Shepparton Urban Forest Strategy launch this month

Shepparton’s long awaited Urban Forest Strategy will be launched later this month.

All those who gather Beneath the Wisteria have been invited to attend

the Thursday, June 29, event at 10:00 am in the car park next to Friars Cafe.

The City of Great Shepparton presently manage nearly 40 000 urban trees in its streets and parks and the goal is to, by 2037, increase the urban forest canopy cover in each town to 40 per cent.

Also the council aims to reduce the number of vacant street tree sites to  

zero, also to improve urban forest diversity by age and useful life expectancy; to increase the number of biodiversity links through each towns street and road network; to include urban trees in all major Council infrastructure projects at planning, design and implementation phase; and to ensure best practice urban tree management is being delivered across all Council programs.

The council also says on its website that an urban forest provides benefits to people – shade, public amenity and green spaces for you to enjoy. But it also has strong economic and environmental benefits that are worth considering.

Those eager to see the launch and better understand the Urban Forest idea need to RSVP to Daniella Rose by June 22, or more information is available from the Manager of Parks, Sport and Recreation, Heath Chasemore on 5832 9700.

Shepparton's Urban Forest Strategy discussion paper

A discussion paper entitled “Urban Forest Strategy” has been released for discussion the City of Greater Shepparton.

The introduction says: “Shepparton’s Urban Forest is the sum of all urban vegetation. It is the Council owned street and park trees, it is the plants and trees in back and front yards, it is the vegetation along urban waterways, in

reserves and on other major landholder’s land.

The urban forest provides many benefits to people and the environment. Those of importance to Shepparton are:

Economic Values

The urban forest:

 Improves commercial vitality: shoppers spend longer and more money in shopping areas that are well treed and landscaped. Tree can improve retail activity by up to 20%.

 increases house prices in Brisbane and Perth through the provision of healthy and well maintained street trees

 reduces energy use in buildings: A 10% increase in deciduous tree cover can reduce heating and cooling costs in houses by 5-10%

 greatly improves the brand and liveability of the City, especially along gateway roads into a town or City

 can provide a return on capital of up to five times e.g. New York’s street trees

 is one of the most cost effective and efficient public assets for adapting urban areas to climate change through provision of shade, evapotranspiration and stormwater interception.

Health and Wellbeing

The urban forest:

 provides natural shade and shelter for pedestrians and cyclists: Shade trees reduce daytime temperatures between 5 – 20C

 Improves the desirability of a neighbourhood and encourage people to spend time outdoors and interact with their community, particularly in areas of socio-economic disadvantage

 improves amenity and aesthetic of public open space, particularly playgrounds, encouraging active play

 encourages motorists to drive more slowly through the provision of uniform, avenue like plantings along streets creating safer streets