Orange Urban Forest Strategy
Consultation has concluded
Affectionately known as the Colour City, Orange is renowned for its picturesque scenery and distinct landscapes, from its leafy tree-lined streets to its established parks, open spaces and natural environment.
The sum of all these parts (the trees, shrubs, plants, grasses and green spaces) makes up Orange’s ‘Urban Forest’.
It is this landscape that plays a significant role in people’s decisions to live in the Orange region, travel and do business here.
Council’s Parks, Trees and Waterways Community Committee acknowledges there is growing community understanding of the importance of trees, the natural environment and open space in the environmental, economic, cultural, physical and mental wellbeing of the community.
In 2012 Council adopted a Street Tree Master Plan and in 2022 it commissioned a study to determine the extent of tree cover over the region. Spatial mapping was used to identify significant gaps in the tree canopy and this information was compared with thermal imaging to demonstrate the link between urban tree cover and lower ground surface temperatures.
The Orange urban area had an overall canopy coverage of 17.3 per cent, Lucknow village 7 per cent and Spring Hill village 4.9 per cent.
Now that Council has this information, we want to expand the Street Tree Master Plan into an Urban Forest Strategy to detail how we should best protect our existing trees and plants and determine where to prioritise the planting of new plants and trees for the greatest benefits.
Council has engaged consultants Active Green Services to develop the Urban Forest Strategy for the Orange local government area.
The strategy will include:
- Green leafy streets
- Shortfalls and opportunities to enhance the streetscape, considering the urban heat island effect and the effects of climate change
- Biodiversity and creating habitat for wildlife
- Reducing air pollution
- Carbon storage
- Tree-filled parks and open spaces
- Council's tree preservation policy
- Consultation with First Nations community members
- Wildlife corridor enhancement and linkages
- Tree selection of both native and exotic species that is suitable for the current and future climate of the Central Tablelands
- Water Sensitive Urban Design
To make sure we get it right, we are asking the Orange community to help shape the strategy’s vision, objectives, strategies and actions. We want to know what you value the most about our Urban Forest and where we should focus our efforts in the development of this strategy.
Please complete the short survey or provide any ideas you may have on the virtual ‘ideas board’ below. You can also like and comment on other people's ideas. The feedback we receive will contribute to the development of a draft strategy, which will be considered by a Council meeting later in the year.
If you would like to talk about the Urban Forest Strategy in person, two face-to-face sessions will be held at the Clover Hill Centre at the Orange Botanic Gardens on Wednesday 31 May.
Representatives from Active Green Services, Councillors and Council staff will be discussing the plan from 10am to noon, and again from 5.30pm to 7pm.
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Share your ideas or feedback for Orange's Urban Forest Strategy.
View All Ideas11 months ago
Please do not use prunus species as street trees. They are tall shrubs and do not tick any of the boxes for a good street tree.
11 months ago
Remove the species of pyrus currently being planted all over Orange. It does not tick any of the boxes for that of a good street tree.
The species of pyrus being planted all over Orange is totally unsuited to any of the criteria of a good street tree. In fact it goes so far as to be anti all of this criteria, and must be eliminated from future planting plans and from being used anywhere or ever again in this city.
11 months ago
Not my ideas but worth adding to what Orange can do to have a good 'urban forest'.
• Create a bird “pantry” by selecting tree species that provide food for birds from their buds, flowers, and nectar. • Select plants to provide food for birds throughout the entire year. • Emphasize the use of native species, as plants and animals have evolved side by side over millenia — in other words, native species are necessarily going to provide “the right mix, size, and nutritional value that birds in our area require.” • Incorporate native habitats to create corridors for birds between urban areas and their natural ranges, or for birds who are migrating. • Plant in drifts to encourage cross-pollination and boost fertility (and, therefore, fruit yield). • Plant a variety of tree heights to create vertical “layers” so that birds with different perching and nest-building preferences have options.
11 months ago
Before council extends itself to planting and maintaining more greenery, it would be great to see existing green belts maintained.
There many areas in Orange that would be better served with some regular care. I speak, in particular, to the western side of Ribbon Gums estate where the plantings are overgrown with weeds and require mulching. The slope to the creek is such that it is difficult to maintain, there are also many dead small trees, some have fallen. The fauna here is very good and I wouldn't want to see a dramatic change, just to see some ownership and understand if there is a future plan. I don't understand how the manmade levies are beneficial and believe they are more of a hindrance, in times of high rain they only created mudded areas unsuitable for mowing and never received any excessive water only what rained in the basins. In all this should indicate that council has plenty to do without creating more work.
11 months ago
The proposed removal of mature eucalyptus to make room for development at 33 Maramba Road is not adhering to the Urban Forest Strategy.
The Urban Forest Strategy is to best protect our existing trees and mature eucalyptus is providing a wildlife corridor and matches with the street trees in this area.
