Mayor wants our help to plant trees

HOBART Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds is calling on Hobartians to nominate areas to plant trees across the city.

And it’s a big ask — with 52 per cent of Hobart streets have no trees at all.

“Trees are a vital part of a beautiful and liveable city,” Cr Reynolds said.

“The evidence from other cities around the world shows that the shade, habitat and scenic contribution of well selected and well planted trees also helps protect infrastructure and increases property values.

“Our Street Tree strategy aims to increase trees from the current 16 per cent canopy cover to 40 per cent by 2046.”

The council’s Street Tree planting program is up and running at https:// yoursay.hobartcity.com.au/treeplanting-program

“Simply visit the website and use the interactive map or complete the nomination form and let us know where you think we need to plant more trees,” Cr Reynolds said.

West Hobart man Douglas Armati is keen to see more trees planted in his neighbourhood, at the border of West Hobart and the city, and sees a whole raft of benefits.

‘The aesthetic is important, the safety side of things is important, the shades that trees provide is important,” he said.

“The connection with nature that trees provide is not available in any other way.

“Trees are a vital part of our way of processing pollution. It’s good to have trees everywhere you can in the city.”

Mr Armati said Hobart residents felt close to nature, given their proximity to kunanyi/Mount Wellington and bushland reserves.

“People shouldn’t imagine it’s all going to be done quickly, it takes time,” he said.

“But hopefully this is the start of something really quite substantial and we can look back in 20 years and see a much greener city.”