GREEN FOOTPRINT MARKS MOUNT DRUITT HOSPITAL

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’

MEDIA RELEASE: 3110 TREES TO BE PLANTED AT WESTMEAD HOSPITAL

The grounds of Westmead Hospital are set to become an urban woodland thanks to a partnership between the NSW Government, Greater Sydney Landcare Network and Landcare NSW. 

Western Sydney Local Health District Chief ExecutiveMr Graeme Loy joined Landcare NSW CEO, Dr Adrian Zammit and a team of volunteers to begin planting 3,110 trees for habitat and healing at the hospital site on Wednesday 7 April. 

Western Sydney Local Health District Chief Executive Mr Graeme Loy said the new greenery will be a huge benefit to hospital staff and patients, wildlife and the wider community. 

Green spaces aren’t just great for urban ecosystems, they’re also associated with better physical health, lower stress levels, and greater community satisfaction. These trees will create a beautiful environment for patients, visitors and our local community to relax and enjoy,” Mr Loy said. 

The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s Executive Director Green and Resilient Place, Mr Steve Hartley said the initiative was part of the NSW Government’s commitment to plant one million trees across Greater Sydney. 

“Access to green spaces has important health benefits for the community and play a big role in supporting mental and physical health and we are committed to ensuring everyone across Greater Sydney can experience these benefits,” Mr Hartley said. 

Landcare NSW CEO, Dr Adrian Zammit said the organisation was proud to partner with the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment in Greening our City. 

“Landcare NSW works to improve the health of our environment and communities. By expanding the green canopy cover across Greater Sydney, we are not only contributing to our community’s health and well-being but also the protection of our native plants and animals by providing much needed habitat 

The site’s proximity to Toongabbie Creek will help extend important habitat for small birds, microbats, and other native animals,” Dr Zammit said. 

“We encourage the local community to get involved in this project. Through Landcare you can join a community, learn new skills, plant trees for wildlife and people, be out in nature and make a positive contribution to our environment. 

Member for Parramatta The Hon. Dr Geoff Lee, MP welcomed the initiative. 

“It is great to see these trees being planted to provide shade during those extremely hot Parramatta summers and help make a real difference to the environment for the staff and patients at Westmead Hospital,” Dr Lee said.  

The plantings in the Westmead Hospital grounds have been coordinated by Greater Sydney Landcare Network (GSLN) in conjunction with local Landcare and community groups to improve resilience on site and in the community. GSLN is working with The Social Canvas and the Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation to deliver an innovative planting on the Westmead Hospital site 

The Social Canvas, creative social enterprise, helped deliver the planning and tree selection.  

30 Tzu Chi volunteers will join with GSLN at Westmead Hospital to grow trees, shade and habitat to support the project.  

The trees will be planted as part of the 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. 

1200 Trees Planted at Fairfield Hospital

The grounds of Fairfield Hospital are set to green thanks to a partnership between the NSW Government, Fairfield City Council and Landcare NSW to plant 1200 trees.

Fairfield Hospital General Manager Paul Crowe and the Mayor of Fairfield Frank Carbone joined Landcare NSW CEO Dr Adrian Zammit and the Greater Sydney Landcare Network’s Creating Canopies team and 20 volunteers to plant new trees and undergrowth plants at Fairfield Hospital.

Mayor of Fairfield Frank Carbone said the new greenery will be a huge benefit to patients at the hospital, wildlife and the wider community.

“These trees will create a beautiful environment for patients, visitors and the wider community to relax, while creating new habitat and strengthening the corridor along Orphan School Creek,” Mr Carbone said.

The Department of Planning Industry and Environment’s Deputy Secretary of Place, Design and Public Spaces Alex O’Mara said the initiative was part of the NSW Government’s commitment to plant one million trees across Greater Sydney.

“Access to green spaces has immense health benefits for the community and play a big role in supporting mental and physical health and we are committed to ensuring everyone across Greater Sydney can experience these benefits,” Ms O’Mara said.

Landcare NSW CEO, Dr Adrian Zammit said the organisation was proud to partner with the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment in Greening our City.

“Landcare NSW works to improve the health of our environment and communities and by expanding the green canopy cover across Greater Sydney we are not only contributing to our community’s health and well-being but also the protection of our native plants and animals by providing much needed habitat,” Dr Zammit said.

Fairfield Hospital General Manager Paul Crowe said more than 1200 trees will make a huge difference to the health and wellbeing of patients and visitors to Fairfield Hospital.

“More canopy cover will improve the natural environment and contribute to the preservation of Cumberland Plain Woodland, while providing a peaceful place for patients and their families to enjoy,” Mr Crowe said.

The trees will be planted as part of the NSW Government’s $2.1 million investment and partnership with Landcare to plant 100,000 new trees across Greater Sydney.

The undergrowth plants have been donated by Fairfield Council Nursery.

Creating Canopies in Greater Sydney is looking for Landcarers and landholders from across the region interested in participating in tree planting activities and creating future canopies.

Landcarers and landholders interested in registering their site for trees can email trees@greatersydneylandcare.org or call (02) 4724 2147.

This project is a part of the NSW Government Greening our City program, planting 1 million trees in Greater Sydney by 2022. Landcare NSW will work with the Greater Sydney Landcare Network to deliver the planting of 100,000 trees with a focus on Western Sydney.

130 Trees planted for Kurrajong koalas

Greater Sydney Landcare Network today planted 130 trees in Kurrajong which will provide an important habitat corridor for a genetically distinct population of koalas.

Landcare NSW CEO Dr Adrian Zammit was joined by Member for Hawkesbury Robyn Preston and a group of 20 volunteers on Saturday 22 August, to plant 130 trees in Kurrajong Hills as part of the Government’s initiative to green Greater Sydney by planting one million trees over the next two years.

The planting is part of the Creating Canopies project being delivered in partnership with Landcare NSW. Funding for the project is provided by the NSW Government as part of the program to expand the city’s green canopy cover across Greater Sydney, with a focus on Western Sydney.

“This site is an important habitat corridor for the koala population in Kurrajong and we’ll be helping these creatures to thrive by restoring the koala corridor, planting their food tree species and removing weeds,” Ms Preston said.

“Greening our neighbourhoods and backyards is integral to our community’s health and wellbeing and the protection and resilience of our native plants and animals.

“More tree canopy means more shade, cooler suburbs and habitats for our beautiful wildlife.

“That’s why the NSW Government has teamed up with Landcare NSW and invested $2.1 million to plant 100,000 new trees across Greater Sydney by 2022 to expand the city’s green canopy.”

Landcare NSW CEO Dr Adrian Zammit said the project will help support the development of green spaces across Greater Sydney.

“With the support of the Greater Sydney Landcare Network, we will be planting 100,000 trees across Greater Sydney from 2020 – 2022. This will help grow native canopy to cool our city with Landcarers helping landowners and community members participate in tree planting activities,” said Dr Zammit.

“We will bring the skills and dedication of our extensive networks to help meet these ambitious goals. The expertise of Landcarers will be important in ensuring that appropriate sites are chosen, landholders are provided with correct advice on tree choice and long-term maintenance, and trees are planted with the best chance of surviving.

“We will work directly with landowners and local native nurseries in identifying the most appropriate tree species to be planted for each site.”

Creating Canopies in Greater Sydney is looking for Landcarers and landholders from across the region interested in participating in tree planting activities and creating future canopies.

Landcarers and landholders interested in registering their site for trees can email trees@greatersydnelandcare.org or call (02) 4724 2147.

To date, more than 300,000 trees have been planted across Greater Sydney as part of the Greening our City program to increase tree canopy and green cover across Greater Sydney by planting one million trees by 2022.

 

Landcare NSW CEO, Dr Adrian Zammit, Robyn Preston MP member for Hawkesbury and landowner Chris Keen.

MEDIA:

Jodie Lovell Landcare NSW | 0439 316 151

 

Landcare NSW will work with the Greater Sydney Landcare Network to deliver the planting of 100,000 trees with a focus on Western Sydney by 2022.

Thousands of new trees to be planted across Greater Sydney

The NSW Government is investing nearly $5 million to plant thousands of new trees across  Greater Sydney to expand the city’s green canopy in partnership with Greening Australia and Landcare NSW.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the partnerships will see 172,000 new trees planted in Greater Sydney’s parks, schools and communities over the next two-and-a-half years, with the first 32,000 to be planted by the end of 2020.

“We have connected with leading environmental organisations to increase our tree canopy cover, cool our communities and create great new green public spaces across the city,” Mr Stokes said.

“New trees today mean more healthy shaded public spaces and beautiful tree-lined streets for communities to enjoy now and for years to come.”

The NSW Government has signed two contracts totaling $4.77 million for:
–  100,000 trees to be planted across Greater Sydney, with a focus on Western Sydney with Landcare NSW; and
–  72,000 trees to be planted across parks and community spaces and schools across Greater Sydney with Greening Australia.

The two new partnerships will contribute to the NSW Government’s ambitious target to plant     one million trees by 2022.

Landcare NSW CEO Dr Adrian Zammit said the project will help support the development of green spaces across Greater Sydney.

“With the support of the Greater Sydney Landcare Network we will help grow native canopy to cool our city with Landcarers helping landowners and community members participate in tree planting activities.

“Our shared challenge is not only to get the trees in the ground but to monitor and provide education to ensure they survive.”

Greening Australia’s Nature in Cities Director Paul Della Libera said the ‘Cooling the Schools’ program will establish native habitats and help cool urban areas.

“By working together with schoolchildren across Greater Sydney to increase the tree canopy cover in their neighbourhoods, we can lower temperatures and create healthier communities for both people and wildlife. This is particularly important in urban areas given rising summer temperatures.

“We will be partnering with Western Sydney University to identify and prioritise the communities with the lowest canopy cover and greatest vulnerability to the urban heat island effect.”

MEDIA:

Jodie Lovel Landcare NSW | 0439 316 151 

Courtney Taylor DPIE | 0499 699 226

CEO Report – March 2020

This summer’s events are a reminder of the scale and complexity of the challenges that we face in protecting our environment, our productive and sustainable farms, and the well-being of all our communities.

For Landcare NSW, 2020 has started at a frenetic pace with lots of key activities underway.

Landcare NSW is actively pursuing a number of partnerships and funding arrangements to benefit the Landcare community including a partnership with the Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT). Landcare NSW received a funding deed for $1.37 million last month which will cover the cost for rolling out a number of educational activities that will bring together people such as landowners and highlight what the BCT is offering to people on the land and in our communities.

Landcare NSW’s partnership with the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE), that was announced at the Trees in the House event in November, has been formalised with the signing of an MOU for the Greater Sydney Landcare Network to deliver the planting of 100,000 trees in the Greater Sydney region as part of the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s Five Million Trees program.

With all our partnerships, we insist that all partnership programs and projects are co-designed, co-delivered, co-managed and co-governed. All these partnership programs and projects are co-governed by Joint Management Committees made up of leaders and senior executives from the two partner organisations, similar to the one we have with Local Land Services (LLS) for the delivery of the NSW Landcare Program.

Landcare NSW signed an MOU with Saving Our Species in February to promote and raise additional funding for the program with non-government sources. Linda Bell spoke to the Landcare NSW Council at its February Council meeting.

Gotcha4Life and Landcare NSW have also entered a partnership, and an Expression of Interest has gone out to all Landcare regions to seek funding to deliver Mental Fitness Weeks in rural and regional areas across the state in 2020.

Late in 2019, Landcare NSW submitted a business case for $20 million for the delivery of activities related to disaster relief, recovery and preparedness. This was submitted at the beginning of the disaster season, since then the problem has obviously escalated significantly. I believe Landcare should be the go-to vehicle for the delivery of these kinds of services. The Chair, our Government Relations Manager and I had a meeting with Minister Adam Marshall to discuss the business case and the role Landcare can play and these discussions are ongoing.

Corporate partnerships are also an area Landcare NSW is developing and exploring as the interest in corporate volunteering in bushfire affected areas continues to increase.