Urban Forest Action Plan responds to climate emergency

Published on 01 February 2021

Frankston City Council has allocated a further $60,000 – in addition to the $65,000 already committed this financial year – to implement its Urban Forest Action Plan as part of wide ranging initiatives in response to the challenge of climate change.

Councillors voted at their 27 January meeting to put the funds towards the strategic plan for how Council will work over the next two decades to create a healthy and well maintained urban forest.

South Ward Cr Claire Harvey said ensuring Frankston City both maintained and increased the tree coverage and green space within the municipality must be a priority.

“Tree coverage has a range of environmental, economic and social benefits for the community, but we need a coordinated and planned response rather than an ad hoc approach. Funding a comprehensive plan will ensure a best-practice strategy that meets a range of challenges well into the future including climate change mitigation and adaptation as well as biodiversity protection,” Cr Harvey said.

An urban forest is the sum of all trees across the municipality. A wide range of trees contribute to the coastal landscape character of the area, from tea tree and banksias along the coast, Norfolk Island pines, yellow gums and bottlebrushes planted in streets, to significant remnant River Red Gums and Manna Gums in natural reserves.

Cr Harvey said: “We declared a climate emergency in November 2019 and will continue to deliver projects and planning for a future with reduced emissions and a thriving environment in Frankston City.

“This includes the Urban Forest Action Plan, which will guide us to transform the urban forest into a highly valued, well-resourced and thriving asset.

”Our aim is that within 20 years the tree canopy cover across all areas of Frankston City will increase from 17 to 20 per cent and Frankston City will look a lot greener and be a lot cooler,” Cr Harvey said.

Cr Harvey added to achieve this Council will prioritise planting where heat impacts are high, social vulnerability to heat is high and where tree canopy cover is low; in high pedestrian activity such as surrounding schools, playgrounds, shopping strips, public transport stops and shared user paths; and increasing vegetation for greening and cooling within the Frankston Metropolitan Activity Centre.

Cr Harvey said the Council will also prioritise planting indigenous trees and understorey to increase the habitat value of streets and open spaces recognised for their important role in movement of our local wildlife and increasing tree and vegetation cover to aid in stormwater reduction in areas prone to localised flooding.

Frankston Environmental Friends Network Chair David Cross said his organisation welcomed the allocation of funds, adding: “Trees are an extremely valuable part of our environment – not only from an environmental perspective, but also for community wellbeing. It’s essential that people have as many opportunities as possible to commune with nature.”

The Urban Forest Action Plan is complemented by the Native Vegetation Offset Program at Studio Park, Langwarrin, and Witternberg Reserve, Frankston. The Program aims to ensure offsets for native vegetation removal remain in the Frankston City.

Cr Harvey said: “Through the program Council will invest in biodiversity improvements in these reserves to compensate for any vegetation removed through Council projects.

“Offset Management Plans are currently being prepared for these sites which will then be registered with State Government on the Offset Credit register. Council will then be able to offset on its own sites instead of the need to purchase offsets elsewhere.”

Council last month started replacing 7000 fluorescent street lights with energy efficient LEDs, further cementing its commitment to tackling climate change.

Other examples to create a more sustainable and greener future for our children include Frankston City Council’s:

• Pledge to support the Cities Power Partnership – joining 125 other Local Government areas across Australia taking meaningful action on climate change.
• Reduction of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2.1 per cent (334 tonnes) in 2019-20, lessening its contribution to climate change and progressing towards its zero net emissions (carbon neutral) target by 2025. This was achieved by reducing energy usage in Council facilities in part through energy efficiency and rooftop solar.
• Reduction of its main water usage by 19.4 per cent, saving 37 million litres of water (enough to fill 14 Olympic-size swimming pools); and
• Move to ensure five major Council facilities are now being powered by 100 per cent percent renewable energy from the Bald Hills Wind Farm as part of a 10 year Power Purchase Agreement.

To receive the latest updates on Council’s climate emergency response, sign up to EnviroNews, Council’s environment e-newsletter. Visit www.frankston.vic.gov.au or email info@frankston.vic.gov.au