301 new trees for a greener, cooler Hawkesbury

17 February 2022

Council contractors have begun planting more than 300 new trees this week as part of Council’s Cooling the Hawkesbury Project, thanks to a $382,000 Greening Our City grant from the NSW Government.

Over the next several weeks, the trees will be planted in Bligh Park, Hobartville, South Windsor and Windsor. The trees will also be regularly maintained by Council contractors under a 12-month maintenance and watering program to establish the trees.

Trees will be planted in the following locations:

• Valder Avenue and Powell Street, Hobartville (drainage easement)
• Mileham and Hart Streets, Bligh Park
• Guardian and Settlers Crescents, Bligh Park
• Church Street Reserve, South Windsor
• Governor Phillip Park, George Street, Windsor

The funding also includes new irrigation pipework to supply Church Street Reserve, South Windsor with treated recycled water from Council’s South Windsor Sewage Treatment Plant. This component of the project is in the planning phase.

The project is a key action under Council’s Net Zero Emissions and Water Efficiency Strategy in terms of providing for greener suburbs.

Hawkesbury City Mayor Patrick Conolly said increasing tree coverage in the Hawkesbury has multiple benefits.

“There are many benefits to planting trees, including increased habitat for local wildlife, improved air quality and added shade,” Mayor Conolly said.

“Increased shade also helps to reduce the urban heat island effect, which is a major contributor to high temperatures in suburban areas, particularly across Western Sydney.

“Trees also improve the appearance of our local suburbs and make our green spaces more attractive places to visit. Together, these trees make our Hawkesbury an even better place to live for us and our local wildlife.”

The project is part of the Greening Our City grant program that is proudly funded by the NSW Government in association with Local Government NSW. For more information and to see an interactive map of successful grant recipients, visit the Greening the City webpage