Galada Tamboore Urban Cooling Project

We’re creating tree canopy over the Merri Creek Trail at Galada Tamboore so that it can be enjoyed by the local community for more days of the year as part of our Urban Cooling Program.

Why this is important

Tree canopy creates shade from the summer sun, improving the comfort of cyclist and pedestrians. When it is warm and sunny, tree shade alone can make it feel 10 degrees cooler.

By creating tree canopy over a walking and cycling trail, this project is:

• enabling the trail to be enjoyed for more days of the year

• improving access for recreation

• improving community health and wellbeing

What this project involves

This project is part of Melbourne Water’s Urban Cooling Program, working with councils and community groups paths and trails into cooler and enjoyable community spaces.

Planting 100 red gum trees along both sides of the Merri Creek Trail, as well as 1,700 native shrubs and grasses to create some understory garden beds.

This project will enhance amenity and public use of the shared path through Galada Tamboore, while protecting remnant grassland vegetation and biodiversity values within the reserve. Tree canopy will create shade to improve the comfort of cyclists and pedestrians by protecting them from summer sun.

We thank the Merri Creek Management Committee and Hume City Council for their feedback and input into the project.