Greens Candidate for Ward 2 Kit Docker will work to embrace more ambitious urban greening initiatives in our villages across Wollongong.

Investing in ‘Urban greening’ has the potential to make our village streets and city CBD cooler, more enjoyable, and save loads of money.

Kit said: “The evidence is clear that as cities become denser and more urban the risks of biodiversity loss, and street tree cover influences health and increases the risk of flooding. By planting more trees, shrubs, grasses and plants, we can reduce these risks and provide healthy, enjoyable villages and a cooler city centre. A great bonus for businesses and citizens in our city.

“Evidence shows that greater canopy cover and green spaces in urban centres helps to reduce the severe impacts of the ‘urban heat island effect’ which drives up energy costs of CBD buildings and apartments. This reduces the strain on our local health care workers , as vulnerable pedestrians are protected with shade during extreme heat events,” Kit said.

“Also more tree cover over our local streets and roads means that council doesn’t have to repave the streets so often, saving council thousands of dollars each year.

“Through investing in urban greening we can also turn Wollongong into a ‘Sponge City’, helping to reduce flooding and better filter water. By allowing more rainfall to go straight into our stormwater systems we run the risk of being less able to manage rainwater during heavy rain events, and the subsequent flooding,” Kit said.

Greens candidate for Lord Mayor and Ward 1 Jess Whittaker said: “It’s more important than ever that we replace grass in unused parks and reserves with native grasses.

“This initiative could result in substantial savings for council by decreasing the need for constant mowing and maintenance. Throughout the year, and particularly during the summer, the council incurs hundreds of thousands of dollars in mowing and maintenance costs. These costs could be significantly reduced by reintroducing native grasses in targeted locations, which are more suited to our climate," Jess said.

“By using native grasses and other species this would enhance biodiversity and support other native species, such as bees, birds and other insects to flourish. Traditional turf that we see in many unused green spaces does little to support native species and reduces the biodiversity in our city and villages”.

Pictured above: Kathryn Morgan of Understorey Landscape Architects talks with Kit Docker, candidate for Ward 2, on urban greening and greater greens spaces in Wollongong City.