Urban greening strategy underway

Fairy Meadow residents give the urban greening strategy the thumbs up

NORTHERN suburbs’ residents have identified the need for more shade trees in Charles Harper Park, Helensburgh and Thirroul Beach Park.

Community feedback is sought as part of Wollongong City Council’s Urban Greening Strategy to help prioritise planting new trees.

With many unshaded areas across the northern suburbs, the Council says it’s important that the right trees are planted in the right place to insure a liveable city.

To help identify street and park locations where the community would like more trees, Council’s Have Your Say website has an interactive map where you can drop pins to highlights areas that need shade.

Already numerous sites have been identified by residents as needing more shade trees at Helensburgh,  including Charles Harper Park, near Helensburgh swimming pool.

Other sites have been identified at Clifton, near the Sea Cliff Bridge car park, and along the footpath between Scarborough Public School and Clifton School of Arts.

Other sites needing more shade trees that residents have pin-pointed are at Headlands Avenue, Austinmer,  Thirroul Beach Park, South Thirroul Beach Reserve and the beach reserve between Sandon Point and Waniora Point (Bulli Beach).

Further south residents say more trees are needed at the large Council owned car park in Ball Lane, Woonona, and Collins and Nicholson Parks, also at Woonona.

“Now that we’re in the middle of summer, we’re asking residents to drop a pin on a shade survey map to show us where the hot spots are around our city,” Wollongong Lord Mayor, Gordon Bradbery said.

“Planting trees in key locations is a positive solution to cooling down our streets and neighbourhoods. Shade trees can reduce daytime temperatures by 5 to 20 degrees Celsius and improve mental health, increased property value and reduce energy costs. So, if you know a spot in the public realm that would benefit from some leafy shade let us know.

We’re also seeking feedback on where the shady spots are so we can learn from what is already working well.”

This survey is part of the new Urban Greening Strategy, which will guide how the Council plan to protect and maintain existing trees and grow the tree canopy cover across the city over the next 20 years.

To Have Your Say visit: https://www.haveyoursaywollongong.com.au/summer-shade

For more information visit www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au or call the Council on (02) 4227 7111.