The Urban Tree Canopy Master Plan was commissioned as one of a number of supporting studies to inform the preparation of master plans for Bankstown and Campsie town centres. The council wanted to understand what tree canopy targets might be established and how these could be achieved. This was driven, in part, by the Canterbury Bankstown Urban Heat Study which identified significant urban heat issues in Bankstown and Campsie and associated environmental, economic, social and health issues. In particular, it was clear that urban heat impacted most heavily upon lower socio-economic members of the community. The Urban Tree Canopy Master Plan also addressed the challenges and opportunities associated with increasing urban tree canopy including above and below ground services, water and soil moisture, and climate change.

Working closely and collaboratively with Council planners, urban designers and stormwater engineers, as well as the sustainability consultants, we established key principles – maintain and protect existing urban tree canopy and increase urban tree canopy, both by new plantings in public open space and streets and on private land through appropriate planning controls linked to canopy cover targets.

Tree canopy cover targets were developed for both town centres, with different targets for commercial centres and surrounding areas, as well as individual targets for different land uses such as streets, open space and private land.