Tree planting program

A gardener wearing high-vis safety equipment planting a mature tree in a park.

More than 30,000 trees will be planted along North East Link as part of the project design and in local suburbs nearby – with at least 2 trees planted for every 1 removed, and we’ve started planting early.

More than 1500 trees have already been planted at local schools, parks, streets, reserves and sports fields.

We’ve also created more opportunities for more trees to be planted as part of the project design. Longer tunnels to Watsonia and simpler interchanges have created space for new parklands, wetlands, green bridges and tree planting along new and upgraded walking and cycling paths and upgraded local roads.

Across the entire North East Link Program more than 50 MCGs of open space will be delivered including:

5 MCGs of new community parklands and wetlands along a revitalised Banyule Creek at Borlase Reserve in Yallambie
a new tree-lined boulevard for Greensborough Road with 700 trees and wider, shaded walking and cycling paths
new wetlands along the Yarra River and Koonung Creek in Bulleen and Balwyn North including a 1800m2 cultural landscape precinct
a 2 hectare Yarra Link green bridge over Bulleen Road in Bulleen
upgrades to Koonung Creek Reserve in Balwyn North.

Find out more

Read the latest trees and vegetation fact sheet
Read the tree planting program fact sheet
Read the community survey report

Significant trees and plants

We’re working to increase the number of significant trees and plants while we build North East Link including the Studley Park Gum tree and Matted Flax-lily.

Seeds from Studley Park Gum trees have been collected, grown at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and planted in Yarra River parklands. More than 300 trees have been planted so far, replacing each of up to 52 trees expected to be removed to build North East Link with at least 2.

Matted Flax-lilies have also been carefully moved away from construction areas, ready for planting in new locations. We expect up to 139 Matted Flax-lily plants will need to be moved to build North East Link. More than 450 will be planted – establishing new populations more than 3 times the size. The first Matted Flax-lilies for North East Link were planted in August, 2022 at Cherry Street Reserve, Macleod.

Find out more

Read the Studley Park Gum tree planting program fact sheet
Read the Matted Flax-lily planting program fact sheet

FAQ

Simpson Barracks

Meares House Gardens and close to North East Link works, Yallambie

Local primary schools

Belle Vue Primary School, Balwyn North
Watsonia Primary School, Watsonia

Yarra River parklands

Montpelier Reserve, Lower Plenty
Westerfolds Park, Templestowe

Sports upgrades

Binnak Park, Watsonia North
Ford Park, Bellfield
Greensborough College, Greensborough

Local parks, reserves and nature strips with local councils

Banyule Council

Rosanna Parklands, Rosanna

Boroondara Council

Hyde Park, Kew

Manningham Council

Katrina Gully Reserve, Doncaster
Morris Williams Reserve, Bulleen

Whitehorse Council

Heatherdale Creek Parklands, Mitcham
Memorial Park, Box Hill North
R.E. Gray Reserve, Nunawading
Slater Reserve, Blackburn North

Nillumbik

Brinawa Reserve, Greensborough
Booyan Crescent, Collendina Crescent, Corowa Crescent, Dwyer Place, Eastgate Drive, Evrah Place, Goolgung Grove, Kilarney Ridge, Plenty River Drive, Senbin Court and Tuta Court, Greensborough
Plenty River Drive Reserve, Greensborough
Pooh Park, Greensborough
Weemala Court Reserve, Greensborough

Around 16,000 trees, most along roadways, are expected to be removed to build North East Link as well as up to 52 hectares of native vegetation. A further 10,000 trees could also be impacted.

Keeping as many of these trees as we can is a major priority for the project and strict Environmental Performance Requirements (EPRs) are in place to do this.

Work to minimise the number of trees that need to be removed is happening now as part of detailed design work and construction planning.

Where tree removal cannot be avoided we’ll work closely with qualified ecologists and arborists to carefully plan and manage this.

A comprehensive assessment will be done to confirm the location and number of trees to be removed so they can be replaced through new planting, either in the same location or nearby.

More than 30,000 trees will be planted for the North East Link Program with at least 2 trees planted for every 1 removed.

But we’re not just counting how many trees go in the ground, we’re counting what they do. We’re working towards achieving a net gain in tree canopy cover by 2045.

Tree canopy is what you see when you look up, the cover from branches and leaves. Over time, trees planted for North East Link will grow to provide more of this cover than has been removed – helping to create a greener north and east.

As well as keeping as many trees as we can while we build North East Link, we’ll plant as many trees as possible as close as possible to where they have been removed. We’ll also plant trees to shade and cool local areas nearby.

Planting in places where trees have had to be removed for construction will start as soon as works in the area are finished or when the new trees can be protected.

Planting close to the project and in local suburbs nearby has already started and there will be opportunities to for the community to get involved later this year.

We’ve set these 3 planting priorities to help guide our work.

Tree planting priority 1

Along and near North East Link, as close as possible to where trees have been removed for construction. These trees will mostly help create green buffers between homes, noise walls and roads and to shade new or upgraded walking and cycling paths.

Tree planting priority 2

As close to construction areas as possible, ideally within 400m. These trees will help keep the benefits of new planting as close as possible to where trees have been removed. Trees planted near construction areas will mostly enhance existing parks, walking and cycling paths and community facilities.

Tree planting priority 3

Across the 6 council areas the project passes through – Banyule, Nillumbik, Manningham, Boroondara, Whitehorse and Yarra. These trees will help improve the look and feel of local areas and contribute to a healthier, better connected urban forest. We'll be guided by councils and local needs.

Because we’re working to achieve a net gain in tree canopy cover by 2045, it’s very important to us that trees planted for North East Link establish well, stay healthy and continue to grow.

We’ll be looking carefully at what’s needed to support trees and plants over the long-term including soil quality and requirements for ongoing maintenance.

Getting the planting conditions and maintenance right will vary from location to location. At Belle Vue Primary School, we installed an irrigation system to ensure the trees and plants get enough water. Other locations may need different approaches.

We've heard what the community has had to say about the River Red Gum on Bridge Street, Bulleen next to the Caltex Service Station site.

The project design for the Manningham Road interchange has been developed to avoid the tree. We’ll now keep making every effort to preserve the tree during construction.

We know this tree has great significance to the community and are also working to ensure we can grow new trees from its seeds if needed.

Yes. In late 2020 we asked people to help shape early tree planting in places and suburbs near North East Link. Close to 800 people from 100 suburbs took the survey. To find out more, read the tree planting program community survey report.

There will be opportunities for people to comment on tree planting as part of the project design when urban design and landscape plans are released.

We’re also working with local nurseries and social enterprises to plant the first trees for the North East Link Program – helping to support local businesses, jobs and communities.

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Minimising tree and vegetation removal is a priority for the project and there are strict environmental performance requirements and approvals in place.

We know trees are important to the local community and have worked hard to keep and protect as many trees as possible. Extending the tunnels further south under Manningham Road in Bulleen has protected trees and open space at Banksia Park. At Winsor Reserve, Macleod and sports fields along Bulleen Road, we’ve minimised the area needed for construction to retain community spaces. We’re also maximising opportunities for new trees to be planted after construction.

We’ve established no-go zones to protect sensitive environmental areas including the Yarra River, Banyule Flats, Warringal Parklands, Bolin Bolin Billabong and the River Red Gum in Bulleen.

Extensive environmental surveys, including field studies and digital mapping, are used to determine which trees need to be protected and which trees need to be replaced through new planting. Where tree removal can’t be avoided, we’re working with qualified ecologists and arborists to plan and manage how works will take place. To ensure trees and vegetation are correctly identified – and protected where possible – a rigorous process of fencing, flagging and final review by an expert arborist occurs before works start. Regular inspections are also undertaken by an Independent Environmental Auditor.