Page 730 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 31 March 2021
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(iv) annually, a progress update on all initiatives and their contribution towards the targets; and
(v) every five years, provide a report on the current tree canopy cover percentage, by suburb, for Canberra’s urban footprint;
(b) actively support community-led contributions towards the targets; and
(c) ensure that the urban forest provides for habitat and resources for wildlife (flora and fauna) including threatened species and ecosystems, mature native trees, and culturally significant trees.
Mr Assistant Speaker Pettersson, I thank the house for its flexibility earlier. It is embarrassing when the whip misses his own motion, when you are seeking water to be able to keep talking for 15 minutes. I thought I could get it just before the Chief Minister stopped speaking.
Today I want to talk about trees. We know that trees provide priceless benefits for those who live near them. The research shows that adults with 30 per cent or more of their neighbourhood covered in some form of tree canopy had a 31 per cent less chance of developing psychological distress and a 33 per cent less chance of developing fair to poor general health. We know that walks through tree-filled spaces reduce blood pressure, improve mental acuity, boost memory recall and reduce feelings of anxiety. These are just some of the benefits for humans. Once we open up the scope to those many different species that we share our city with, the habitat and biodiversity outcomes from trees multiply.
In stark contrast, suburbs with lower tree canopy cover experience a greater urban heat island effect, with consequential impacts on dwelling comfort, energy use and costs. The 2017 CSIRO study, Mapping surface urban heat in Canberra, found that in built-up areas the surface urban heat island at night was around eight degrees warmer in summer months than in surrounding rural areas. As we move into the winter months, it is also worthy of note that trees reduce cold extremes as well, because of their impact on wind chill.
In Canberra, the central suburbs with the highest wealth are generally the leafiest, greenest suburbs with the highest level of tree canopy cover, whilst locations such as apartments and town centres, or newer outer suburbs, are more vulnerable to the heat island effect. Indeed, of the 16 suburbs in Canberra that have less than 10 per cent tree canopy cover, half are in in my electorate of Yerrabi.
This is an environmental justice issue. It is a climate justice issue. It is a safety issue. It is a public health issue. It is also a personal issue, as a resident of Bonner. We must confront the fact that our unique urban ecosystems are threatened by overdevelopment, habitat and biodiversity loss, and inadequate resourcing of conservation. It is a losing battle if we plant a million saplings while developers can still cut down mature trees that provide essential shade, habitat and food for the people and animals that call Canberra home.
The ACT government has already put the right frameworks in place, following years of advocacy. The Living Infrastructure Plan, the Planning Strategy and the
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