Penrith City Council is continuing its efforts to cool the City with the expansion of its Greening our City tree planting program into industrial areas and major transport corridors.
The program was first rolled out in suburbs that were identified as having low canopy and were vulnerable during periods of extreme heat. As a continuation of the work, Council will now move its tree planting focus towards industrial areas and major transport corridors that have been identified as having fewer trees.
Penrith Mayor, Tricia Hitchen said addressing the problem of urban heat was critical in maintaining a sustainable way of life now and into the future.
“High temperatures can be detrimental to workers and businesses alike, often leading to a decrease in productivity and greater health concerns for employees,” Mayor Hitchen said.
Council will plant more than 1,000 trees across multiple sites in North and South Penrith, Emu Heights, Emu Plains, and Werrington. All trees used in the program have been specially grown in Council’s own nursery, ensuring that they are well adapted to the area’s unique climate.
Increasing green infrastructure by planting shade trees will help reduce the amount of heat energy that is stored within our hard surfaces, such as roads, and significantly reduce ambient air temperatures, the Mayor said.
“By planting these trees, we are helping to ensure that businesses in the area remain productive and a safe environment for employees, as well as accessible to consumers during the summer months,” she said.
“Council’s project team will be working closely with businesses in the area to achieve positive outcomes for all involved.”
Mayor Hitchen said planting locations have been carefully considered to maintain visibility of business signage and access to driveways using a variety of native and exotic tree species to fit with existing infrastructure.
The project is part of the Greening Our City grant program and is funded by the NSW Government in association with Local Government NSW.
