The planting of a ceremonial tree has marked the completion of the NSW Government’s ambitious plan to get one million trees in the ground by the end of the year.

Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts planted the millionth tree in Camden, alongside Camden Mayor Therese Fedeli, during a community planting day at Elizabeth Macarthur Reserve on Saturday 5 November, 2022.

“This is the culmination of more than three years of hard work to meet the government’s priority to plant one million new trees by 2022 across Greater Sydney, with countless people taking up the one million tree challenge alongside us,” Mr Roberts said.

“To meet the goal almost two months early is a testament to the mammoth planting efforts of the community, local government, and organisations like Landcare NSW, and Greening Australia, who got on with the job despite weather and pandemic challenges.”

More than 200,000 of the one million trees were planted and registered by the community. Many of those came from the Government’s Tree Giveaway, which saw over 77,000 trees given away to green-thumbed Greater Sydney residents.

The one millionth planting marks the completion of the Greening our City program, the second priority to be met in recent months following the successful increase of the proportion of homes in urban areas within 10 minutes’ walk of quality open and public space by 10 per cent.

Mr Roberts said he hoped the achievements helped spur on further planting efforts to continue making Greater Sydney greener and more resilient.

“Together we have created – and continue to create – greener, safer and cooler urban environments with world-class green spaces for everyone to enjoy.”

“Now our focus turns to our long-term target of increasing tree canopy and green cover in Greater Sydney to 40 per cent by 2036.”

The NSW Government partnered with Landcare NSW to deliver the Creating Canopies in Greater Sydney project planting 100,000 of the 1 million trees through Greater Sydney Landcare. The Landcare plantings in Sydney have been coordinated by Greater Sydney Landcare in conjunction with local Landcare and community groups.The trees were planted as part of the NSW Government Greening Our City program, to increase the tree canopy and green cover across Greater Sydney. Funding has been provided to Landcare NSW and Greater Sydney Landcare as part of the NSW Government’s $2.1 million investment and partnership with Landcare to plant 100,000 new trees across Greater Sydney.