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Aiming to expand its green spaces while driving down pollution, the Victorian Government plans to plant 210,000 in the west of Melbourne by November.

Western Melbourne has the lowest tree canopy cover in metropolitan Victoria, with just 5.5% of urban tree cover in Melbourne in 2018, compared to 17.4% in the inner south-east and 25.9% in the east.

Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio today announced the next round of grants and locations for 180,000 trees as part of the More Trees for a Cooler, Greener West program, adding to over 30,000 already planted since spring last year.

$5 million is being invested to plant both mature and young trees outside schools, along trails, in parks and on residential streets, across six local council areas – Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Brimbank, Melton, Moonee Valley and Wyndham.

The Victorian Government has announced that it will fund the planting of 500,000 trees in Melbourne’s west starting in September.

Aiming to build ‘green canopies’ that will create cooler spaces for residents to enjoy for generations to come, the Victorian Government will invest $5 million to plant the new trees in growth areas across six councils - Maribyrnong, Wyndham, Melton, Brimbank, Moonee Valley and Hobsons Bay - providing more shade and green spaces, driving down pollution and improving air quality.

As the city’s west has far less green cover than other parts of Melbourne, the trees will help reduce the urban heat island effect which leads to higher temperatures and lower air quality in those urban communities without enough vegetation.

Tree coverage reduces urban temperatures by 10-25°C, filters pollution and provides oxygen, helping reduce heat-related illness and death. The program also improves our biodiversity by providing more homes and food for wildlife and helps us meet Victoria’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

Providing more accessible green spaces also improves communities’ mental and physical health by increasing connections with nature.

Volunteers and locals are encouraged to be involved with the program with planting programs by the six local city councils, Greater Western Water, Melbourne Water, Parks Victoria and Victoria University.

The Government is supporting Aboriginal self-determination and planting on Country with grants for the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation.

The new trees will add to the thousands of hectares of new open space and parklands delivered under the $315 million Suburban Parks Program, which is providing more than 6,500 hectares of parkland, walking trails, bike trails, pocket parks and dog parks – including 22 new and upgraded parks in Melbourne’s west.

For details about projects funded in the second phase visit environment.vic.gov.au/more-trees

Image: Planting 1300 tubestock along Deer Park Bypass Shared User Path October 2021

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