Draft strategy to help protect urban tree canopy

Published on 03 April 2024

This image contains three photographs: from left, a large mature tree in front of a shop in Hurstbridge, a woman and child planting a tree in Eltham, and two women walking along a trail in a park with large mature trees.

Do you love trees? Help us care for and enhance the tree canopy in Nillumbik’s suburbs and townships by providing feedback on our draft Urban Tree Canopy Strategy 2024-2040, which is out now for community consultation at Participate Nillumbik.

As the Green Wedge Shire, Nillumbik is fortunate to have the second-highest urban tree canopy cover in metropolitan Melbourne.

Trees provide the green and leafy environment that is a highly valued part of living in the Shire, habitat for local wildlife, and shade and cooling that is important for our health and wellbeing.

However, challenges including extreme weather, changing average temperatures and rainfall patterns, bushfires and urban development continue to put pressure on our trees.

This draft strategy seeks to protect and maintain our existing tree canopy as well as identify opportunities to enhance the canopy in areas where there are less trees.

The strategy applies to woody vegetation more than two metres in height. It includes trees indigenous to Nillumbik, native to Australia as well as exotic species on public and private land within the Urban Growth Boundary of the Shire. While it does not cover rural areas, it does include the townships of Hurstbridge, Panton Hill, St Andrews and Wattle Glen.

The strategy provides a 15-year framework and has three overarching goals:

  • Goal 1: That Nillumbik’s urban canopy is protected and enhanced
  • Goal 2: That the Nillumbik community value and care for our urban canopy
  • Goal 3: That a healthy urban canopy supports the wellbeing of the Nillumbik community.

The draft Urban Tree Canopy Strategy is now available to read at Council’s community engagement portal Participate Nillumbik.

There are a number of ways community members can provide feedback:

  • Complete the feedback survey at Participate Nillumbik
  • Make a written submission via email to environment@nillumbik.vic.gov.au
  • Attend a drop-in session at Edendale Community Environment Farm on Sunday 14 April, any time between 10am and 1pm. Free kids activities and plants for attendees.
  • Attend an online webinar on 16 April 7pm to 8.30pm. Register via Participate Nillumbik.
  • Attend a drop-in session at the Hurstbridge Community Hub on Thursday 18 April, 10am to 12pm. Register via Participate Nillumbik.
  • Speak at a Planning and Consultation Committee meeting on 11 June.

Feedback closes on Sunday 28 April 2024.

 

 

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