• The planting of trees along active transport corridors such as cycleway links and shared paths is identified as a priority location on pg. 14 of the Urban Forest Strategy, 2020.
• The proposed plantings are supported by Section 4.5 (pg. 6) of the Hobsons Bay City Council Tree Policy, 2021, namely, ‘Priority will be given to planting avenues of trees along the Hobsons Bay City Council pathways and trails. This will provide valuable shade to users of the pathway network during the warmer summer months’.
• The planting of trees along Council’s shared path network is also identified as a key canopy enhancement opportunity in Section 4.2 (pg. 19) of Council’s Canopy Delivery Plan, 2022.
• The Hobsons Bay Planning Scheme Strategic Direction, 02.03-3 Environmental risks, identifies extreme heat as a key environmental risk and notes a healthy and growing urban forest, consisting of trees on private and public land, is considered critical infrastructure in not only mitigating the effects of climate change but also in protecting and enhancing community health and wellbeing.
• The Hobsons Bay Response to Climate Change Action Plan, 2022, calls for increased tree canopy on public land to 30% by 2040.

The new trees will be planted in low density style. Trees will have a single trunk. Sightlines will be maintained through uplifting of lower branches to 2 metres. The trees will be planted into granitic sand garden beds to prevent overgrown grass. There will be no understory plantings (bushy plants) which could obstruct sightlines.

Click here to view a single trunk tree example.

The two proposed species, Banksia integrifolia (Coastal Banksia) and Drooping Sheoak (Allocasuarina verticillata) have a high tolerance to coastal winds and are not prone to dropping large amounts of debris.

No, these native trees are located along the shared trails within the recreational zones of the reserve, not inside the core wetland habitat. The trees are well suited to the conditions and provide excellent resources for native wildlife.

Banksias are nectar-bearing, which means they attract the nectar-feeding birds like Lorikeets and Wattlebirds. Increasing the population and presence of native birds can help in reducing the numbers of introduced species, such as Common Mynas.

The trees will have a positive impact to the environment by encouraging more native birds into the area, providing shade and cooling effects, absorbing storm water run-off, and improving air quality.

Banksia integrifolia are adaptable to the predicted future climate of warmer temperatures and dryer weather.

We welcome all feedback during this consultation period to allow careful consideration before planting occurs.

It is important to note tree planting along trails in public open space is supported by several adopted strategies and the broad community. The addition of suitable trees in public open space improves the biodiversity, helps mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, improves public amenity, increases shade for users and provides habitat for local wildlife.

Council has considered this approach, however this approach would fail to provide consistent shade along the trail, which is one of the driving aims for the project. Additionally, the impact to adjacent properties would not be equitable, some residents may have their entire view impacted and others would not.

Click here to view an example of both 20m even spacings (green markers) and where trees are aligned to property boundaries (red markers). There are five extra trees in the boundary spacing approach. This approach would see a higher density of trees near properties with smaller footprints and lower density near properties with larger footprints.

Council views 20-meter spacings along the trail as a non-discriminatory approach and a better outcome for adjacent properties.

The trees will not affect your rate payments. Rates fund a range of vital community services and capital works projects. For information on how rates are calculated and used, please click here