Green grant puts city in the shade

Lake Macquarie suburbs will soon be cooler and greener thanks to more than $360,000 in funding from the NSW Government’s Greening our City program.

The Minns government on Friday announced funding to provide for increased tree canopy in ‘hot-spots’ vulnerable to urban heat, with 250 trees to be planted across 13 suburbs.

Cardiff will get 100 new trees, while Cameron Park, Argenton and Glendale will each get 45-50.

Lake Macquarie City Council Manager Environmental Systems Brendan Callander said street tree planting would reduce ambient heat, lower energy costs, enhance biodiversity and extend infrastructure lifespans.

“Targeting high-need suburbs ensures maximum benefit for our community, building resilience and creating cooler, more liveable neighbourhoods,” he said.

Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery said the $366,850 grant for Lake Macquarie was part of almost $10 million to be shared across NSW under the Greening our City program.

“Planting trees and vegetation in the places we live plays a vital role in our health and wellbeing,” she said.

“I’m pleased the Greening our City funding has been extended to Lake Macquarie to support communities that will see more homes built in coming years.”

 Research shows increasing tree canopy coverage by as little as 10 per cent can reduce urban temperatures by one degree Celsius.

Greener neighbourhoods also add to property values, pushing them up 3-5 per cent on average.

The planting program will be rolled out across the 13 suburbs, aligning with Council’s Urban Greening Strategy 2022-2032.

The strategy aims to increase tree canopy coverage and reduce the effects of urban heat.

Go to lakemac.com.au for more information.