Greening Greater Bendigo
Shaping a Greener Greater Bendigo
Greening Greater Bendigo 2020-2070 is 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 incorporates a 10-year action plan which outlines the City’s most immediate priorities and commitments to increase tree cover and protect the trees and green spaces that 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 were shaped by input from the Greater Bendigo community during two rounds of community engagement in late 2018 and early 2020.
The final strategy and action plan was endorsed at the June 17, 2020 Council meeting.
View the final strategy and action plan - Greening Greater Bendigo 2020 - 2070
Greening Greater Bendigo Targets
What do we want to achieve?
- Increase tree cover across urban areas and townships of Greater Bendigo from 20.4% currently to:
- 25% cover by 2030
- 35% cover by 2050
- 45% cover by 2070
- Improve the health of Greater Bendigo’s urban forest.
By 2030 we will achieve:
- An establishment rate for all newly planted trees of at least 95%
At any one time there will be:
- No more than 10% of the total tree population will have a useful life expectancy of 10 years or less
- 80% of the total tree population will be healthy
- The community will have a greater understanding of the importance of the urban forest and engage in its stewardship.
How will get there?
The Greening Greater Bendigo Action Plan 2020-2030 lists numerous actions to be delivered over the next decade. Of all the actions, there are three that have been listed as priority actions based on their importance to the successful delivery of this strategy.
Priority actions
- Develop and deliver a ten-year tree planting program to increase tree cover and replace projected tree losses
- Develop precinct plans for each urban precinct and township to guide local tree planting and green infrastructure investment
- Undertake a review of the mechanisms available to protect significant trees and landscapes and implement recommended controls
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
Contact us
If you have any questions about Greening Greater Bendigo please contact the City on 1300 002 642.
Annual Reports
Read about our key achievements for each year.
Year 1 Report (2020)
Urban tree management
Urban horticulture