Trees and other vegetation are an essential part of the urban fabric, providing a variety of significant social, economic and environmental benefits. They are also recognised in the Government’s climate change response as a method to mitigate the urban heat island effect.
The impacts of climate change are expected to worsen, this increases the importance of planning for green neighbourhoods, more tree canopy and green spaces in our communities. This is why the Government is committed to playing an important leadership role through the preparation of an Urban Greening Strategy for the Perth and Peel regions.
The strategy will ensure initiatives are coordinated and complement any existing greening programs, such as Waterwise Perth and the Urban Greening Grants programs.
Development of the strategy will be led by the Western Australian Planning Commission and will explore various elements aimed at enhancing tree canopy and creating more green spaces across the Perth and Peel regions:
tree canopy measurement and reporting
education and awareness
urban heat identification and mitigation
green linkages (looking at underutilised State Government land for greening opportunities)
urban greening grant program
Initiatives that could be considered include additional Government grant programs, events and incentives, a public education program, expanding successful planting and tree programs, improved tree canopy data and opportunities to partner with local government and community groups.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Show moreWhy do we need an Urban Greening Strategy?
The Government recognises that green and cool spaces and tree canopy are crucial to a modern, healthy and resilient city. Urban vegetation is also essential for retaining biodiversity and provides access to nature.
There are already many individual commitments and initiatives at a State and local level to improve urban greening, but there is a need for an overarching plan to help coordinate, improve on, and support existing urban greening efforts, as well as to complement other Government priorities, including housing delivery and infill development.
Climate change has seen Perth and Peel become hotter and dryer, with longer and more intense heatwaves, with this trend expected to continue. Due to their location, some of our suburbs are more susceptible to the effects of climate change, particularly from heatwaves and the ‘urban heat island’ effect, where built-up areas absorb more heat than surrounding areas.
This is why the Government is committed to playing an important leadership role through the preparation of an Urban Greening Strategy for the Perth and Peel regions, to help make our suburbs greener, cooler and more liveable into the future.
What is urban greening?
Urban greening is about increasing and improving the quantity and quality of green and cooler spaces across our city. This includes parks, gardens, trees, green roofs and walls, wetlands, and urban forests. Urban greening is also about recognising and retaining nature and biodiversity in our city.
What are the benefits of urban greening?
Studies show that urban greening can help reduce heat in urban areas and reduce the health and economic impacts resulting from the urban heat island effect. Urban greening also delivers a range of benefits for the community, environment and economy, including:
Reducing energy costs and increasing property values
Supporting biodiversity and creating habitat for wildlife
Creating attractive places to encourage infill development and support recreation and tourism
Improving mental and physical health
Increasing social cohesion and community engagement
Improving air quality and filtering air pollutants
Lowering runoff entering our waterways, which helps to prevent water pollution and reduce flooding
What is the Urban Greening Strategy?
The Strategy will provide direction for making Perth and Peel greener, cooler and more climate resilient and to set a strategic framework to integrate and encourage urban greening initiatives across all areas of Government. Most importantly, it will identify opportunities for all levels of government, industry and community to work together.
The main purposes of the Strategy are to:
Increase awareness of the importance of urban greening and the economic, social and environmental benefits that urban greening provides.
Identify and foster opportunities to increase the quality and quantity of vegetation (trees and other plants) and green spaces.
Increase the climate resilience of the Perth and Peel regions.
Support, align and complement existing State and local government policies and programs relating to urban greening.
Provide guidance for all Western Australians to participate in urban greening.
