More than 4500 trees and shrubs will be planted on the grounds of Mount Druitt Hospital, creating a greener footprint, cooler environment, and enhance the wildlife habitat.
This new wooded, leafy area is part of the Creating Canopies in Greater Sydney tree-planting project between Mount Druitt Hospital, Greater Sydney Landcare Network, Landcare NSW and the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.
Shaded and tree lined walking tracks leading from Luxford Road and Railway Street will provide new pedestrian paths that staff, patients, visitors and community members can use.
Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals General Manager and self-confessed green thumb, Ned Katrib welcomes the natural expansion on the grounds of the hospital, helping create a greener footprint in Western Sydney.
“I’d like to thank Greater Sydney Landcare for enhancing the hospital surroundings with the endangered trees and plants,” Ned said.
“This natural environment will be maintained and cared for by hospital staff and will help decrease the ground temperatures of the surrounding areas.
“Planting more trees on the hospital grounds will create an outdoor space so our patients and visitors can spend more time outdoors in a shaded environment.”
More than 2000 plants will be spread across the hospital campus to encourage growth and enhance the ecosystem landscape.
Chair of Greater Sydney Landcare Network Bev Debrincat, says Greater Sydney Landcare Network and Landcare NSW are proud to partner with Western Sydney Local Health District and Mount Druitt Hospital to help green their space and improve their local environment.
“Landcare works to improve the health of our environment and communities. These new trees will help create healthy environments for the local community, hospital staff and patients and improve habitat for wildlife,” Bev said.
The Mount Druitt planting is the fourth hospital that Greater Sydney Landcare Network and Landcare NSW have worked with in greening hospital grounds as part of the Creating Canopies Project.
The trees planted are part of the NSW Government’s Greening Our City program, to increase the tree canopy and green cover across Greater Sydney. Funding has been provided to Greater Sydney Landcare Network and Landcare NSW as part of the NSW Government’s $2.1 million investment and partnership with Landcare to plant 100,000 new trees across Greater Sydney.
Printed with the permission of ‘The Pulse – your Western Sydney health news’
