Published on Monday, 16 June 2025 at 1:31:43 PM
The seeds of sustainability are set to be sown with the arrival of over 2000 native plants to be planted across the Town of East Fremantle in the coming months.
The Town’s Parks Team have begun planting 243 trees and 2000 mature understory plants that are native to Western Australia or Australia, waterwise and non-reproductive host species for the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer.
The mass plantings support the Town’s commitment to urban greening, with a significant portion funded by a $33,670.30 grant from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation’s Urban Greening Grant Program.
The funding will also be used to replace a number of trees which died in parks last summer.
Mayor Jim O’Neill said the urban canopy planting was a milestone for the Town which prides itself on its commitment to protecting and improving the Town’s urban forest and tree canopy.
“As part of our Climate Emergency Action Plan 2023-2033, the Town has a strategic vision to increase East Fremantle’s total canopy cover to 30 percent by 2030,” he said.
“We are excited to take the next step towards extending our urban green spaces which not only enhance the aesthetics and physical and mental health of the community; they also reduce urban heat, filter pollutants and provide habitat for wildlife.”
Following the announcement of the grant in September 2024, the Town initially proposed planting 3700 tubestock. However, after assessing the availability of appropriate tubestock and recognising that mature plants have a greater survival rate and faster establishment, the Town revised its plan to plant a reduced number of more mature plants.
The Town will now proceed with planting 40 trees and 2000 mature plants at the East Fremantle Community Park.
In addition, 71 trees will also be planted across the Town including at Gourley Park, East Fremantle Tennis Club, Henry Jeffery Oval, Wauhop Park, on the western end of Marmion Street, St Peters Road and Council Place, and Andrews Road and Stirling Highway.
Plant species and planting locations were carefully selected by the Town with advice from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’s regarding Urban Heat Index and Urban Canopy and APACE Nursery.
The planting from the urban greening program is in addition to the Town’s annual planting schedule. About 130 street trees will be planted on public verges from July.
The Urban Greening Grants Program is delivered by the Town of East Fremantle with the support of WALGA and funded by the Government of Western Australia.
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