Liverpool City Council has planted more than 150 trees in popular parks, under Stage 1 of its Liverpool City Centre Urban Forest Strategy.
The program across Hart Park, Bigge Park, and Liverpool Pioneers Memorial Park incorporates the Greening our City grant from the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE). Goals under the grant include increasing tree canopy across Greater Sydney to provide shade and shelter from heat.
In the words of American businessman Warren Buffet, "Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." The trees add beauty and tranquility to the area, remaining for future generations to enjoy.
Liverpool Mayor Wendy Waller said the grant has boosted the council's environmental and sustainability efforts.
"We are proud to have some great parks and public spaces within the Liverpool City Centre for the community to enjoy, but they require constant planning and upkeep," Mayor Waller said.
Liverpool City Council's Senior Urban Designer, Ariz Ashraf, said the project will help in mitigating the urban heat island effect.
"The tree planting delivers on the recommendations of the recently-adopted Liverpool City Centre Public Domain Master Plan to increase tree canopy cover within the CBD, and also aligns with the NSW Premier's Priority of achieving increased tree canopy across Greater Sydney," Mr Ashraf said.
Liverpool's parks have flourished with 159 new trees: 61 trees have been planted in Hart Park. The trees selected include Forest Red Gum: Eucalyptus tereticornis.
Bigge Park is home to 72 new trees, including the deciduous Blue Jacaranda - Jacaranda mimosifolia. Liverpool Pioneers Memorial Park has an additional 26 trees, including the evergreen Narrow-Leaved Red Ironbark – Eucalyptus crebra.
Mr Ashraf said the trees are being planted as an advanced species, from 100 or 200-litre pots, and their canopy cover will increase with age.
"The trees will take 5-7 years to achieve half maturity and 12-15 years to achieve full maturity. Depending on the tree species, they can grow to a 5-8 metre height at full maturity and attain a canopy cover of 3-6 metres in diameter at full maturity in an urban environment," he explained.
Council's vision for a greener Liverpool also came into fruition at the Georges River Casula Parklands, which features as a case study by DPIE.
The $128k grant from DPIE's Greening our City grant fund transformed an old golf course into a welcoming and exciting recreational space, complementing the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre.
