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Blacktown City Council
2024 NGAA Awards
Currently, councils don’t plant large shade trees on streets where the speed limit is over 50km/h due to safety concerns for vehicles that might veer off the road. However, these guidelines only consider the risk to vehicles, ignoring other potential risks.
This research project, funded by the NSW Government’s ‘Greening our City Grant Program,’ aimed to identify all the risks Blacktown Council and the community face if large shade trees are not planted along streets. The risks were assessed in terms of physical and mental health, the environment, the economy, infrastructure, and policy.
A comprehensive risk assessment was conducted in collaboration with researchers from Western Sydney University, the University of Wollongong, and the University of New South Wales. Experts from legal and work health safety sectors, as well as representatives from health districts, regional councils, Austroads, and Transport for NSW, also participated in the process.
Traditionally, the discussion around planting large shade trees focuses only on the safety risks to vehicles. However, this project shifts the conversation by considering the risks of not planting shade trees, looking at the impact on all users.
By taking this holistic approach, the project assessed risks across different areas such as policy and mental health. This approach redefines how streets are viewed, no longer limiting tree planting just because of road speeds.
For years, the best practice in tree planting discouraged large trees along streets with speeds above 50km/h. However, other areas of policy have evolved to support sustainable communities, and this project challenges the outdated tree-planting narrative.
This project sets an example for other local governments to rethink their policies. By conducting their own risk assessments, councils can make more balanced decisions that benefit all residents, not just vehicle safety.
The main goal of this research was to reshape Council’s approach to planting large shade trees along streets, providing a well-rounded, evidence-based argument. In July 2023, the project was presented to Council, which endorsed the proposal to plant large shade trees along streets with 60km/h and 70km/h speed limits.
Since then, the Council has begun identifying, planning, and planting large shade trees on its streets with these speed limits.
With significant population growth expected in the North West Growth Area, ensuring resilient, livable, and thriving communities is essential. This project helps by increasing the opportunities to plant large shade trees, addressing urban heat and expanding green infrastructure.
Tree planting is one of the most effective ways to combat urban heat, which is a major concern in Western Sydney. This project enables wider implementation of tree planting, providing canopy coverage in areas previously overlooked.
The project also gathered strong evidence showing that more trees and canopy coverage improve community wellbeing, encourage physical activity, and boost mental health. By planting more trees, Blacktown Council is enhancing the community’s access to green spaces, which supports both physical and mental health, contributing to a healthier, thriving community.
