounds, kindergartens and libraries.
Some of the areas we will target are Altona Meadows, Laverton, Seabrook, Altona North and Brooklyn.
To help discover more about the benefits of trees, join us for an online webinar from 6pm to 7.30pm on Monday, October 25 and 10am to 11.30am Wednesday, November 3, to speak with industry experts and find out more about council’s draft plan.
There are also tree giveaways and a social media competition. Visit participate.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/urban-forest-strategy by Wednesday, November 24.
We also have the draft Newport Lakes Reserve Conservation and Development Plan open now for public comment.
Newport Lakes may be a hidden gem of sorts, but it is no secret that this beloved nature reserve is truly cherished by all who visit its serene lakes and bush areas.
Have your say on ways to improve the water quality in the lakes, the vegetation, biodiversity, renewed recreational infrastructure and visitor facilities.
The draft plan will also consider a new destination nature play space at Pavey Park, which will go out for separate consultation in 2022.
For more information, go to participate.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/newport-lakes until Sunday, October 31.
Finally, as my mayoral term comes to a close next month, I would like to thank my fellow ouncillors for their ongoing support. It is a privilege to serve my community and it is a role that I have been delighted to perform.
