REVEALED: Number of trees cut down in western suburbs
Announced last August, the State Governments $7.2 million Tree Recovery program opened up to applicants across the State to help fund replacement planting projects.
It comes after Perth's western suburbs were hit with a devastating blow to their tree canopy, with six of the seven local governments experiencing rapid tree deaths due to the invasive beetle species.
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According to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, a total of 2308 trees have been removed and 529 pruned — some multiple times — on both private and public land in Perth's western suburbs since June.
The City of Nedlands have carried the bulk of this figure, removing a total of 1124 trees across its local government area.
Every other western suburb have cut down between 150 to 360 trees, with the Town of Cottesloe removing the least amount of trees at 100.
WA Tree Canopy Advocate Sarah Allchurch described the western suburbs as 'ground zero' for the invasive species. WA Tree Canopy Advocate Sarah Allchurch. Credit: WATCA
'At Lake Claremont alone, 170 trees have been lost to PSHB — and that's just one site in one suburb.'
'These kinds of numbers show that Perth's so-called 'leafiest suburbs' are taking a substantial hit to their mature tree populations, which are crucial for reducing urban heat and supporting biodiversity,' she said.
Although the newly available funding is a 'welcome response', Ms Allchurch said the State Government was 'late to the party'.
'Councils needed that support last year,' she said.
'If we're serious about stopping the spread and protecting both our urban canopy and agriculture sector, we need a more coordinated, proactive and transparent approach.'
All of Perth's western suburb councils — except the Shire of Peppermint Grove — have said they are planning to apply for the tree recovery grant funding.
The program provides up to $1,140 per PSHB-affected tree removed, covering the cost of one primary replacement tree, two additional trees, and associated establishment items.
Applications for the grant program close on July 7. Successful applicants will be announced in early August.
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