Petition urges Council to address 'urban heat crisis'
The Peninsula's Grow Urban Shade Trees group has started a petition urging Central Coast Council to take action in 19 suburbs across the Coast "to address the urgent Urban Heat Crisis".
"Suburbs of the Central Coast have amongst the lowest canopy cover in NSW," said petition organiser Ms Miriam McInnes.
"In 2021, Central Coast Council published the Greener Places Strategy, where 19 local suburbs were recognised as Urban Heat Islands with less than 10 per cent canopy cover, significantly impacting on livability.
"Yet to date the Council has not allocated any additional funds toward essential tree planting across the Coast to tackle this urgent issue.
"We need Central Coast Council to allocate funds towards an Urban Forest budget, like so many nearby councils already do.
"Such a budget would cover tree planting, tree maintenance, community engagement and education.
"It would be actively used towards reaching a defined canopy cover target, which is more closely aligned to the 40 per cent coverage recommended by the State Government in its 2021 Greener Neighbourhoods Guide,
"Walking through the hot streets of our suburbs becomes unbearable, unsafe and unattractive due to the urban heat impact.
"Heatwaves have a greater impact on population health in Australia than any other natural hazard, and are associated with a significant increase in mortality and morbidity rates.
"Children are spending more time inside than ever, leading to a physical and mental health catastrophe.
"We need shady areas for young people to walk, ride and play as it is more important than ever to encourage them to be outside.
"Leafier suburbs are proven to create healthier, happier, safer and wealthier residents.
"We are calling on Central Coast Councilto meet their obligation to protect community health and provide liveable and resilient suburbs by allocating funds for an Urban Forest Budget.
"Council currently spends less than10c per resident on urban greening."
The Central Coast urgently needs to catch up to other councils on their urban greening activities to ensure our suburbs are liveable for residents young and old now and in the future.
"Other local councils are implementing region-wide tree planting programs and creating healthier, more desirable suburbs and streetscapes for their residents.
"It is unrealistic and unsustainable for Central Coast Council to expect tree planting to be carried out by a tiny volunteer group.
"We need them to establish their own tree planting program like other councils have across Australia.
"Central Coast Council has a current annual tree planting budget of about $35,000.
"For comparison, many councils have urban forest budgets of around $1million annually to support this essential green infrastructure."
Ms McInnes said many NSW councils planted hundreds and thousands of trees each year, many being no larger than the Peninsula.
She said the group was expecting strong support for the petition, which she hoped would influence Central Coast Council's Operational Plan and beyond.
The petition can be found online at https://chng.it/7vN4WgXdWF.
SOURCE:
Website, 16 Apr 2025
Miriam McInnes, GUST