An aerial view of Stony Range Reserve, where tree planting has previously been undertaken. Photo: Shellharbour City Council.
Shellharbour residents are being asked to pinpoint the city’s hottest and most tree-starved spots as council plans for a greener future.
An interactive map launched as part of Shellharbour City Council’s new Greening Strategy will allow the community to identify where more trees, shade and vegetation are needed most across the municipality.
It focuses on parks, reserves, streets, town centres, private yards, business areas and new developments.
Once input from the community is sought, it will help shape its priorities and actions and guide how trees and green spaces are protected, grown and managed.
Shellharbour Mayor Chris Homer said as Shellharbour continued to grow and summers became hotter, trees and green spaces played an increasingly important role in keeping neighbourhoods cool, healthy and enjoyable.
“We know Shellharbour has lower tree canopy cover than surrounding areas, and this is a real opportunity for the community to help identify where shade and greening are needed most,” Cr Homer said.
“Local knowledge is critical.
“Residents know their neighbourhoods best, and that feedback will directly inform where council focuses future greening efforts.”
Community members can take part by completing a short online survey and adding ideas to an interactive map.
The map allows participants to show where more trees or shade are needed, places where vegetation may need improvement, spots they value for existing trees or shady spaces, and ideas for creating greener, cooler neighbourhoods.
Feedback will be combined with local data and studies to help council identify priority areas for new trees and shade, understand community concerns, and shape the draft Greening Strategy.
The aim of the strategy will be to cool streets and public spaces, improve health and wellbeing, support wildlife and biodiversity, and reduce heat during extreme weather.
Once developed, the draft strategy will be shared publicly for further feedback before being finalised and adopted by council.
The public are already invited to regular planting days but, from the strategy, further workshops, planting days and community programs based on the results will be open to the public.
Community engagement for the draft Greening Strategy is open until 15 June via council’s Let’s Chat page.
