The fourth phase of the ‘More Trees for a Cooler, Greener West’ program will plant 56,000 new trees across local communities in early 2024.
The state government announced a $900,000 investment to plant new trees outside schools and in parks across Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Brimbank, Melton, Moonee Valley, and Wyndham local government areas.
All of the trees planted will be indigenous and sourced from local nurseries – and promise to offer more shade and cooler spaces for communities.
Volunteers and locals are encouraged to take part in the program with tree planting projects being delivered by the six local councils of Melbourne’s west, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and Zoos Victoria.
Western Melbourne has the lowest tree canopy cover in metropolitan Melbourne, with just 5.5 per cent of urban tree cover in Melbourne as of 2018, compared with 17.4 per cent in the inner south-east and 25.9 per cent in the east.
Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos said the program will encourage communities in Melbourne’s west to enjoy cooler and greener open spaces.
“This is a great next step in creating greener spaces for local residents to enjoy for years to come,” he said.
Since 2021, more than 325,000 trees have been planted as part of the program across Melbourne’s western suburbs – closing in on the target of 500,000 trees for the west.
Details: environment.vic.gov.au/more-trees.
