Implementation of the Canopy Delivery Plan

The core purpose of this Plan is to identify the most effective way for Council to meet its targets as set within the Urban Forest Strategy. From a resource and cost perspective, Council will utilise the following hierarchy of opportunities to plant 100,000 trees by 2040 (8,000 each year to 2025 and then 4,000 per year thereafter):

1. The 4,946 identified vacant street tree sites which will be planted by 2022 2. In higher priority open spaces to improve shade, amenity and biodiversity 3. Along shared paths to improve shade, amenity and biodiversity 4. Within harder to plant/hardstand areas 5. Revegetation in conservation reserves 6. Increased shade and amenity in wide streets where space allows (both the 20m and 30m streets) 7. Within carparks 8. Where other Council asset works allow for construction works to support increased tree canopy cover

Council will run a 2-year rolling program of assessing opportunity sites each year to inform street and park tree planting. This adaptability will allow planting to be integrated as and when other Council works plans, either asset renewal or capital works, are developed.

This rolling program will include:

1. Annual site selection: Using the prioritisation framework and list of opportunity sites, Council will select sites for tree planting to accommodate the 8,000 trees per year 2. Species selection: Existing species within a site will be reviewed and appropriate species selected to ensure adequate diversity, but also climate resilience and suitability to site. 3. Community engagement: An average of three streets or sites will be chosen to run the Green

Streets program within which will have detailed community engagement. Community engagement for all other tree planting will be by standard letter box drops to inform residents of upcoming planting. 4. Planting program: Given Council will know 2 years in advance of both the numbers of species of each tree to be planted in a given year, Council can seek to secure high quality tree stock through contract growing by preferred suppliers. 5. Care and maintenance: All trees will be provided with two years of establishment care, including supplementary watering, formative pruning and replacement of failed stock 6. Ongoing evaluation: Viability of the species palette will continually be reviewed and evaluated to ensure Hobsons Bay tree stock is fit for purpose. Tree numbers and tree canopy cover will be continually monitored to ensure progression towards targets. Priority sites will also be continually reviewed, ground truthed and assessed to ensure a clear line of tree planting opportunities for Council. 7. Ongoing public education to raise community awareness of the benefits of trees to health and well-being and to inform the community of progress with the plan.

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