Tree planting programs

Growing our urban forest

An urban forest is a term used to describe a collection of trees, which grow within a city, town, or a suburb. Urban forests are a significant element of the character, identity, and liveability of cities, Urban forests aim is to introduce a canopy cover over Brimbank City Council to cool the municipality and provide visual amenity. Part of this is to improve biodiversity, with native trees providing habitat for local fauna. Street trees are a valuable community asset that not only contribute to the health of our community and City, but also have a range of environmental benefits and add character by defining neighbourhoods and important boulevards.

The Urban Forest Strategy aims to provide clear direction for the protection, management, and planting of trees on public and private land across Brimbank.

The Tree Planting Program (STIP) runs annually from April to September, as the cooler months provide the perfect conditions for planting as it is easier to maintain soil moisture while the plants establish in their new home.

Our Canopy

Council is committed to increasing tree canopy cover across the municipality from the current 13% in 2025 to 30% by 2046 as defined by Council’s Urban Forrest Strategy. In order

to achieve this, an increase in tree planting is required on public land (streets and parks) and private land.

Council is successfully delivering an increase in trees on public land, however Council’s aim for a 30% tree canopy cover.

Trees are important in our towns and cities. They help our community in many ways, such as:

•   Giving us shade
•   Keeping streets and parks cooler in hot weather.
•   Making our neighbourhoods look nicer and adding value.
•   Providing food and shelter for birds and animals.
•   Helping people feel proud of where they live.

Trees are especially helpful during heatwaves because they cool down the places we use most—like streets, parks, and homes.

Brimbank's Tree Program

Brimbank’s Street Tree Infill Program, which we call STIP is an ongoing yearly tree planting program that is actioned by our own inhouse tree team.

The team plans where to plant trees each year by looking at the hottest areas, listening to community feedback, checking vacant sites, and focusing on areas that need improvement.

The schedule starts around April each year and concludes around end of July.

Tree selection is taken very seriously and is based on improved streetscape, canopy cover and the proven successful tree types.

Use the interactive map to check the status of your tree request and find further information regarding trees in Brimbank.

All about heat mapping

Areas with high heat represent areas of the community where there is a high risk of high heat impacts and a low adaptative capacity for dealing with heat. Trees are an effective measure for reducing urban heat, so areas with higher heat vulnerability have a higher priority for planting.

Please select your ward from below and see heat mapping for your area.

Heat mapping

Grasslands Ward

Harvester Ward

Horseshoe Bend Ward

Taylors Ward

Tree Planting programs

World Tree Day

Planet Ark's National Tree Day started in 1996 and has grown into Australia's largest community tree planting and nature care event.

For further information or to get involved, visit the National Tree Day website.

Cooler Greener West

This project, which is now in its 4th year of planting, from the Victorian government has a target of planting 500,000 trees in Melbourne’s West, to increase the urban tree cover.

EEV is supporting schools to participate in this program, with the support of DEECA (the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action).

About the program.

Trees we plant

Council is responsible for managing around 200,000 trees.

Having a range of species is essential for making sure that our trees can survive the effects of pests, disease, and climate change.

Tree types in Brimbank

Acacia implexa (Lightwood)

Evergreen
Height x width: 8x7m
Small/medium tree. Similar to Acacia melanoxylon when young but A. implexa flowers in summer
A drought tolerant small tree, open crown, long slender green leaves and pale yellow flowers in Summertime

Acacia pendula (Weeping Myall)

Evergreen
Height x Width 6m x 4m
A fantastic shade tree and source of food and shelter for indigenous fauna

Acacia melanoxylon (Blackwood)

Evergreen
Height x width: 12-15x5m
Indigenous to Victoria and Tasmania
Dark brown wood that is deeply furrowed wood
Hardy shade tree with masses of pale yellow flowers from late winter to early spring

Acer campestre (Common maple)

Deciduous
Height x width: 15x10m
Compact, slow growing small tree, dense round canopy, corky bark
Small leaves with rounded lobes, dark green in summer, turn yellow in the autumn

Acer freemanii 'Jefersred' "Autumn Blaze" (Maple - Lipstick Tree)

Deciduous
Height x width: 13x10m
Deeply lobed, rich green leaves, intense red in early autumn
Green winged samara if produced
Canopy oval to rounded with a straight central leader
Dense and uniform

Acer palmatum (Japanese Maple)

Deciduous
Height x width: 4x4m
Small tree and very popular
They have a five lobed leaf and light green spring foliage usually turning deep orange and crimson in autumn

Acer rubrum (Red maple)

Deciduous
Height x width: 15x10m
Rounded canopy of thick green leaves that turn bright orange to deep crimson in late autumn
Leaves stay green longer than other varieties

Agonis flexuosa (Willow Myrtle)

Evergreen
Height x width: 10m x 5m
Good street tree and provides excellent an excellent habitat for native fauna

Allocausuarina verticillata (Drooping sheoak)

Evergreen
Height x width: 10x6m
Fine, needle-like foliage and softly weeping form
Brings character to landscapes while offering practical value as a windbreak or habitat tree

Angophora costata (Smooth Barked Apple)

Evergreen
Height x width: 10m x 5m
This tree provides shade in addition to screening

Anghopra hispida (Dwarf apple gum)

Evergreen
Height x width: 7x5m
Small native tree/shrub
Produces clusters of fluffy cream coloured flowers in summer
Attracts honey-eaters and other nectar loving wildlife

Banksia integrifolia (Coastal Banksia)

Evergreen
Height x width: 2m x 1.5m
Streetscapes, feature tree, bird attracting

Banksia marginata (Silver Banksia)

Evergreen
Height x width: 5x4m
Native tree dense growth habit with long green leaves, silver undersides
Leaves can have spiky or smooth margins
The large yellow cylinder shaped flowers attract native birds and insects

Brachyehiton populenus (Kurrajong)

Evergreen
Height x width: 12x7m
Stout evergreen tree with a stout grey trunk
In summer creamy bell shaped flowers followed by large seed capsules
The leaves are olive green and variably lobed

Callistemon K.P.S Kings Parks Special (Bottlebrush)

Evergreen
Height x width: 2x1.5m
Summer shade, urban heat island reduction, stormwater management, and winter frost and wind protection.

Callistemon salignus (Willow Bottlebrush)

Evergreen
Height x width: 2x1.5m
A great street tree under power lines due to its small size

Callistemon viminalis (Weeping bottlebrush)

Deciduous
Height x width: 10x6m
A great street tree under power lines due to its small size

Cedrus deodora (Himalayan Cedar)

Evergreen
Height x width: 25+x10m
Large evergreen feature tree
Has a pyramidal shape with a weeping branch habit
Foliage bright green fine needles and small pinecones
A feature tree for a large garden or park like setting

Celtis australis (European nettle tree)

Deciduous
Height v width: 12x8m
Provides shade in summer that reduces the heat island effect on the urban area

Corymbia citriodora (Lemon Scented Gum)

Evergreen
Height x width: 25x10m
A tall growing tree with a distinctive, powdery white to grey bark
Leaves are green, long and slender with strong lemon fragrance when crushed
In summer and autumn, feathery white flowers appear
A good source of food for honey bees

Corymbia eximia (Yellow Bloodwood)

Evergreen
Height x width: 15x8m
Native to New South Wales can grow to around 15m tall
Known for its patchy grey-brown bark
Can be a gnarly shaped tree often with a crooked trunk
The foliage is broad grey-green cream flowers in spring

Corymbia maculata (Spotted Gum)

Evergreen
Height x width: 30x10m
Straight and tall
Sheds bark in summer is smooth and cream in colour with grey spots from the older bark, with mottled appearance
The leaves are dark green and glossy and from autumn to winter, small clusters of fragrant white flowers appear attracting birds and honeybees

Eucalptus robusta 'Matong' (Swamp Mahogany)

Evergreen
Height x width: 30x15m
Broad, dark green leaves and clusters of creamy white flowers late winter to early spring, 'Matong' provides year-round interest and supports local wildlife
Its tall, straight trunk and hardy nature make it ideal for timber, ornamental use, windbreaks, and habitat planting

Eucalyptus camaldulensis (River Red Gum)

Evergreen
Height x width: 30x15m
Widespread in Australia, common along streams and rivers or in flood plains
Very tall with most trees exhibiting a stripy bark revealing pale grey, charcoal and occasionally pink colourings

Eucalyptus leucoxylon 'Rosea' (Red flowering yellow gum)

Evergreen
Height x width: 15x7m
Smooth trunk with cream to grey coloured bark
Narrow green leaves, forms a large open canopy
From Autumn to Spring, an abundance of red flowers appear in clusters attracting a variety of birdlife

Eucalyptus mannifera 'Little Spotty' (Dwarf red spotted gum)

Evergreen
Height x width: 7x5m
Slender trunk and bark that is strongly spotted and ornamental
Wide spreading canopy and grows relatively fast
It has narrow green leaves and white flowers in the summer

Eucalyptus melliodora (Yellow box)

Evergreen
Height x width: 15x10m
Medium/tall, known for unusual bark, colour varies including grey, yellow, red and brown and occasionally, can be very dark and rough
Very fragrant, white flowers appear during the warmer months

Eucalyptus nicholii (Narrow Leaf Peppermint)

Evergreen
Height x width: 25x10m
Ornamental eucalypt with rough, thick grey-brown bark which sheds in short ribbons
Foliage is thin and grey-green in colour and branching pendulous
Foliage has a strong peppermint scent when crushed. Fluffy, creamy flowers in autumn

Eucalyptus robusta (Swamp Mahogany)

Evergreen
Height x width: 25x10m
Australian native tree that flourishes in wet and heavy soils
White flowers appear from Spring through to Autumn attracting bees and insects
Bark is mahogany colour and rough

Eucalyptus scoparia (Wallangarra White Gum))

Evergreen
Height x width: 12x10m
Fast growing with smooth trunk and powdery white to grey
Broad, spreading crown has an open, weeping habit with narrow, shiny green leaves
In spring and summer, small white flowers appear

Eucalyptus sideroxylon (Ironbark - cream flowers)

Evergreen
A popular street tree attractive with its dark bark
Grey-blue foliage and showy cream/white flowers in winter and spring
Commercially grown for dense timber uses and honey production

Eucalyptus sideroxylon (Ironbark - Red Flowering)

Evergreen
Height x width: 25x10m
A popular street tree attractive with its dark bark
Grey-blue foliage and showy pink-red flowers in winter and spring
Commercially grown for dense timber uses and honey production

Ficus macrophylla (Morton Bay Fig)

Evergreen
Height x width: 30x20m
Majestic evergreen tree vast, spreading canopy and impressive buttressed roots
Tree features large, glossy, leathery leaves and a dense canopy

Fraxinus griffithii (Himalayan Ash)

Deciduous
Height x width: 10x8m
Streetscapes, specimen, shade tree, autumn colour

Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Green ash)

Deciduous
Height x width: 6x4m
Streetscapes, shade tree, windbreak

Gleditsia triacanthos 'Shademaster" (Honey locust)

Deciduous
Height x width: 11x8m
A vigorous growing form that develops graceful ascending branches
This popular and adaptable cultivar is suitable as a shade tree in larger properties, parks, gardens and streets

Grevillea robusta (Silky oak)

Deciduous
Height x width: 4x4m
Small, deciduous, rounded tree with beautiful purple to red toned foliage, masses of single pale pink flowers in spring

Jacaranda mimosifolia (Blue Jacaranda)

Deciduous
Height x width: 4x4m
Streetscapes
Ornamental

Lagerstroemia indica (Pink Crepe Myrtle)

Deciduous
Height x width: 4x4m
An excellent street and amenity tree

Lagerstroemia indica 'Tuscarora' (White Crepe Myrtle)

Deciduous
Height x width: 4x4m
An excellent street and amenity tree

Lagerstroemia x faurei 'Natchez' (Crepe Myrtle)

Evergreen
Height x width: 10x5m
Its ability to attract nectar-feeding birds and insects makes it a valuable addition to parks and larger landscapes

Lophostemon confertus (Brush Box)

Evergreen
Height x width:10x6m
The flowers attract bees for honey production, and the trees provide nesting sites for native birds and insects.

Malus ioensis (Crabapple)

Evergreen
Height x width:5x3m
Feature tree
Avenue planting
Bee attracting

Melia azeradach (White cedar)

Deciduous
Height x width:10x8m
Adaptable flowering tree, capable of performing well in a wide range of sites
Extensively utilised as a street and amenity tree in many cities throughout Australia
Ornamental features such as fine, pinnate foliage and showy flowers

Olea europeae (Olive)

Deciduous
Height x width:6x5m
Low fruiting cultivars suited to use as street trees, ornamental

Pistacia chinensis (Chinese Pistachio)

Deciduous
Height x width:8x5m
Summer shade, winter sun and storm water management

Olea europaea Tolleys Upright (Olive)

Deciduous
Height x width:8x5m
Low fruiting cultivars suited to use as street trees, ornamental

Platanus orientals (Oriental Plane Tree)

Deciduous
Height x width:15x10m
Large, spreading deciduous tree used in street plantings, avenues and parks where space permits
Foliage is lobed and turns yellow-brown in autumn
Burr-like seed balls appear in clusters

Platanus x acerifolia (London Plane Tree)

Deciduous
Height x width:15x10m
The London Plane is a majestic tree widely utilised for urban planting and large open spaces such as parks and gardens
Commonly used as a large street, avenue or park tree

Prunus cerasifera 'nigra' (Purple leaf cherry plum)

Deciduous
Height x width: 4x4m
Small, deciduous, rounded tree with beautiful purple to red toned foliage, masses of single pale pink flowers in spring

Pyrus calleryana (Ornamental pear)

Deciduous
Height x width: 8x5m
Year-round interest with its white spring flowers, glossy green summer foliage, and vibrant red-purple autumn colors

Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' (Bradford Ornamental Pear)

Deciduous
Height x width: 12x5m
Pyramidal in shape when young, broadens with age
Foliage is a glossy green and heart-shaped, in Autumn turning a myriad of reds, oranges and yellows

Pyrus calleryana 'Capital' (Manchurian Pear)

Deciduous
Height x width: 8x5m
Brilliant red autumn foliage and glossy green foliage in Spring and Summer
They become covered with small white flowers in early Spring

Pyrus usseriensiss (Ornamental pear)

Deciduous
Height x width: 15x8m
Cold-hardy deciduous tree with white spring flowers, dense summer foliage, and vivid autumn colour

Pyrus x tripolida 'Chastity' (Chastity Pear)

Deciduous
Height x width: 10x7m
Cold-hardy deciduous tree with white spring flowers, dense summer foliage, and vivid autumn colour

Quercus palustris (Pink oak)

Deciduous
Height x width: 15x8m
Majestic tree with good autumn colour is most suitable for larger park and garden plantings
Often used for difficult sites as a stately street or avenue tree
Deep red to bronze in late autumn, with an even more brilliant scarlet colour in cooler areas

Syzigium floribunda (Waterhousia - Weeping Lilly Pilly)

Deciduous
Height x width: 10x10m
Evergreen tree with a dense, weeping canopy use as a feature tree or for hedging
White flowers appear in the summer months, green glossy leaves often have a tinge of red

Tristaniopsis laurina (Water Gum)

Evergreen
Height x width: 10x8m
A small to medium Australian native tree that can be used for screening or hedging
Frequently used as a street tree and planted under power lines because it is easy to prune to contain size

Tristaniopsis laurina 'Lucsious' (Water Gum)

Evergreen
Height x width: 7x5m
Excellent when used as a structured feature tree or street tree in urban and coastal landscapes
Its compact, upright form with dense, glossy evergreen foliage and striking copper-bronze new growth

Ulmus parvifiolia (Chinese Elm)

Deciduous
Height x width: 10x15m
Best elm for hot and dry climates with a charming gently weeping growth habit that provides maximum shade
It is extremely hardy and resistant to many adverse conditions including wind and atmospheric pollution

Ulmus parvifolia Burnley Select (Chinese Elm Burnley Select)

Deciduous
Height x width: 15x10m
Burnley Select is a form of Ulmus parvifolia that was grown by seed from an Elm grown at Burnley
This Elm has a more upright habit and little included bark
It is a broadly domed, densely foliaged tree with small, glossy, dark green foliage turning yellow

Zelkova serrata (Japanese Elm)

Deciduous
Height x width: 12x10m
Broad, rounded canopy and striking serrated leaves
Its bright green foliage turns vibrant shades of yellow, orange, and bronze in autumn, providing a seasonal display

Last updated: 13 January 2026 - 11:20am

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