Media response - National Tree Day campaign

Published on 29 September 2023

Response to the Fleurieu Sun.

• The journalist asked for some comments about a Council meeting motion that will see the City of Onkaparinga launch a tree planting campaign to align with National Tree Day in 2024.

Comments attributed to Mayor Moira Were

All of us—from local, state and federal governments; developers and the community—have key roles to play in making sure our tree canopy cover is growing, not shrinking, across Onkaparinga. Land under council control makes up 11 per cent of the total council area, and we’re working hard to increase our canopy, but we need your help!

That’s why I’m so excited about Council’s decision to launch a community-focused National Tree Day campaign in 2024, which follows the Tree of the Month initiative we launched for National Tree Day this year.

While we’re still planning exactly how the campaign will look, it will aim to empower everyone in Onkaparinga—including residents, schools, businesses and community groups—to plant trees on private property, which we know is an area where tree canopy cover has been declining. While planting and retaining trees across council is important, we’ll also be targeting those areas that need it most. Trees can help to cool our suburbs by up to 10 degrees on a hot day, helping our communities to beat the heat.

Mapping these plantings will be a great visual tool to see how much we can achieve when we all work together.

These efforts will complement the work council is doing to increase tree canopy cover in Onkaparinga including our Suburb Improvement Program, reserve upgrades and creek restoration work.

ENDS