340 new trees have been planted in Chameleon Reserve as part of Penrith City Council's tree planting project with the NSW Government.
The trees will create a framework of shade, cooling and amenity for users of future paths in the park. Heat mapping was carried out as part of the 2015 Erskine Park Heat Assessment Report, which concluded that tree planting would have a cooling effect on the park and surrounding residences.
Penrith City Council was awarded funding of $150,000 under the NSW Government's Five Million Trees (5MT) for Greater Sydney program to plant 340 new trees, as well as providing a period of 12 months watering and maintenance to help the trees become established. Council matched the funding with another $150,000 for the project through funds derived from the Open Space Reinvestment Project.
Penrith Mayor Karen McKeown OAM said the project's vision is to increase the liveability of Erskine Park by providing a space offering great opportunities for healthy and active living for residents.
"We know how important it is to provide cool spaces for our residents to be active and healthy," Cr McKeown said.
"Stage 1 of the project will see more canopy provided in the reserve to enable and encourage immediate use of the park for passive recreation in advance of future upgrades."
"The tree planting will provide cooling to the adjacent residential areas, too," Cr McKeown said.
The tree planting grant builds on the work of the Open Space Reinvestment Project, which directs funds to improvements into the open space network in the suburb.
The 5MT grant program is part of the NSW Government's strategy to strengthen Sydney's adaptability to climate change and mitigate the incidence of the urban heat island effect.
The 5MT for Greater Sydney program supports tree planting across all councils in Greater Sydney.
