THE City of Ballarat is two years into its urban forest project as it seeks to achieve a tree canopy cover of forty per cent within the next nineteen years.<\/p>\n
Director development and growth Natalie Robertson said the initiative began in 2019 in response to residents\u2019 desires for a \u201cgreener, more liveable city.\u201d<\/p>\n
Almost five years ago the municipality\u2019s tree canopy cover was only at 17 per cent, now the parks and gardens team are planting about 1500 trees annually under the urban forest plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe set ourselves some key targets to establish a comprehensive tree inventory for management, increase canopy cover to 40 per cent by 2040, achieve an increase in 20,000 square metres in green space in the CBD, and develop tree precinct plans for priority areas of social vulnerability,\u201d Ms Robertson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re implementing those actions. It\u2019s a long-term project, but it\u2019s really something to celebrate. A 40 per cent tree canopy will be an amazing achievement in Ballarat.\u201d<\/p>\n
Priority precinct plans for Wendouree, Sebastopol and Bakery Hill\u2019s tree canopies have recently been completed, while over the last six months, 205 trees have been planted in Wendouree, 250 in Ballarat North, and 127 in Mount Pleasant and Newington combined.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhilst we have priority areas, it doesn\u2019t mean we\u2019ve neglected the others,\u201d Ms Robertson said.<\/p>\n
Two-hundred trees have been planted in Lake Gardens, Alfredton and Invermay Park in the last six months, and 26 trees on Sturt Street between Pleasant and Gillies streets have been removed, to allow for the planting of 110 trees.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe assess trees through our arborists, and when there is an unhealthy tree or one\u2019s not thriving, we make the decision to remove them so we can get a better outcome, and we can plant more trees,\u201d Ms Robertson said.<\/p>\n
This financial year, the City and State each allocated $500,000 to fund 1352 trees in Sebastopol as part of the Spotlight on Sebas project.<\/p>\n
Here, large canopy trees have been selected for nature strips that are not under powerlines.<\/p>\n
Across town Remembrance Drive will see 46 trees replaced, Soldiers Hill is a focus for tree protection works, while new plantings on the shores of Lake Wendouree are part of the broader capital works program.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re lucky that some of our areas are magnificently planted and can be sustained while we catch up in other areas,\u201d Ms Robertson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur parks and gardens team do an amazing job on our operational program, whilst keeping on top of our urban forest action plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vegetation officer Tony Marshall said varying species have been chosen to improve the canopy, and grow in harmony with City infrastructure.<\/p>\n
Large deciduous trees tend to go in areas with heritage requirements, while both evergreen and deciduous go to the outer suburbs.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a healthy urban forest, you need diversity. You want to steer clear of a monoculture due to pests and diseases; you risk losing everything in one hit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe try and mix it up a bit. In Drummond Street, for example, we\u2019ve got pocket plantings where we\u2019ve gone for banksias to bring in biodiversity where we can\u2019t have a massive canopy tree, but we can encourage bird and insect life into the city.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do have our go-to species in suburbs where we\u2019re doing new street tree plantings; on streets running east-west we plant deciduous, if we can, for solar gain during winter months, and for the north-south, evergreens are a focus.\u201d<\/p>\n
Following recent Ballarat Sewer Build works, and the construction of a new road surface, Mr Marshall contributed to the installation of red maple trees on Peel Street north.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re trying to bring in a bit of colour. We\u2019ve planted the trees in the footpath area. I\u2019m pretty proud of that section of works, collaborating with our internal designers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve gone with a structured pit design that we hope will limit infrastructure damage from trees over time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaples have been successful in other areas, such us behind the Town Hall. They\u2019ve been in there for 15 years, they have limited pruning requirements, are a beautiful colour, and make a cooling contribution to our city\u2019s microclimate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Combining urban forest and general street works, the City of Ballarat aims to plants 3000 trees a year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE City of Ballarat is two years into its urban forest project as it seeks to achieve a tree canopy cover of forty per cent within the next nineteen years. Director development and growth Natalie Robertson said the initiative began in 2019 in response to residents\u2019 desires for a \u201cgreener, more liveable city.\u201d Almost five […]<\/p>\n