Council’s latest “tree-thousand” push

A couple of Melbourne City councillors got their hands in the dirt to help green the CBD recently.

Lord Mayor Nick Reece and Cr Davydd Griffiths posed for photos after planting a young flooded gum on Friday, April 24, as part of a push to get up to 3000 new trees in the ground across the city this financial year.

The 2026-27 target is part of the council’s Urban Forest Strategy “to create a resilient, healthy and diverse forest” in the city “for the future”.

The Eucalyptus grandis has found its home in the 1900 sqm Market Street Park finished in 2021 at the corner of Collins St, where the northern end of Market St was discontinued adjacent to the luxury Collins Arch development.

One of the tallest gums, which reaches 50m or more, the tree when grown has smooth, pale bark which sheds in long ribbons.

Its glossy dark green leaves release a distinct eucalypt smell if crushed, and in summer, the tree produces clusters of small white flowers, which attract pollinators, followed by conical seed capsules.

“We’re turning grey spaces green and weaving nature into every corner of the city,” the Lord Mayor said of the mission.

“Our annual planting program will help double Melbourne’s canopy cover by 2040 – delivering more shade, greener streets and cooler neighbourhoods.”

Every new tree helped cool the city, cut carbon and support biodiversity, environment portfolio head Cr Davydd Griffiths said.

“Our Urban Forest Strategy is about planting the right trees in the right places – building a stronger, more resilient environment,” he said. •