Joint Statement - Boosting Melbourne's tree canopy - real solutions for greener suburbs

Joint Statement – Boosting Melbourne’s tree canopy – real solutions for greener suburbs

Matthew Guy, Leader of the Opposition

James Newbury, Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change

17 July 2022.

Local communities across Melbourne will receive a boost to their environmental liveability under a new commitment announced today by the Victorian Liberals and Nationals.

Tree canopy cover has many benefits important for our community and environment including reducing urban temperatures, supporting biodiversity and ecosystems, providing shade and cooling, and promoting physical activity.

Despite these benefits, many areas of Melbourne continue to have very poor canopy coverage – with rates as low as four per cent in areas including Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melton, Moonee Valley, Wyndham.

Therefore, a Matthew Guy Liberals and Nationals Government will provide $20 million to increase tree canopy coverage across metropolitan Melbourne from around 15 per cent up to 35 per cent by 2050.

Immediate investment will be provided to work with local councils and community groups to plant 2 million trees over the next four years, and support the development of more environmentally liveable and resilient local communities across Melbourne.

Leader of the Liberal Party, Matthew Guy, said the Liberals and National’s plan to re-green our suburbs was a real solution to deliver more liveable and resilient local communities.

“Greener communities are better communities but unfortunately too many growing areas of Melbourne have been left behind.”

“Our plan is a real solution to support cooler, safer and more liveable local communities'”

Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change, James Newbury, said improving environmental liveability was an important step to effective action on climate change.

“The benefits of tree canopies across our suburbs is well understood, but too many areas haven’t received the support they deserve.”

“This is a sensible way to boost local environmental liveability and get local communities involved in sustainability measures.”

James Newbury, Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change

Matthew Guy, Leader of the Opposition