Each year, between May and September advanced street trees are planted in various locations throughout Greater Shepparton. Council conducts an extensive horticultural maintenance program to ensure these trees mature into healthy and structurally sound trees.
The Urban Forest Strategy aims to increase green canopy cover to 40 per cent in the next 10 to 15 years in Shepparton, Mooroopna and Tatura. An audit conducted during development of the Urban Forest Strategy identified streets where trees are required. The annual tree planting program makes use of that information and also takes into account new estates and new areas where more trees are needed.
Council’s Manager Parks, Sport and Recreation, Heath Chasemore, said trees provide significant economic, social, environmental, ecological and aesthetic benefits to our communities and assist in the creation of neighbourhood character and identity of our urban streets.
“A well treed streetscape is visually appealing and importantly reduces the impact of radiant heat. Having cooler shadier streets in summer encourages people to get out and about more, which is good for your physical and mental health,” he said.
“Council also plants trees in existing and new residential development areas. Council undertakes extensive monitoring of new trees for the first two years with watering and maintenance by which stage they are usually well established. Council makes information available to residents on how to assist looking after the trees after this period, particularly in the summer. It’s great if residents can provide the trees with a bucket of water if needed,” said Mr Chasemore.
“Tree planting is conducted during the cooler months of the year and the trees we choose are advanced street trees specially grown and selected to suit our local climate. Some are chosen specifically for planting under power lines so they do not cause maintenance issues when they are full grown.”
