Canopy Enhancement Areas

Canopy Enhancement Areas

Image 8: Canopy enhancement opportunities across Hobsons Bay. Source: Council, DELWP and consultant data, 2021.

These canopy enhancement areas are key opportunities for Council to focus on in increasing tree canopy cover that are not considered to be standard street tree planting sites. Many already have some tree cover within them, however there is clear opportunity to improve it. Some of these opportunities such as wide streets are likely to require streetscape redesign and engineered solutions to improve the growing conditions for new street trees.

These sites have been identified using on-ground assessments coupled with spatial mapping of key data such as wide streets and shared paths. It is estimated that an additional xm2 of tree canopy cover could be added to the Municipality if the following opportunities are explored.

Opportunity Planting Sites:

These sites have been identified through an on-ground assessment as parcels of land that are currently very low on canopy, that are not along streets but have capacity to be significantly planted out with trees. Many are along waterways and could support indigenous species to improve biodiversity connectivity and local ecological values

Shared paths:

Council have mapped 61kms of shared paths. Many of these have ample opportunity to improve shade cover, improve landscape amenity and enhance biodiversity as many run alongside waterways. Covering half of these paths with canopy cover could add an additional 150,000m2 of canopy cover.

Image 9: An example of a shared path in Williamstown with almost no tree canopy cover.

Carparks:

Council has mapped 359,360m2 of at grade carparking across the Municipality. There is ample opportunity to improve tree cover over some of these. However, this may require redesign or resurfacing of the carpark. As a result, any new carpark, renewal or resurfacing works must seek to include an increase in tree canopy cover as part of the new design.

Image 10: An example of three carparks within the Bruce Comben Reserve in Altona Meadows that have virtually no tree cover.

Wide Streets

Hobsons Bay houses some significantly wide streets. A few of these, particularly in Williamstown, already have a good cover of canopy; however, space could be further maximised within all streets over 20m in width.

Many of the 30m wide streets are found in Williamstown and traditionally they allow for ample street parking. There is significant opportunity to redesign these streets to better filtrate stormwater while supporting greater canopy cover.

Image 11: An example of a 30m wide street in Williamstown with significant potential to redesign the street and increase tree canopy cover whilst maintaining on street carparking.

Image 12: An example of a 20m wide street in Altona Meadows where streetscape redesign or collaboration with residents could see improved street functionality and tree canopy cover.

Road Rehabilitation Program:

Council has recognised the benefits of incorporating better street tree solutions into the existing Road Rehabilitation program. This has the added benefit of streamlining budgets but also allowing for more engineered blue green solutions such as passive stormwater filtration. Given that the road is being reconstructed, the planning of these works create significant opportunity to enhance tree canopy cover.