Council will allocate $2 million to go towards tree planting projects to help improve amenity and beautify local shopping areas and busy traffic corridors in Paddington, Zillmere, Greenslopes, and Murarrie.
“Team Schrinner is not only committed to expanding our local parks but we’re greening Brisbane’s suburbs by increasing tree planting in suburban parks and creating tree-lined boulevards,” Lord Mayor Schrinner said in his Budget speech.
“Residents love Brisbane for its open green spaces and shady boulevards, and in the coming financial year we have allocated $22.8 million towards planting and maintaining trees across the suburbs, which is an increase of $4.4 million or about 25 per cent,” Cr Schrinner said.
The Budget also includes a jacaranda planting program with a $107,000 boost, focusing on local parks in Bulimba, St Lucia, and New Farm.
“Like most people in Brisbane, I love our iconic jacarandas and one of my favourite times of the year is when they are flowering,” Cr Schrinner said.
“Once these new jacarandas are planted and start to grow, jacaranda season will become even more colourful.
“Our team has also created new greenspace to make our city liveable and sustainable for our children. We delivered the Two Million Trees program and created large new community parks in suburbs like Tennyson and Coorparoo and Toowong.
The Lord Mayor also announced that future dividends from the City of Brisbane Investment Corporation (CBIC) would be directed towards an accelerated five-year program that will involve the acquisition and creation of parks, sports fields, and green spaces.
Funding for the first year of the Green Future Fund, under the Council’s 2019-20 budget, will come from a $20-million dividend from CBIC.
“Brisbane residents have told us they want more greenspace with new places to relax and this five-year program will deliver more land for community sport and recreation.”