Arboretum to pop up in CBD

Published on 24 August 2020

Council's plan to provide more shade and greenery in Argent Street will soon enter a test phase with the erection of a temporary arboretum.

The project will establish a pop-up arboretum and shared space in a section of the art gallery carpark fronting on to Argent Street.

A number of mature trees will be placed in planter boxes to create the arboretum experience and seating, merging the footpath and a small section of the carpark into a shaded public space.

The planter boxes will also become canvasses for local art students to paint during a pop-up fresh air art program.

Council's General Manager, James Roncon, said the project would provide welcome input for the CBD masterplan, which is currently being developed to soften and green Argent Street and the broader CBD through tree plantings, seating, and shading.

"This project is funded through the NSW Government's Streets as Shared Spaces program and it gives us a chance to gauge how people react to shaded and green spaces in the CBD," he said.

"Obviously the location is close to cafes, takeaway food, and health services, so it will be interesting to see how it is utilised.

"It will also give us a chance to roll out a number of different trees and see which varieties fit in well with the CBD streetscape."

The pop-up arboretum will be in place for two weeks and is expected to be installed in October.