Your rates at work: tree works

Published on 24 July 2018

About 250 established trees will be planted on nature strips in towns throughout the Macedon Ranges in coming weeks as part of Council’s annual planting program.

More than 150 trees have already been planted as part of the program. Trees are purchased from local nurseries and planted between May and September in order to give the trees the best chance of survival.

Staff ensure the new plantings are well supported by watering them regularly during the warmer months in the first two years following planting to ensure that they mature into healthy and structurally sound trees.

Residents near nature strips with newly planted trees are provided with information on how to look after them as well as a bucket, so when the weather is very hot they can easily provide the trees with additional water if necessary.

Council conducts regular checks of township trees as part of its annual tree audit program, which is about to start.

About 10,000 trees will be audited in our townships this year by contractors, who will conduct visual inspections of all street and park trees within Council-managed reserves and streets in Riddells Creek, Woodend, Kyneton, Gisborne, New Gisborne, Gisborne South, Romsey, Newham, Darraweit Guim, Bullengarook and Clarkefield.

During the tree audits, nature strips with vacant tree sites will be identified, which will assist Council in developing its tree planting program.

Director Assets and Operations Dale Thornton said planting trees on vacant nature strips had many benefits for the community.

“Adding trees on these nature strips will not only make our streets more attractive, but they provide shade for the hot summer months as well as having longer-term environmental benefits for our towns,” he said.

For more information on vegetation and nature strips in the shire visit Trees and vegetation or Nature strips.