Stuart Ayres MP, Member for Penrith joined students at Cambridge Park Public School to welcome the announcement that Cambridge Park will share in up to $10 million in funding from the NSW Government to enhance tree canopy and green cover in local parks, streets and neighbourhoods.
Stuart Ayres said the funding, awarded through the NSW Government’s Greening our City program, will provide Penrith City Council with funding to undertake priority tree planting and greening projects.
“Increasing the tree canopy in our local parks, streets and neighbourhoods will provide much needed shade and shelter from the heat, improve our air and water quality, overall health and wellbeing and build our resilience to climate change,” Stuart Ayres said.
“The “Be Cool To School” project in Cambridge Park will deliver 1,180 trees in parks and along routes used to access recreations, shops and for kids as they walk to school.”
Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts said 17 Greater Sydney councils would share in the funding, which will support 21 projects.
“More trees mean more shade, cooler suburbs and more attractive places to live and work. The projects selected through the program will focus on cooling and greening streets, parks, and active transport routes all around Greater Sydney.
“We achieved our Greening our City Premier’s Priority of planting one million trees by the end of 2022 ahead of target and we’re now making in-roads into our longer-term goal of planting 5 million trees by 2030. These grants will continue our important work to increase Greater Sydney’s tree cover.”
The NSW Government is committed to lessening the impact of the urban heat island effect and improving the city’s resilience to a changing climate through increased tree planting, green infrastructure, and policy change to ensure the planning system supports green cover well into the future.
For more information on the Greening our City program and the projects selected, visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/premiers-priorities/greening-our-city
