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Penrith City Council’s ‘Greening our City’ tree planting program has, over the last five years, seen over 6,600 trees planted in heat vulnerable suburbs across the local government area.

The program targeted suburbs Council identified as having low tree canopy and were susceptible to heat risks.

The ‘Be Cool to School’ program, which concluded last year, saw 1,971 trees planted in Cambridge Park, specifically on nature strips along active transport routes, streets linking parks, shops and schools, and along walking routes through parks in the suburb.

Penrith Mayor Todd Carney praised the program and was pleased Council continued to have the support of residents and business owners with the ‘Be Cool to School’ project.

Mayor Carney noted "over the last five years, we’ve received feedback from residents and business owners about the importance of trees being planted in their communities.

“Our community members at Cambridge Park were thrilled to see Council taking a proactive approach to increasing tree canopy and reducing the potential for heat in the area. We also had residents request additional trees to be planted outside of their houses, which we were able to accommodate.”

The ‘Greening our City’ program also invited residents to plant trees themselves, with Council’s award-winning and beloved Trees for Mum 2023 event resulting in 370 trees planted. The majority of the plantings have successfully established and boosted biodiversity and shade in the area.

“This tree planting supports Council’s Cooling the City and Green Grid strategies, which aim to increase the tree canopy across the City. These trees will make a big difference when established, cooling streets that our students walk along to go to and from school.’

NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully advised the NSW Government has invested $614,000 to the ‘Be Cool to School’ program to plant just over 1,900 trees in Cambridge Park.

Minister Scully added “In January 2020, Penrith was the hottest place on earth, so it’s important we use every tool in our arsenal to combat urban heat. Delivering more trees means cooler suburbs, increased shade and better public spaces for people, birds and wildlife.”

Local State Member for Penrith Karen McKeown said this has been a great collaboration of the NSW Government and Penrith City Council to combat urban heat and shared “these trees have not only enhanced the look of our neighbourhoods, but they’re proven to have a natural cooling effect.

“Penrith residents know the effects of urban heating all too well, so I’m proud to be part of a government that is taking action to combat its effect.”

The ‘Greening our City’ tree planting program has seen trees planted in Erskine Park, St Clair, Colyton, North St Marys, Oxley Park, and Cambridge Park since 2020. Council continues to increase tree canopy across the Penrith local government area with other tree planting programs.

Community members can get involved in helping increase tree canopy in our bushlands at penrith.city/bushland  

For more information about the program, visit yoursaypenrith.com.au/greeningourcity

The project is funded by the NSW Government’s Greening our City grant. 

Image. Penrith Mayor Todd Carney and Member for Penrith Karen McKeown at Lincoln Park, Cambridge Park, where trees were planted as part of the program.

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