Hornsby Mayor Philip Ruddock reveals ambitious plan to plant 25,000 trees by 2020

HORNSBY Mayor Philip Ruddock is determined to “bring the bush back to the shire” with an ambitious plan, supported by councillors, to plant 25,000 trees by September 2020.

Eloisa Tilbury (9) and Rita Vontimitta (8) pose for a photo in the trees at Asquith Park, Sydney, Wednesday, July 11, 2018. Pic: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

IT IS known as “the bushland Shire” but Hornsby had a history of felling thousands of trees a year.

Hornsby Mayor Philip Ruddock is determined to “bring the bush back to the shire” with an ambitious plan, supported by councillors, to plant 25,000 trees by September 2020.

Cr Ruddock raised the plan with a notice of motion at council this week, declaring residents “identified the natural environment as the most loved aspect” of living in Hornsby.

“Protection of our extensive tree canopy is top priority,” Cr Ruddock said.

“People are proud to live in the bushland shire and they want to ensure it stays that way.”

Cr Ruddock at Hornsby Plant Nursery.

The plan comes after a damning report released in November revealed 15,000 trees were removed across Hornsby in a single year.

The report was the cataylyst for a strengthened tree protection order installed across the shire in January.

Cr Ruddock said increased tree coverage would bring benefits including cleaner air and lower summer temperatures.

Oxfam trailwalkers Kara Demmrich, Claire Darvodelsky, Mark Darvodelsky and Pat Jackson walking through Hornsby bushland.

To ensure the ambitious plan is achieved, the council will develop an urban forest strategy to support the protection of trees and identify sites to increase the tree canopy, as well as increase the amount of trees available at the Hornsby Community Nursery.

The council currently plants 2000 trees a year. The cost of planting the additional trees could cost as much as $1 million a year.

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Council move to protect Hornsby tree canopy

Hornsby resident Alexi Boyd welcomed the plan.

“Mr Ruddock is putting his foot down for our environment. He is helping regrow Hornsby’s soul.

“The thing that makes Hornsby unique is its bushland and if we lost that, we would be like every other over-developed council area in Sydney.”