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42Naturally Cooler Indigo Project
Progress
On time
- Not started
- Planning
- Implementation
- Completed
OBJECTIVE
IMPACT
MediumIncreasing tree canopies in Indigo Shire's towns will increase natural shade and reduce localised temperatures and minimise the urban heating effect during summers.
Description
Council is taking decisive action to increase tree canopies in our towns and reduce the 'urban heat island effect'.
Recent Australian studies of the relationship between tree canopies and surface temperatures in urban areas (Cheesman and Rogers 2023, Duncan et al. 2018, Sun et al. 2018) all demonstrate the potential for increased tree canopy cover to significantly lessen the impacts of urban heat, especially during heatwaves.
The studies confirm resulting health benefits, including reduced heat-related deaths and reduced hospitalisation and other emergency medical care. Increasing urban tree canopy cover can also lead to a range of additional benefits, such as reduced water runoff during high intensity rainfall events, reduced urban air pollution, increased carbon sequestration and amenity and recreation benefits.
The Naturally Cooler Indigo - fast tracking urban tree canopies in Indigo Shire's towns demonstrates Council's commitment.
The two-year project was supported with funding from Emergency Management Victoria (EMV) via their ‘Risk and Resilience Grants Program - Round 2’.
The project resulted in the planting of 1,000 street and park trees in identified canopy gaps throughout Indigo's eight towns, and development of our Urban Tree Canopy Strategy.
Trees planted were above and beyond our typical annual program, and the trees selected are climate-ready species referencing the plant list developed by the Naturally Cooler Towns Project. Species were chosen based on ten selection criteria including drought tolerance, heat tolerance, longevity, ability to form a canopy (generally taller than six metres), and low flammability.
Trees were planted in canopy gaps in our eight towns, identified by Council staff at the start of the project using desktop resources and ground-truthing.
Planting of the 1,000 trees also involved site preparation (Dial Before You Dig, mechanical digging, mulching and guarding) and after-care (formative pruning, watering).
The project was a follow-up to the Naturally Cooler Towns Project, an initiative of the Goulburn Murray Climate Alliance in 2021/22, which produced a detailed regional report and summary report for Indigo Shire as one of the project participants.
We received $160,000 funding from Emergency Management Victoria in November 2022, with a $140,000 co-contribution from Council.
The project was supported by funding provided by the Australian Government in partnership with the States and Territories under the National Partnership Agreement for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Tasks
What are we doing?
- 30/06/2025
Maintain trees and monitor tree growth and survival rates
- 30/06/2025
Develop Council's Urban Tree Canopy Strategy
We committed to developing this strategy as part of our Council Plan (2021-2025). It builds on our involvement in the Naturally Cooler Towns Project in 2022, which highlighted the significant gap in local government governance structures for informing the way we manage our township trees to maximise their benefits such as shade and cooling while also adapting to climate change.
The strategy is also a key part of the Naturally Cooler Indigo Project, a two-year project funded by Emergency Management Victoria (EMV) which aims to upscale Council's street and park tree planting to increase natural shade in our towns.
The strategy will:
- Include strategic actions to promote the growth, protection, and equitable distribution of trees in our towns.
- Provide direction to help us create greener, healthier, and more sustainable townships through the planting of trees resilient to climate change.
- Help guide the tree replacement program for ageing trees across the Shire, not only to maintain the canopy cover, but also to stage tree replacements strategically over a period of time to maintain and protect the character of towns with historically significant treescapes, such as Beechworth and Yackandandah
- Focus on our eight main townships:
- Barnawartha
- Beechworth
- Chiltern
- Kiewa/Tangambalanga
- Rutherglen
- Stanley
- Wahgunyah
- Yackandandah
The Strategy is being developed by Urban Forest Consulting, led by Meg Caffin.
What has been done?
- 07.02.2025
Complete the project and submit final report/acquittal
- 30.09.2024
Complete Year 2 of tree planting
A total of 626 trees were planted in year 2 of the project, bringing the overall total to 1,000 street and park trees planted.
- 10.08.2024
Host public event - talk featuring Dr Greg Moore (University of Melbourne)
As part of Science Week 2024, Council hosted a public talk on 10th August featuring leading tree expert Dr Greg Moore, Senior Research Associate from the University of Melbourne.
The event was hosted by the library team, held at the Beechworth Library and was attended by 70 community members.
Dr Moore spoke about how climate change will alter cities, regional centres and towns across Australia. He advocated for the presence of trees in cities and towns, and outlined how they make a difference to the urban heat island effect. He explained that we will need to have 'climate ready' trees if our cities are to be liveable and sustainable into the future.
Council supplied 50 tubestock seedlings to the event, providing participants the opportunity to take away a free tree to plant in their garden or property. Species provided were Banksia integrifolia, Eucalyptus torquate, Eucalyptus leucoxylon rosea and Callistemon salignus.
- 29.02.2024
Finalise tree list and planting plan for 2024
626 trees have been purchased for planting in Year 2 of the project, which brings the total to 1,000 trees.
- 31.08.2023
Complete Year 1 of tree planting
The winter 2023 planting has been completed, with 374 trees being planted in parks and streets of Indigo Shire's eight towns. Planting effort as part of this project has prioritised streets with multiple canopy gaps identified during the tree gap analysis. This is in addition to Council's annual tree planting program.
Street and park tree species were selected, plants ordered for winter 2023 planting, and dial-before-you-dig inquiries undertaken.
The plants are receiving follow-up maintainence (e.g. watering) to aid establishment.
- 31.05.2023
Finalise tree list and planting plan for 2023
Species and site selection will underpin other aspects of the project.
- 31.05.2023
Undertake an assessment of canopy gaps in Indigo towns to identify street and park tree planting opportunities.
Council's Coordinator Trees and Parks has undertaken a tree gap analysis of Indigo’s main towns, identifying over 2,000 gaps for street and park trees in Indigo's main towns - Beechworth, Yackandandah, Rutherglen, Chiltern, Barnawartha, Wahgunyah, Tangambalanga, and Stanley.
Summary and contacts
Timeline
10/02/2023 → 07/02/2025
Responsible organisations
- Project co-lead. Manages street and park tree establishment, management and renewal programs.
- Project co-lead. Provides project support and technical advice in relation to the role of urban trees in climate change adaptation.
- Provides heritage advice to the project control group in relation to urban treescapes.
Indicative costs
$300,000 over 2 years
Information updated 14.02.2025
Collecting and analysing data around the results and effects of the project will help inform Council decisions in regular tree planting activities. This data will also be valuable to other Councils and land managers looking to deliver climate adaptation outcomes.
Environmental data might include ground and ambient air temperatures, soil moisture and other parameters on streets included versus streets not included in the project.