Plan to increase ‘green’ environment

A new draft policy to safeguard significant trees and build on a ‘green’ environment will aim to increase Horsham’s tree canopy over urban and rural road reserves to 25 percent by 2040.

Horsham Rural City Council is inviting public feedback on a draft Greening Greater Horsham – Municipal Tree Strategy.

Mayor Robyn Gulline said the urban tree canopy in Horsham and its southern fringe growth area in 2020 was 13 percent, which was low compared with other regional Victorian cities.

“The results are not unexpected given the predominant agricultural land use of the area,” she said.

“That’s why we are planning for a greener, shadier city.” The draft plan also addresses themes such as protecting culturally and historically significant trees and ensuring tree-management programs are subject to best practice.

The survey examining the strategy’s themes closes on November 24.