Councils in the Illawarra, Hunter and Central Coast are now able to apply for a share of $10 million to plant trees, shrubs, and native vegetation in parks, plazas, and other public spaces as part of the latest round of the NSW Government’s Greening Our City program.
For the first time, funding will being offered to local governments beyond Greater Sydney.
The program is designed to increase tree planting, which helps reduce urban heat islands, supports biodiversity and improves public spaces and active transport routes.
By expanding the program to the Illawarra, Hunter and Central Coast, an additional 1.4 million residents will benefit from cooler and greener spaces, meaning more people living in cooler and more resilient communities, said Minister for Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Heritage, Penny Sharpe.
“The Minns Labor Government is proud to announce this investment in the long-running Greening our City program, which will boost climate resilience across the state,” said Ms Sharpe.
“This initiative helps communities better adapt to the challenges of a changing climate.”
Eligible councils will receive funding and will be able to access data and strategic planning support to assist in effective urban greening.
A new advisory panel – comprising experts from industry, academia, and local government – will also be established later this year to guide the program’s delivery, provide feedback on policy, and help test new initiatives.
“The NSW Government has developed a Biodiversity in Place Framework that guides the sensible and practical delivery of biodiversity in urban areas. These grants will go a long way to see that framework adopted and applied across our cities,” said Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully.
“More trees mean cooler streets, and better quality of life for residents. The Greening our City program is a major contributor to creating vibrant cities where people want to live.”
The grant round is open until 5pm Friday 26 September.
Funding for the program comes from the NSW Climate Change Fund.
For more information visit Greening our City.
