Thursday, 20 February 2025

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (09:55): I would like to talk about the progress of the government’s More Trees for a Cooler, Greener West program right across the Western Metropolitan Region. From the banks of the Werribee River to Kororoit Creek Trail, all the way to the Western Freeway to Melton and throughout the parks and reserves of Moonee Valley, the Allan Labor government has planted 419,000 trees. Before the rollout of this program, Melbourne’s west just had 5.5 per cent canopy cover in urban areas compared to the northern and eastern suburbs, which had upwards of 12 per cent or more. That meant warmer urban temperatures, resulting in poorer health outcomes for residents. The program’s target is 500,000 trees, and we are closing in on that number, with only 81,000 more to go. Included in the final stage will be the planting of 12,500 tube stock and 150 advanced trees at the iconic Werribee Open Range Zoo, which is now home to our state’s Asian elephant herd. After completing the trek from Melbourne Zoo, the herd is settling in nicely, I am told, and soon enough the only place in Victoria where you will get up close with elephants will be in Melbourne’s west.