Community encouraged to help green the Fraser Coast

The Fraser Coast Regional Council will step up moves to involve community groups in tree planting programs to green the Fraser Coast.

Up to 18,000 plants will be made available from the Fraser Coast Regional Council each year for use in non-Council revegetation programs.

 “Under the Greening the Fraser Coast Strategy, Council is committed to planting 100,000 trees by 2030,” Deputy Mayor Paul Truscott said.

“To boost plantings, we will donate seedlings propagated by staff and volunteers at Council’s Community Nursey for use in revegetation works, some of which may be on private property.

“Increasing the amount of native plant cover across the Fraser Coast will have several benefits including increasing habitat and food sources for native animals, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing stormwater management and water quality.

“The policy sets up guidelines for accessing plants, with Council activities taking priority, followed by donating plants.

“To improve results and expand the size of plantings, we will be able invite groups or landowners in areas where Council is undertaking works such as tree planting or bush restoration and regeneration, to join in.

“This will encourage and co-ordinate landowners in a specific area and maximise the chances of donated plants surviving and thriving.”

The new Policy adds heat island mitigation as an eligible project.

Recent satellite-based heat mapping of the Fraser Coast has been used to develop a targeted planting scheme to mitigate heat islands, many of which are on private land, especially in urban environments.

“Reducing heat islands benefits the whole of the Fraser Coast,” Cr Truscott said.

Recipients of donated plants will be provided with copies of the Fraser Coast Greening Guide, and advice on choosing suitable plants.

The Policy provides that up to 18,000 plants will be donated each year, with specific numbers per applicant be set within the guidelines.

The guidelines and application form can be viewed on the Community Nursery page of the Council website www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/fraser-coast-community-nursery.

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.