Grant will add 149 trees to 23 local streets
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The City of Cockburn has received $37,446 from the State Government through the Water Corporation, as part of the $750,000 Urban Canopy Grant Program administered by the Western Australian Local Government Association.
The Cockburn Canopy 149 program will enable 149 trees to be planted on 23 streets in the Beeliar Gardens estate and in the industrial area along Cocos Drive, Bibra Lake.
Acting Environment Manager Linda Metz said the City welcomed the grant which would help it continue implementing its Urban Forest Plan, a strategy to plant 15,000 trees by 2028.
“These carefully selected street trees will help maximise canopy coverage and longevity based on their water wise ratings, low level of root invasiveness and to suit the character of each suburb,” Ms Metz said.
“The tree selection also adds to local ecological values with some suitable foraging species for the threatened Black Cockatoo.
“The plantings will help these communities adapt to rising temperatures caused by climate change and create a greater long-term cooling effect than ad-hoc and on-request plantings.
“Grant funding will be supported by the City’s investment in developing its urban street canopy by using municipal funds for installation and watering. Local residents will be invited to help plant the trees in winter 2022. “The project is in addition to the City's current tree planting program and will provide much needed shade for these hot and barren streetscapes.”
Tree varieties will include WA Peppermint Tree (Agonis flexuosa), Spotted Gum (Corymbia maculata) and Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia).
More than 2,400 trees will be planted in 14 local government areas by 2022 under the new grant program and once mature, the trees are expected to provide an additional 11 hectares of tree canopy cover within the first decade.
Picture caption, l-r: The City's urban forest team Adam Harris, Peter Ikstrums, Linda Metz and Jennifer Harrison.