Video: New street trees being planted in Belgium Avenue, Richmond.

Each year we plant about 1,000 new trees in streets all across Yarra. Tree planting is a long term investment with many benefits, including enhancing the appearance of our streets, assisting with slowing traffic and improving journeys for pedestrians and cyclists.

There are also significant environmental benefits, as trees play an important role in cooling and filtering air, enhancing biodiversity connections and providing habitat for native wildlife.

Yarra Council landscape architect Clare Lee explains our plan to plant trees in streets without any trees or where existing trees require an upgrade. “Our primary focus is to increase street tree canopy cover and provide a healthy, diverse tree population which will cope with a changing climate.”

Many of our residents are passionate about the need for street trees in their neighbourhoods, including Princes Hill’s Peter Kane. “The appearance and coolness of our street is essential to its enjoyment and value,” he says.

“By planting more trees in Yarra streets, we’re increasing their value through beautification, reducing summer temperatures and providing the opportunity to walk in the shade.”