500,000 trees to shade parks and enhance wildlife habitats in Melbourne’s West

The Victorian Government is planting 500,000 new trees in Melbourne’s west to help provide more green open spaces, vital new habitats for local wildlife and reduce the urban heat island effect which means more shade and cooler streets and parks in summer.

Victorian Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos visited Burndap Park in Maribyrnong to announce the opening of applications for the final round of the 'More Trees for a Cooler, Greener West' program, which has already seen 410,000 trees planted since 2021.

The State Government will invest a further $2 million to deliver the final phase of plantings, with both mature and young trees for areas of western Melbourne with the lowest tree canopy cover – including Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melton, Moonee Valley and Wyndham.

There are around 90,000 trees available under this round for schools, parks and reserves in the western suburbs to plant over the next 18 months.

The new trees will consist of a mix of tube stock and advanced tree plantings and will be prioritised for streets in greatest need of more trees and shade.

Applications for local councils, public land managers and Traditional Owner Corporations opens on Tuesday 19th November and closes on 3rd December 2024, with trees ready to be planted throughout 2025 and 2026.

Schools will be invited to apply for native trees to plant on their grounds early next year.

These trees will add to the 6,500 hectares of new open space and parklands being delivered by the Victorian Government through the $315 million Suburban Parks Program, providing new parkland, walking trails, bike trails, pocket parks and dog parks – including 22 new and upgraded parks in Melbourne’s west.

For more information on the program and how to apply, visit environment.vic.gov.au/more-trees.

Image More trees will be planted in Melton and across Melbourne's west during the next phase of the Victorian Government's More Trees for a Cooler, Greener West program.