The NSW Government is committing close to $10 million to plant around 24,000 trees across Greater Sydney, the Illawarra-Shoalhaven, Hunter and Central Coast, as part of a push to cool suburbs and lift tree canopy in areas most exposed to heat.
The funding, delivered through the latest round of the Greening Our City grants, has been awarded to 28 projects and will also support 47,000 square metres of biodiverse understorey planting. Streets, parks and public spaces are set to see an increase in shade and vegetation, particularly in neighbourhoods with limited existing canopy.
Most of the trees will be planted in locations where canopy cover currently sits between 10 and 20 per cent, with three quarters of the new plantings directed to these lower-cover areas. The focus is on cooling neighbourhoods, improving air quality and supporting communities that experience higher levels of heat stress.
Research cited by the government shows shaded surfaces can be between 11 and 25 degrees cooler than unshaded areas at peak temperatures, underlining the role of trees in moderating urban heat.
Across Greater Sydney, the funded projects will deliver nearly 12,000 trees and 35,000 square metres of understorey planting. In the Cumberland local government area, funding will be used to create green corridors and reduce heat in low- and mid-rise housing precincts. Tahmoor Park in Wollondilly is also set for a major greening project, guided by a design that prioritises local plant species.
This fifth round of the program marks its expansion beyond Sydney, with the Illawarra-Shoalhaven, Hunter and Central Coast included for the first time. Seven projects in these regions will share more than $2.4 million to plant over 12,000 trees and add 13,000 square metres of understorey vegetation.
ACROSS GREATER SYDNEY, THE FUNDED PROJECTS WILL DELIVER NEARLY 12,000 TREES AND 35,000 SQUARE METRES OF UNDERSTOREY PLANTING
Projects include boosting canopy across five suburbs and townships in the Cessnock local government area, greening urban heat hotspots along Lake Macquarie’s corridors, and increasing shade in Shoalhaven town centre carparks to address heat build-up in busy areas. Wollongong will take a data-informed approach, combining street and park tree planting, understorey vegetation and small-scale forests to improve climate resilience.
Since its launch, the Greening our City program has awarded $35.1 million to 131 projects across Greater Sydney, with the aim of building climate resilience, improving air quality and strengthening connections between communities and their local environment.
A full list of successful applicants has been published by the government.
Paul Scully said the funding reflected a broader effort to improve public spaces across the state.
“This is another example of the Minns Labor Government investing to build better communities right across the state,” he said.
“The Greening our city program, which we have extended, is delivering 24,000 trees across Greater Sydney, the Illawarra-Shoalhaven, Hunter and the Central Coast. That’s 6000 more trees than New York’s Central Park.
“It will deliver beautiful public spaces where people can relax and play and critically it helps to reduce urban heat, creating cooler, more liveable communities.
“Each of these grants will make our towns and cities cooler, greener, and more enjoyable places to live, work and travel.”
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