While increasing pressures threaten our urban trees, South Australia’s City of West Torrens’ innovative approach to greening promises to provide attractive shady avenues well into the future. Three years ago, Council embarked on a major street tree research program that has already added over 30 new varieties to the City’s streets. Changes to urban development standards in the 1990s and the permitting of larger homes on smaller allotments, effectively reduced the space available for gardens and trees.
The reduced setback of new houses further restricted the space available for street trees, so Council decided to restrict the use of some species that had been popular in past greening programs. Alternative varieties, providing a high standard of streetscape amenity and functionality without the perceived drawbacks of some traditional favourites, were sought.
Local Government greening programs and commercial nurseries traditionally rely on a limited range of suitable ornamental species. With space more restricted, expectations more diverse and liability issues more prominent, many new varieties and selections need to be available.
“A research component is now included in every West Torrens greening program to ensure its residents enjoy the maximum benefits from their urban forest,” said Council’s Technical Officer Parks and Gardens, Tim Johnson. “By sharing information from such research and initiatives, an unprecedented amount of accumulated knowledge will become available and easily accessible.
“This will also assist all those involved with tree selection and maintenance to make better informed choices. Local Government is ideally placed to benefit from such research and the challenge to Councils is to become involved, to share the research and to reap the rewards,” said Tim Johnson.
For further information, contact Tim Johnson on (08) 8416 6273.
