Cessnock is reaping the rewards of the expansion of the Greening our City grant program to the Hunter, Illawarra-Shoalhaven, and Central Coast, with Cessnock City Council receiving almost $250,000 to help increase the city’s tree canopy.
The funding will support council to grow tree canopy cover across five suburbs to help reduce urban heat and boost biodiversity so neighbourhoods are more liveable and climate resilient.
This is part of a broader $10 million investment from the Minns Labor Government across 24 councils to plant around 24,000 trees to green our streets and reduce the impacts of urban heating across Greater Sydney, the Illawarra-Shoalhaven, Hunter, and Central Coast.
Most trees will be planted in areas with low canopy cover, with three-quarters of plantings going to sites that currently have just 10-20% coverage. These will cool neighbourhoods, improve air quality, and support communities in areas that need it most.
Research has shown that shaded surfaces may be 11-25°C cooler than the peak temperatures of unshaded surfaces.
This is one of seven projects in the program’s newly expanded area in the Hunter, Illawarra-Shoalhaven and Central Coast which will together plant more than 12,000 trees and 13,000 square metres of understorey planting.
A full list of successful applicants is available here.
State Member for the Electorate of Cessnock, Clayton Barr said:
“Greening our towns and neighbourhoods in Cessnock LGA is about creating a better future for everyone.
“Planting trees and vegetation in the places we live plays a vital role in our health and wellbeing.
“I’m pleased the Greening our City funding has been extended to the Hunter to support communities that will see more homes built in the coming years.”