Tim PALLAS (Werribee – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Economic Growth) (09:46):

I am pleased to update the house on the recent tree-planting event at Victoria University under the More Trees for a Cooler, Greener West program. Together with the member for Point Cook and the member for Tarneit I joined Victoria University staff for their tree-planting event organised in collaboration with the More Trees for a Cooler, Greener West program. With the assistance of Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action staff and over 200 volunteers, we successfully planted the remaining 2500 trees. I, for my part, planted a substantial minority of the 12,600 trees allocated to the Werribee campus as part of the initiative.

The More Trees for a Cooler, Greener West program was introduced as currently Melbourne’s west has far less tree canopy cover than the east and south-east, causing the western suburbs to experience the greatest urban heat island effect across metropolitan Melbourne. The program will create more shade and green spaces, which in turn will drive down pollution, reduce temperature and improve air quality. I am proud to tell you that we have officially hit the three-quarter mark, with 375,000 new trees now planted across the western suburbs. This achievement means residents in Melbourne’s west now have access to cooler, greener and more livable spaces, especially for the staff and students at Victoria University, who will enjoy the urban forest at the Werribee campus.