WA Labor set to double Perth tree cover with one million more trees

Environment Minister Reece Whitby has announced a re-elected Cook Labor Government will take action to double Perth’s tree cover to 30 per cent by 2040.
  • New $16.9 million program including ‘treebates’ to improve Perth tree canopy
  • WA-first $150 ‘treebate’ to be delivered under a re-elected Cook Labor Government
  • One million new trees to be planted by 2035 to help double Perth’s tree cover by 2040

Environment Minister Reece Whitby has announced a re-elected Cook Labor Government will take action to double Perth’s tree cover to 30 per cent by 2040.

One million new trees will be planted in metropolitan Perth by 2035 with the help of the new $10 million urban canopy growth program, through grants provided to State Government agencies, local governments and community organisations to plant trees on available land.

In a WA-first, a new $150 household ‘treebate’ will be delivered under the plan to encourage Western Australians to plant more native trees on their properties, with $6.9 million allocated to provide 10,000 ‘treebates’ per year.

These ‘treebates’, available to all WA residents 18 years and over, will support Western Australians to purchase native trees such as Banksia, Jarrah, Eucalyptus and Tuart from WA nurseries and other retailers, redeemable via the ServiceWA app.

These measures together will work to deliver the one million tree target by 2035 and the 30 per cent canopy cover target by 2040.

This election commitment will build on the Cook Labor Government’s initiatives such as the Urban Greening Grants Program and the WA Tree Recovery program to increase urban canopy.

Comments attributed to Environment Minister Reece Whitby:

“This is a terrific initiative which will see more than one million trees planted across Perth."

“Doubling Perth’s tree cover is crucial over the next 10 years and coupled with our ‘treebates’, local communities will have the backing and support from a re-elected Cook Labor Government to plant more trees on their own properties."

“This is a solid step in the right direction when it comes to growing our urban canopy and builds on the efforts the Cook Labor Government has already taken when it comes to making local communities greener, leafier and more liveable in the years to come."

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