Tree planting programs

Growing our urban forest

Council is committed to increasing tree canopy cover across the municipality from the current 6.2% in 2016 to 30% by 2046 as defined by Council’s UFS. 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, as private land constitutes around 70% of all land across this municipality, an increase in trees on private land is required. In addition to increasing trees on both public and private land, the protection of significant trees is an action that will assist in achieving Council’s aim for a 30% tree canopy cover.  

Trees play an important role in our urban environment and provide many benefits to our community, including:  

• Providing valuable shade  
• Cooling effects during warmer seasons 
• Adding value to the landscape and surrounding properties 
• Providing food and habitat for local wildlife 
• Instilling a sense of community pride and identity. 

Significant trees provide considerable environmental benefits while mitigating the impacts of heatwaves. Large trees provide cooling in streets, parks and homes where it’s needed the most during heatwaves.

We've joined with five other councils from Melbourne’s west to plant and manage up to one million trees and associated understorey of mixed native plantings.

Councils street tree infill program

Council’s Street Tree Infill Program is an annual program which delivers precinct wide tree planting in Brimbank, with planting prioritised in the most critical locations. Priority of planting a precinct is based on consideration of annual mean temperature, vacant sites available, social disadvantaged (IRSD) and time since last planted under the Street Tree Infill Program.

The Street Infill Program is over a ten-year period. We're planting 17,000 to 20,000 new street tree in areas where stocks are limited or have been depleted.

Tree planting in front of your property

• If you would like a street tree planted in front of your property, contact Council via Customer Service. If a tree is removed from the front of your property, you may request a replacement street tree via Customer Service
• An inspecting arborist will assess the nature strip for tree planting suitability, considering above and below ground services and width of the nature strip
• You will be notified of the outcome of the assessment via a letter box card. If the site is approved for planting, a new tree will be planted the following planting season (generally April - July each year)
• If a tree is not requested, the vacant space will be planted under Council’s Street Tree Infill Program (refer to information above)
• A tree must be requested by the 28th February to be planted in the same calendar year. This allows sufficient time for ordering and budgeting of new trees  
• While Council appreciates community interest for tree planting along entire streets, due to budget constraints, Council will not approve a whole of street planting request. A request for a street tree must be made by the resident who lives in front of the property. Larger scale plantings are undertaken as part of Councils Street Tree Infill Program.

Street tree enquiry

Use Report It if you have an enquiry about a street tree.