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WHEN it comes to urban tree cover, Cowes and Inverloch are the standout towns in Bass Coast with 32 and 30 per cent tree cover respectively on public and private land. San Remo is the most barren, with just 14 per cent tree cover.
The council’s draft Urban Forest Strategy, released for community comment just before Christmas, sets out a plan to protect and grow the shire’s urban forest with a target of a 40 per cent tree canopy coverage by 2040, with a minimum 25 per cent for every neighbourhood.
Urban forests include all trees and vegetation in an urban area, including street trees, nature strips, parks, open space as well as backyards, industrial areas and conservation sites.
The council’s draft Urban Forest Strategy, released for community comment just before Christmas, sets out a plan to protect and grow the shire’s urban forest with a target of a 40 per cent tree canopy coverage by 2040, with a minimum 25 per cent for every neighbourhood.
Urban forests include all trees and vegetation in an urban area, including street trees, nature strips, parks, open space as well as backyards, industrial areas and conservation sites.
Under the strategy, the council has committed to planting 1500 trees annually – an increase of approximately 1200 trees a year on the current program. The plan favours species that will adapt to the area’s changing climate, particularly native and indigenous vegetation.
In addition, the council will compile a detailed tree inventory, continue to support tree protection mechanisms and develop a Street and Park Tree Protection and Removal Policy with clear protocols for tree protection.
In addition, the council will compile a detailed tree inventory, continue to support tree protection mechanisms and develop a Street and Park Tree Protection and Removal Policy with clear protocols for tree protection.
Research for the strategy shows that Bass Coast is coming off a fairly high base of tree cover, well ahead of other comparable shires including Casey, Cardinia, Geelong, Shepparton, Mornington Peninsula and Frankston.
However, Bass Coast Mayor Michael Whelan said the shire’s existing urban forest was under increasing pressure from development and climate change and the best defence was to grow the urban forest.
“While most of our townships enjoy a decent amount of greenery, with an average of 25 per cent urban forest cover across our largest townships, we can’t afford to take that for granted. Today’s urban forest faces some serious threats such as climate change and urban development.
“Our urban forest already delivers so many benefits. As it grows it will play a critical role in capturing carbon, providing habitat for our birds and wildlife. And let’s not underestimate the health and wellbeing benefits trees and gardens bring by cooling our urban environment and providing a connection with nature.
“We hope our community and landholders will embrace our vision for urban greening and grow the urban forest on their land too.”
The council will take public comment on the strategy until February 20. The final strategy will be released before June 2023.
However, Bass Coast Mayor Michael Whelan said the shire’s existing urban forest was under increasing pressure from development and climate change and the best defence was to grow the urban forest.
“While most of our townships enjoy a decent amount of greenery, with an average of 25 per cent urban forest cover across our largest townships, we can’t afford to take that for granted. Today’s urban forest faces some serious threats such as climate change and urban development.
“Our urban forest already delivers so many benefits. As it grows it will play a critical role in capturing carbon, providing habitat for our birds and wildlife. And let’s not underestimate the health and wellbeing benefits trees and gardens bring by cooling our urban environment and providing a connection with nature.
“We hope our community and landholders will embrace our vision for urban greening and grow the urban forest on their land too.”
The council will take public comment on the strategy until February 20. The final strategy will be released before June 2023.
Comments are closed.
This factor needs to be included in planning and development controls as a mandatory requirement for urban development.
Of major concern is the high density building approvals that strip local communities of the established benefits of Green leaf cover.
There are many examples in Bass Coast where developers are allowed to maximise building cover without consideration of the reduction in green space.
Congratulations to Council for producing this draft strategy and seeking community feedback. However, we need to ensure actions not just words. That requires funding, monitoring and enforcement where necessary.
How ironic that Council is planning an Urban Forest at the same time that the government seems determined to destroy the last remnant of our native coastal forest! This is despite objections from the community, Council, conservation organisations and others and despite the whole Shire being declared a Distinctive Area and Landscape. Save the Western Port Woodlands!
San Remo gets a lot of strong winds so maybe why tree's are more sparse too. I lived there for years and was seeing tree's or their branches fall every year in the rental property I was in.
It is important to get good advice about the types of tree's to plant that won't ruin the underground pipes etc.
And please don't plant sheok's near housing, they drop bits and pieces all year round.