Wollongong City Council's urban greening efforts have received a major boost, with funding from the New South Wales government through its expanded Greening Our City program to see more than 1500 new trees planted across our LGA.
The $480,000 funding injection will enhance Council's efforts to increase urban canopy cover and take major strides toward our goal of 35 per cent coverage by 2037, as outlined in our Urban Greening Strategy.
The Greening Our City grant will help to deliver practical, on-the-ground urban greening initiatives across 10 priority suburbs, targeting low canopy and high heat areas to cool neighbourhoods, enhance liveability and strengthen local biodiversity.
Greening efforts will primarily focus on Wollongong's southern suburbs including Dapto, Berkeley, Port Kembla, Warrawong and Primbee among others, where communities experience higher heat and lower canopy cover.
Deputy Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Linda Campbell said meeting the 2037 target is a top priority for Council, with securing the grant funding a major step toward achieving that goal.
"We're very appreciative of this NSW Government funding to provide further support for our Urban Greening objectives," Councillor Campbell said.
"We're very excited to be part of the Greening our City program's expansion, and this funding will help us deliver more than 1500 new trees in projects designed to increase much needed shade in our busy parks for the benefit of our community - including new nature play gardens for children.
"We've made a lot of great strides through our urban greening strategies and initiatives in recent years, but we have more to do bring our urban canopy cover in line with other major cities. This funding will certainly allow us to enhance our efforts in this vitally important area."
Member for Wollongong Mr Paul Scully is excited to see the program expanded outside of Sydney for the first time.
"The Minns Labor Government expanded the Greening our City program to include Wollongong last year and today we're seeing Wollongong benefit from that change," Mr Scully said.
"Wollongong City Council will receive its first grant of $480,000 to deliver more trees and vegetation along our streets, in our parks and across our neighbourhoods. This is an investment in a cooler and greener Wollongong which will create more places for people to relax and enjoy making our streets and suburbs more liveable and climate resilient."
The program will include a mix of urban greening initiatives, such as new tiny forests, woodland and verge plantings, street trees and shade trees along active transport corridors and residential streets. New trees will also be planted across targeted streets, parks, sportsgrounds and public open spaces, increasing shade and building long-term canopy cover for the community.
Street tree planting will prioritise residential streets and busy walking and cycling routes, helping make active transport safer and more comfortable during hot weather ‑term canopy cover for the community.
The program supports Council's goals outlined within our Urban Greening Strategy and Climate Change Adaptation work.
