Council continues with push for Greening the Fraser Coast

The success of street tree planting trials has heartened Deputy Mayor Paul Truscott in his push for Fraser Coast Regional Council to plant 100,000 trees by 2030.

Council’s Natural Environment team oversaw two urban tree planting trials – one in Adelaide Street, Maryborough and one in the Urraween Heights residential estate in Hervey Bay.

“The results are heartening, and the street trees will provide many benefits from shade to absorbing carbon to cut our greenhouse gasses,” Cr Truscott said.

“In view of the trial results, Council has voted to continue to press ahead with its Greening the Fraser Coast initiative and encourage residents to plant street trees and be involved in community tree planting projects to rehabilitate degraded land and increase the total green cover.

“When residents are involved in the planting, the trees have a better chance of survival.

“Community groups and schools will also be encouraged to participate in tree planting events.”

As part of the Greening Fraser Coast initiative, in July 2021 Council set up a dedicated two-person tree planting team which has concentrated on planting trees in streets and natural areas.

Considering the trees planted by the new team, it is projected the Natural Environment team alone will plant about 8,000 trees a year (ranging from tube stock to semi-mature trees).

Council is also developing a Greening Guide which promotes the value of greening the Fraser Coast and will provide residents with a simple tool to guide and identify suitable species for residents to plant in their yard or nature strip.

“Council will also investigate a free plant/tree program, to encourage residents, especially those in the identified suburban hot spots/heat islands to plant native species,” Cr Truscott said.

“We will continue to schedule community planting events to revegetate areas through community planting events. The replanting also helps Council reduce the amount of mowing it has to undertake which cuts costs and our carbon footprint.”

Since January 2019, when Council set the aim to plant 100,000 trees by 2030 about 47,000 trees have been planted consisting of plants within road verges, parkland areas and community revegetation sites.