Funding from the Australian Government will be used to further green Tamworth's CBD, with works to prepare the CBD for 18 trees plantings in winter to start next month.
The plantings are an initiative of Tamworth's Urban Street Tree Management Plan that was developed with the assistance of the Urban Street Tree Advisory Group.
Heat mapping undertaken in September 2022 revealed the need for more trees to reduce the elevated temperatures recorded in Tamworth's CBD compared to residential areas.
Urban Street Tree Advisory Group chair, Councillor Helen Tickle, said planting the news trees is an important step in greening our region's future.
"It's important that we, as Tamworth Regional Council, plan ahead and try reduce temperatures in Tamworth's main shopping area," she said. "Greening our streets will increase shade, amenity, reduce urban heat and improve air quality – benefitting current and future users of our CBD."
Trees will be planted along Brisbane Street and White Street, between Marius Street and Kable Avenue in winter of 2024.
As a result of using a specialised system to contain roots, the number of parking spaces impacted has been minimised to a reduction of twelve spaces in White Street and six in Brisbane Street.
Cr Tickle said there has been extensive planning of where the new trees will go.
"Planting the right trees in the right place at the right time is vital. These locations were deliberately chosen because they optimise the positive visual and heat-reducing effects while minimising the reduction of parking spaces," she said.
"Importantly, the funding provided by the Australian Government will allow Council to use a special planter system that will not impact underground services beneath our roads."
This project will be made possible through $500,000 in funding from the Australian Government through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program. The LRCI Program supports local councils to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects across the nation, supporting jobs and delivering benefits to local communities.
