The Hunter region will see thousands of new trees planted under the State Government’s latest round of Greening our City grants, aimed at reducing urban heat and improving local biodiversity. Nearly $10 million has been allocated statewide to support 28 projects, with seven of those located in the Hunter, Illawarra-Shoalhaven and Central Coast regions.
Cessnock will receive $249,235 to increase tree canopy across five suburbs and town centres, helping to cool high‑traffic and heat‑affected areas. Lake Macquarie’s project will focus on planting trees along key urban corridors identified as vulnerable to extreme heat. Maitland has also secured $402,980 for its Growing Resilience Project, designed to expand green cover and support climate‑ready urban design.
The government says most plantings will occur in suburbs with the lowest canopy coverage, improving air quality, reducing surface temperatures and strengthening community resilience. Research referenced in the program shows shaded surfaces can be between 11 and 25 degrees cooler than unshaded ones.
This marks the fifth round of the Greening our City program, and the first to include the Illawarra-Shoalhaven, Hunter and Central Coast. Statewide, the program has now provided $35.1 million for 131 greening initiatives, supporting cooler, greener and more liveable neighbourhoods.
