NSW has plenty of lush green spaces, but our streets and neighbourhoods are about to become greener still. A major tree planting rollout is set to reshape suburbs and regional centres alike, bringing thousands of new trees to streets, parks and public spaces across the state. Around 24,000 trees are set to be planted across Greater Sydney, the Illawarra-Shoalhaven, the Hunter and the Central Coast as part of a nearly $10 million investment by the NSW Government. The move comes as cities and towns continue grappling with hotter summers and growing demand for more liveable public spaces, especially in areas that currently lack enough tree cover. Here’s what you need to know about the new initiative.
Where the trees will be planted in NSW
The rollout will be delivered through the latest round of the Greening our City grants, which are backing 28 local planting projects across NSW. The focus will remain on suburbs with little canopy, with most plantings designated for areas that currently sit at around 10–20% coverage. Alongside the trees, the program will also introduce large areas of understorey planting, adding shrubs and native vegetation beneath the canopy to help support wildlife, improve biodiversity and help green spaces flourish over time.
Shaded areas can be 11–25°C cooler than those in direct sunlight, and the program is part of a wider push that has already funded more than 130 greening projects worth over $35 million across NSW.
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Paul Scully said the goal is to deliver greener, more comfortable neighbourhoods in NSW. “Each of these projects will help make our towns and cities cooler and more enjoyable places to live and spend time,” he said.
Around half of the plantings, nearly 12,000 trees, will be delivered across Greater Sydney, with the remainder rolling out across the Illawarra-Shoalhaven, the Hunter and the Central Coast. In Greater Sydney, projects include new green corridors in areas like Cumberland and expanded plantings in fast-growing suburbs that have limited shade. Regional projects will focus on heat-prone areas including town centres, transport corridors and public car parks. Planned works include expanding canopy across parts of Cessnock, greening urban hotspots in Lake Macquarie, adding shade to busy areas in Shoalhaven and rolling out new street and park plantings in Wollongong. Planting is expected to begin over the coming months as projects get underway. Read more about the initiative here.