Get ready to grow with the return of the Adopt a Street Tree Program!
Published on 03 October 2024
Western Downs Regional Council is partnering with its residents once again to ‘spruce up their streets’ with the Adopt a Street Tree program, which has seen over 8,000 trees adopted by residents since 2017.
Returning for its Seventh year, the Adopt a Street Tree program will be coming into action providing Western Downs residents with the opportunity to plant trees along the nature strip of their homes and businesses.
To ensure the program continues to service the needs of the community, Council completed a review of Adopt a Street Tree program and has made a range of improvements to ensure a more streamlined application, planting, and watering process.
Council Spokesperson for Recreational Spaces and Cemeteries Councillor Kaye Maguire said she was looking forward to the return of the program.
"Adopt a Street Tree is a community favourite in the Western Downs and has played a major role in enhancing and beautifying our active, vibrant neighbourhoods right across the region," Cr Maguire said.
"It's important to us that the program continues to move from strength to strength, so Council recently conducted an extensive review, which combined learnings from the past seven years with community feedback and market research to identify potential improvements.
"We received excellent feedback in previous years through our community consultation as part of our recent Parks and Recreation strategies which suggested that, while residents find the much-loved program very valuable, improvements were needed to help ensure the longevity and long-term growth of the trees.
"We've taken into consideration our local climate and soil conditions and condensed the types of trees available for adoption to ten species, all of which have proven to grow and thrive in our region.
"The decision was made to plant younger trees rather than more established trees, as research shows they have a healthier root system which can adapt better when replanted.
"As a result of this feedback we've also changed the application process, which will include an acknowledgement from adoptees that they will take responsibility for the care of their new leafy friends, supported by Council's Parks and Recreation staff. This support will include Council staff looking after the newly planted trees for the first 12 weeks to ensure the plants get the best start they can.
"The program as a whole has been streamlined, with one application period per year, and one planting season in Autumn. Communications with adoptees and applicants have been improved since 2023 to ensure they understand their roles, planting timelines, and are provided with the resources needed to establish and care for their new trees.
"The Adopt a Street Tree program directly contributes to the great liveability we enjoy in our region, whilst allowing our community to make an active contribution and have a sense of pride in their neighbourhood. It's the people that make it in the Western Downs, and by adopting a street tree, our residents are helping work towards a cleaner, greener future."
Applications for the program are open until 10 January 2025.
To learn more about the program, understand the changes, and to apply, contact Council on 1300 268 624 (COUNCIL) or visit www.wdrc.info/adopt-a-street-tree.
Media Contact:
Western Downs Regional Council Media Office 07 4679 4265