We are committed to improving the appearance of our municipality and increasing our urban forest. Increasing the number of trees and other vegetation keeps our city cooler and improves biodiversity.

After requests from the local community for more trees, we are pleased to share the draft plan for greening Brown Street, Coburg. This plan is aligned with Merri-bek policies for Urban Forest and the Nature Plan.

Project update - April 2024

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback online, by email and at the pop-up street meeting!

What we heard

We have heard a lot of support for the introduction of trees and raingardens in Brown Street. Many residents welcome the idea of an improved street environment and recognise benefits like mitigating the urban heat island effect and enhancing biodiversity.

We also heard feedback about some of the tree locations in relation to driveway access, the potential reduction of 4 car parking spaces, and the importance of ongoing tree maintenance.

What next

We have decided to postpone the tree planting in Brown Street until the 2025/26 planting season. This will allow us to address your feedback in the final plans and to begin work on streets that have been prioritised in the current budget.

We will keep you updated on the progress of the project on this page and will stay in touch with residents on Brown Street.

The proposed plan

We are recommending in-road tree planting along Brown St in addition to a raingarden on the south end of the street. The design aims to minimise the loss of on-street, car parking spaces.

Below is an example of what it might look like. Click on the spots to read more.

What type of trees we will plant

On the west side of Brown Street, we want to plant large deciduous trees. These trees will lose their leaves in winter, allowing the sun to shine through and keep the street bright. In the summer, their leaves will provide shade, which will make the street cooler.

Seasonal consideration

The time of year when we plant new trees is important for their growth. Late winter is the best season to plant trees because the weather and temperature conditions are just right. We want to give the new trees the best chance to grow well, so we plan to start construction and planting in before spring sets in.

By planting the trees during this time, we increase their chances of success and optimal growth. Late winter provides the ideal conditions for the trees to establish their roots and grow strong.