Recent amendments to Council’s Plant Donation Policy allow Council to identify priority planting areas, some of which may include private land. Satellite-based heat mapping of the Fraser Coast has been used to develop a targeted planting scheme to mitigate heat islands. Many of these areas cover private land, especially in urban environments, with the potential benefits arising from mitigating increasing temperatures encompassing the whole of the Fraser Coast.
In addition to urban heat islands, Council will identify priority planting areas using a range of criteria. These may include areas where Council is undertaking other works (such as tree planting or bush restoration and regeneration), areas of high biodiversity (including Council-managed natural environments) and areas identified for wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity.
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.
Under the policy Council will contact landholders residing within areas identified as priority planting locations and invite them to accept donated plants for planting on their property. Recipients of donated plants will be provided with a copy of the Fraser Coast Greening Guide, in addition to advice on choosing suitable plants for their location. The Plant Donation Policy allows for up to 18,000 plants to be donated each year, with specific numbers per applicant set within the guidelines.
