Greening Greater Bendigo
Shaping a Greener Greater Bendigo
Greening Greater Bendigo 2020-2070 will be the first urban forest strategy for Greater Bendigo. It is a 50-year strategic vision for increasing tree cover and improving tree health across urban areas and townships of Greater Bendigo. The strategy provides a strategic response to the complex challenges that threaten the health of the natural environment, the health of our residents and the liveability of our City and townships over the coming decades.
Greening Greater Bendigo will be accompanied by a 10-year action plan which outlines the City’s most immediate priorities and commitments to increase tree cover and protect the trees and greenspaces the community value. It aims to reverse the trend of tree loss from urban areas so that the multiple benefits trees provide can be enjoyed by current and future generations.
Both the strategy and action plan have been shaped by input from the Greater Bendigo community during the first round of community engagement in late 2018.
The final strategy is due in June this year.
Key dates
- Draft strategy for consideration at ordinary council meeting, February 19, 2020
- Draft strategy out for public display, February 20 to March 27, 2020
- Final strategy released June 2020
Have your say
The community will be asked to provide feedback on the draft Greening Greater Bendigo following the February Council meeting.
The draft strategy and action plan will be available on this page for public comment from Thursday February 20 to March 27, 2020.
You can also find out more and comment on Greening Greater Bendigo at a series of listening posts in the coming weeks.
Drop in and visit us at one of the City’s listening posts:
- Friday February 21, 6pm-8.30pm Music in the Parks, Cooinda Park, Golden Square
- Friday February 28, 6pm-8.30pm Music in the Parks Garden for the Future, White Hills
- Sunday March 14, 4pm-8pm Zinda Festival Rosalind Park, Bendigo
The development of an Urban Forest Strategy for Greater Bendigo was first identified as flagship project 2 in Council’s Environment Strategy endorsed in 2016 and is listed as an action of Council’s current Community Plan 2017-2021.
- Goal 4: Presentation and managing growth. 4.4.3. Increase urban shade and provide protection for significant and heritage trees through the development of a Greater Bendigo Tree Strategy.
There are many environmental, social and economic reasons to increase tree cover and greening efforts in urban areas.
The main driver of a greening strategy for Greater Bendigo is the need to adapt to a changing climate to ensure that Bendigo realises its vision to be the world’s most liveable community in a warmer, drier and increasingly urbanised environment.
The strategy aims to:
- Maintain liveability in a changing climate
- Connect the community to nature
- Integrate green and grey infrastructure
- Celebrate the identity and enhance the aesthetic of Greater Bendigo's urban areas and townships
- Enhance biodiversity in urban areas
Mailing list
If you would you like to receive updates on the progress of the strategy and more ways to be involved please fill out the form below.
Contact us
If you have any questions about Greening Greater Bendigo please contact the City on 03 5434 6000.