Tree planting program well advanced

Published on 11 August 2023

Around 500 trees are being planted across the Shire as part of Council’s annual winter tree planting and replacement program.

CEO Trevor Ierino spoke about the program in a recent message to community in YOUR INDIGO.

Here’s what he had to say.

“Whether we’re planting new ones or removing those that have reached the end of their life, trees are a topic subject that create a lot of community discussion.

We often get feedback from community about the choice of trees or shrubs for public areas. When making selections, there are a range of factors we take into account, including ensuring a diversity of species, those that already grow well and importantly species that are considered climate ready.

This winter, our parks and gardens crew are planting around 500 trees across the Shire as part of our annual tree planting and replacement program. We were fortunate to secure additional funding under the Naturally Cooler Indigo Project which means we can plant more ‘climate ready’ trees species over the next two years to help increase natural shade and reduce urban heating in our towns.

The Naturally Cooler Towns project has identified species based on selection criteria to ensure they are drought and heat tolerant, have longevity, the ability to form a canopy (generally taller than six metres) and have low flammability.

The funding will also enable us to develop an Urban Tree Canopy Strategy which will identify gaps in the existing tree canopy.

I also want to address comments that we plant ‘weeds’.  Just because a tree is not native to Australia or to Indigo Shire does not necessarily make it a weed. Council is well aware of the many listed noxious weeds in the shire, and these are targeted in our annual roadside weed control program. We do not plant declared noxious or known environmental weeds in our streets and parks.”

Read more about our annual tree planting and replacement program.