More Victorian families will open the door to greener and leafier streets across Melbourne, making their suburbs cooler and better to live in, thanks to a $9.5 million program aiming to plant 500,000 trees.
Building on the success of the More Trees for a Cooler, Greener West program, the new More Trees in Melbourne initiative will deliver an additional half a million trees across Local Government Areas with below-average tree canopy cover and high heat vulnerability.
DEECA’s Regional Director Port Phillip, Stephen Chapple, said the program will expand the city’s urban forest, prioritising areas with limited tree canopy cover, high heat vulnerability, greater social disadvantage and rapid population growth.
“We are helping to cool and green Melbourne’s suburbs by planting half a million more trees where they are needed most,” Mr Chapple said.
“By protecting and increasing our tree canopy, we’re making sure communities across our suburbs can enjoy the benefits of shade, cleaner air and more liveable neighbourhoods for generations to come."
Under the More Trees for a Cooler, Greener West program, more than 450,000 trees have been planted since 2021, and the program remains on track to reach 500,000 trees by late 2026.
To support the delivery of more trees where they are needed most, a new tree canopy mapping project will provide up-to-date, high-resolution data on urban tree canopy cover across Melbourne. This will enable better planning, smarter investment and more effective tracking of progress over time.
The More Trees in Melbourne program will be delivered in partnership with local councils and land managers, who will be invited to apply for grant funding next year.
For more information visit More trees: urban cooling and greening programs.
Page last updated: 25/07/26