Penrith tree planting program delivers shade to parks and sports fields

As part of their Cooling the City Strategy, Penrith City Council has adopted a tree planting program which will see 2,500 trees planted along with an additional 2,500 trees planted with funding from the NSW Government.

Council will receive a grant of $1,000,040 through the Greening our City program, funded by the NSW Government in association with Local Government NSW. Combined with Council’s already funded program, this will see the delivery of a total of 5,000 new trees along footpaths, in parks, sporting fields and road reserves.

This will enable the acceleration of Council’s Cooling the City strategy, adopted in 2015, and complement the many programs in place as part of the organisation’s long-term vision to deliver cooler, more liveable spaces for a growing community.   

Council explains that increasing the tree canopy in local parks, streets and neighbourhoods will provide much-needed shade and shelter from heat, improve air and water quality, improve health and wellbeing and build resilience to climate change.

Penrith Mayor Karen McKeown welcomed the funding news and said there is no better time than now to take the necessary steps to help protect current and future generations from urban heat.  

Mayor Karen McKeown noted “Penrith is undoubtedly a beautiful place to call home thanks to its sprawling footprint at the base of the Blue Mountains, however, we sit low in the Sydney basin, so the heat is heightened here.

“In fact, one afternoon in January 2020 our City sweltered through a record-breaking temperature of 48.9 degrees. On days like this it is vital for the community’s safety that residents have adequate shading and places to cool off. 

“By fast-tracking our planting and having these additional 5,000 trees pop up around town over the next 18 months, we will subsequently create a dense tree canopy that will provide much-needed relief, especially over summer.” 

In addition to tree planting initiatives, Council has installed splash pads in various locations and is upgrading 90 parks to include modern shade sails at playgrounds which meet Australian Standard and block out harmful UV rays. 

Initiatives around city planning and developments saw around 350 professionals gathered for Council’s Cooling the City Masterclass earlier this year which prompted innovative, forward-thinking discussion around ways to make a difference when designing and building structures across the city.  

To find out more about Penrith Council’s Cooling the City strategy visit penrithcity.nsw.gov.au/waste-environment/cooling-the-city.