Perth Voice Interactive

BAYSWATER calls itself “the garden city”. Cr Chris Cornish wants his council to live up to its moniker by increasing the municipality’s tree canopy.

A recent study showed Bayswater council had the fourth worst coverage of trees in Perth, with just 13.2 per cent of the area boasting green canopies.

Cr Cornish wants that improved to 20 per cent by 2025, basing the figures on targets from eastern states councils.

He says having more trees cools the streets a few degrees and having them near your house boosts prices about $16,000.

It’s an uphill battle as half the city’s trees are cut back for power lines, but Cr Cornish is hoping for more undergrounding of powerlines to let them thrive.

Cr Cornish concedes it’ll cost to plant more trees but he reckons that’s outweighed by the savings, from lower airconditioning bills for green-laden streets to protecting the roads (Melbourne uni research shows hot sun can evaporate solvents in bitumen, and shading extends life two to three times).

Research out of New York shows a buck invested in trees returns $5 in benefits.

The plan’s up for debate at Baysy council’s meeting on September 23.

Over at Vincent council they’re taking a more measured pace, hoping to increase the canopy to 20 per cent by 2050.

by DAVID BELL