Stockland plants 10,000 new trees launches $12m native bushland park at Willowdale community
Ten thousand new, native trees will be planted at Stockland’s Willowdale community – more than one for every new resident moving in – making Sydney’s growing south-west a greener place for families to call home.
NSW Minister for Planning and Housing, Anthony Roberts, today joined Stockland’s General Manager of NSW Residential Communities, Richard Rhydderch, Mayor of Campbelltown City Council, Cr George Brticevic, and NSW Commissioner for Open Space and Parklands, Fiona Morrison, to plant the 6,000th tree at Willowdale.
The first stage of a new $12 million bushland park was also opened today for the local community to enjoy, featuring thousands of Australian native trees and plants, walking and cycling trails and a rejuvenated waterway.
Mr Rhydderch said: “Stockland is matching affordability with liveability here at Willowdale, creating access to nature in the heart of Sydney’s south-west.
“With more than 39 hectares of open space on offer – the equivalent of 58 rugby league fields – Willowdale is shaping up to be the parkland destination for Western Sydney.”
Mr Roberts said the planting effort was a great step towards increasing Sydney’s urban canopy coverage from 16 to 40 per cent and reducing the heat island effect.
“The NSW Government’s ‘Five Million Trees’ initiative is a $37.5 million commitment to creating a greener city and improving Sydney’s health, climate, economy and environment,” Mr Roberts said.
“Tree canopy coverage contributes so much to our environment and native species, while also providing much-needed shade for our streets and homes. I am very pleased that Stockland has responded to this target by planting a native tree for each resident.”
The new park features opportunities for residents to get back to nature and encourages a healthy, active lifestyle, including boardwalks for waterway crossings, shaded picnic areas, creek trails and fauna watching locations, and on completion, six kilometres of walking, running and cycling trails and exercise stations.
Stockland’s Willowdale community has been awarded a 6 Star Green Star – Communities rating from the Green Building Council of Australia, which recognises world leadership across a wide range of environmental, economic and social sustainability initiatives.
Willowdale is currently home to 4,000 residents and on completion will comprise of 3,300 homes for more than 10,000 residents. The community also features a neighbourhood shopping centre, anchored by a full-line Coles supermarket and speciality stores, providing 160 local jobs. Stockland has also made provision in the masterplan for 39 hectares of open space, and has already opened several parks, including Jamboree Park, Willowdale Regional Park and a dog park.
