Central Coast Council to target suburbs in Greener Places Strategy

Eighteen suburbs can expect to see some serious tree planting in their area if Central Coast Council adopts the Greener Places Strategy. Here’s where.

Eighteen Central Coast suburbs will be targeted in the first round of a tree planting strategy designed to create an urban forest across the region.

The 18 are named in Central Coast Council’s Greener Places Strategy that is about to go on public exhibition for public feedback.

The far reaching strategy is based on the Coast’s hottest urban areas — known as urban heat islands— identified by a study last year.

Areas of Central Coast where heat islands are more than 2 degrees C, and 4 degrees C, above the baseline temperatures on a hot January day in 2018

The strategy aims to reverse suburban tree losses of recent decades and create a cool, green liveable city which also supports biodiversity.

Among it’s main objectives are to identify areas that most need to have their tree canopy restored, and to try to ensure that when a tree is removed or lost that it is replaced, on both public and private land.

A new strategy promotes more trees in public places for a cooler city.

The priority planting areas identified so far by council are:

■ Bateau Bay

■ Blackwall

■ Blue Bay

■ Booker Bay

■ Davistown

■ Ettalong Beach

■ Gorokan

■ Kariong

■ Killarney Vale

■ Lake Haven

■ Point Frederick

■ St Huberts Island

■ The Entrance

■ The Entrance North

■ Toowoon Bay

■ Umina Beach

■ Woy Woy

■ West Gosford

The aim is to increase tree canopy cover in these suburbs by five per cent — but it won’t be a quick fix. The full canopy will take 30 years to reach maturity. Other suburbs will be added to the planting list in future years.

The strategy will mainly focus on maintaining existing trees and re-establishing canopy where possible but innovations like rooftop gardens and “green walls” residential tower blocks are other suggested options.

More roof top gardens could also be an option.

Central Coast Council discussed the policy at its meeting this week and voted to identify two pilot projects where staff can work with residents to focus on the greening of those communities.

One project will be in the Coast’s north, while the second will be in the region’s south.

Mayor Jane Smith said this strategy creates a consistent Greener Places Strategy for the whole Central Coast LGA while providing important guidelines and actions that will see the community’s vision for greening the region come to life.

Ettalong Beach is the hottest suburb on the Central Coast.

“The Community Strategic Plan identified the high value that residents place on the unique natural environment that occurs in the region and this strategy ensures that we cherish and protect its natural beauty, while improving local liveability and aesthetics.

“The communities voice will continue to play an important role in this plan with the public exhibition providing an opportunity for comment.”

West Gosford is also on the list of first suburbs for tree planing.

The Central Coast LGA covers 168,000 hectares of which 74 per cent is covered by national parks, state forests, reserves and coastal open space.

However, in developed areas such as Woy Woy peninsula and south of The Entrance, tree cover is less than 10 per cent.

With the population expected to grow to 415,000 by 2036, there will be increased pressure to clear areas for housing and infrastructure.