Protecting and expanding our Urban Forest

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**This consultation is now closed. Community feedback closed Sunday 5 March 2023. For the latest updates on this project visit the News Feed at the bottom of this page**


At Kingston City Council, we know our community loves trees. If we want cool streets, shaded walkways, comfortable homes, clean air and habitat for biodiversity, we have to protect what we have and grow our urban forest.

We're developing an Urban Forest Strategy to guide us.

Thanks to those who shared their thoughts on what needs to happen to protect and expand our urban forest during community consultation in 2022.

Our

**This consultation is now closed. Community feedback closed Sunday 5 March 2023. For the latest updates on this project visit the News Feed at the bottom of this page**


At Kingston City Council, we know our community loves trees. If we want cool streets, shaded walkways, comfortable homes, clean air and habitat for biodiversity, we have to protect what we have and grow our urban forest.

We're developing an Urban Forest Strategy to guide us.

Thanks to those who shared their thoughts on what needs to happen to protect and expand our urban forest during community consultation in 2022.

Our Draft Urban Forest Strategy can now be viewed in the Document Library on the right-hand side of this page.

We'd love to hear from you. Did we get it right? Please submit your feedback:

  • Via the survey tool below
  • In person, at any of our pop-up events this summer:

    8am-12.30pm Saturday 3 December
    Kingston Farmers Market, Sir William Fry Reserve, Highett
    8.30am-12.30pm Sunday 11 December
    Bonbeach Farmers Market, Bonbeach
    3pm-6pm Friday 13 January
    Owen St Piazza, Mordialloc
    10am & 12pm Thursday 19 January
    Westall Library and Community Hub , Clayton South
    *We'll have a fun school holiday activity for kids at these sessions, suitable for ages 5+
    3-6pm Friday 3 February
    The Highett Common, Highett

You can submit a further submission by getting in touch via:

Phone: 1300 653 356
Email: info@kingston.vic.gov.au
Mail: PO Box 1000, Mentone 3194

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Current tree canopy cover

Tree canopy cover is the area of tree canopy that covers a specific area of land – for example, municipality, suburb, street, land type or block. This important measure of urban forest represents many of its benefits, such as the amount of shade provision, stormwater interception, carbon storage and sequestration, and amenity. Tree canopy is an important starting point for understanding the extent of the urban forest.

In 2022, Kingston undertook a detailed analysis to establish baseline canopy cover and vegetation condition and a method to accurately and cost-efficiently track these over time. Using LiDar technology, Kingston’s tree canopy cover (woody plants over 3 metres in height) is measured at 12.3%.

In 2018, the Victorian Government estimated canopy cover across Kingston (trees over 3m) was 9.5% on average. Using the same 2018 government data, Kingston can be compared against other nearby and neighbouring Councils for canopy cover, such as Bayside (16%), Frankston (17%) and Glen Eira (12.5%).

Map of canopy cover in Kingston, 2022
*You can view this map and more details regarding canopy cover in Kingston by downloading the complete Draft Urban Forest Strategy in the Document Library on the right-hand side of the page


Our approach

Despite the availability of some data, there is currently much we don’t know about the trees and vegetation that make up our urban forest and we lack an informed approach to strategic and operational decision making. We’ve developed an approach that responds to current best practice and knowledge gaps:


Planting opportunities within our public open spaces must be maximised and a renewed focus on protecting and enhancing trees and vegetation on private land via our planning scheme is required. Incentivising tree and vegetation protection, and greater enforcement of greening requirements, may be involved.

Ultimately, to realise the benefits that urban forests provide, state and federal government support is required and the community needs to be aware of the benefits of a healthy urban forest. There must be a willingness to grow Kingston’s urban forest and protect living infrastructure.

You can watch the short video below to find out more about the importance of our trees and vegetation and what Council is proposing to do to protect and enhance the urban forest in Kingston.


Page last updated: 15 Nov 2023, 10:24 AM