Published on Tuesday, 3 September 2024 at 3:25:44 PM
The Town of East Fremantle is proud to announce a significant milestone to support its commitment to urban greening.
The Town has been awarded a $33,670.30 grant from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation’s Urban Greening Grant Program which will allow staff to plant over 4000 plants during winter 2025. This is in addition to our annual planting schedule.
Mayor Jim O’Neill said the Town was thrilled to receive the grant, which will play an important role in enhancing the green spaces in the town in line with the Town’s Climate Emergency Action Plan 2023-2033.
“This grant helps us to achieve the commitment in our Strategic Community Plan and Climate Emergency Action Plan to improve and protect the urban forest and tree canopy across the town,” he said.
Of the 4000 plants, 111 trees and 3958 understory plants (tube stock) will be planted throughout East Fremantle.
Another 3708 of these plants will be utilised to increase urban canopy at the East Fremantle Community Park. The grant will also be used to replace a number of trees that died at the Town’s parks last summer.
Mayor O’Neill said the plant species and planting locations had been carefully selected by the Town and would aim to support the development of ecological linkages.
“It will also provide food sources and shelter for wildlife, including endangered Black Cockatoos, he said.
“Staff have taken into consideration information from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’s regarding Urban Heat Index (UHI) and Urban Canopy coverage and the funding will target areas with high urban heat and low canopy cover.”
All understory plantings are recommended for planting in the East Fremantle area, as advised by APACE Nursery.
All species planted will be native to Western Australia or Australia, waterwise, and non-reproductive host species for the polyphagous shot hole borer.
Mayor O’Neill said he looked forward to engaging the community to assist with planting the new trees in winter 2025.
The Urban Greening Grants Program is delivered by the Town of East Fremantle with the support of WALGA and funded by the Government of Western Australia.
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