Friday, February 14, 2025

$900,000 to fund more trees for Melbourne’s West

The Victorian Government has today announced a $900,000 investment for the fourth phase of the state’s More Trees for a Cooler, Greener West program. 

Minister for Environment, Steve Dimopoulos said 56,000 new trees will be planted across local communities in Melbourne’s West in early 2024. 

“The More Trees for a Cooler, Greener West program will encourage communities in Melbourne’s west to enjoy cooler and greener open spaces,” said Minister Dimopoulos.

“This is a great next step in creating greener spaces for local residents to enjoy for years to come – and I’d encourage locals to volunteer and take part in tree planting programs across the western suburbs.”

The Minister said the trees will be planted outside schools and in parks across Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Brimbank, Melton, Moonee Valley, and Wyndham Local Government Areas.

Volunteers and locals will be encouraged to take part in the program, with tree planting projects to be delivered by the six local councils of Melbourne’s west, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and Zoos Victoria.

All of the trees planted will be indigenous and sourced from local nurseries. Local schools will also benefit from the program, with more than 2,000 trees expected to be planted on school grounds. 

Western Melbourne has the lowest tree canopy cover in metropolitan Melbourne, with just 5.5% of urban tree cover in Melbourne as of 2018, compared with 17.4% in the inner south-east and 25.9% in the east.

Since 2021, 325,000 trees have been planted as part of the program across Melbourne’s western suburbs.

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