Perth Voice Interactive

BAYSWATER council will spend an extra $100,000 this year planting 200 trees.

Greening the city is emerging as a main priority for the council under new mayor Barry McKenna, as it prepares to increase its canopy from 13.2 per cent to 20 per cent by 2025.

The council last month decided to up its stock this planting season — from March to August — as part of a new “urban tree canopy/forestry strategy”.

It comes as half the 14 requests made at the recent annual electors’ meeting related to greening the city.

Councillor Chris Cornish met with the Voice on Bedford’s Lawrence Street.

“There could be big Moreton Bay Fig trees down there because there are no power lines down this side,” he says, pointing down the road.

A resident popped out for a chat, saying he’s pulling out three Queensland box trees because they’re a hassle and expensive to prune.

And he isn’t enthusiastic about more trees going in, potentially blocking his wife’s 180-degree view of the city.

It’s attitudes like this that Cr Cornish is trying to change by pointing out the benefits of tree-lined streets for house prices, health and ecology.

He and Cr Dan Bull have both printed 2000 “street tree-planting request” forms, urging locals to ask the council for a tree on their verge.

The council allows for a tree on every 15m of verge, but Cr Cornish wants that to change to every 10m.

He also intends on tweaking what can and can’t be planted in the city, after consultation with tree experts.

Planting flora that agrees with local fauna will be ideal, he says.

Councils can choose between 24 native trees — four fruit, and nine deciduous, including jacaranda and frangipani.

The council also last week decided to consider spending $75,000 on developing a significant tree register, which would offer protection for trees on private land, and $40,000 on arborist services.

The canopy strategy, expected to also include a greening plan for all town centres including Bayswater, is costing $200,000 this financial year.

Funds are sourced from the $1.05 million sale of Lot 17, 89 Robinson Road, Morley, in December.

The land was bought by the WA government for its $1.12 billion NorthLink project.

by EMMIE DOWLING