The citywide greening program is helping green and shade the Gold Coast for years to come. We help plant 10,000 trees across the city every year.
We all know trees are integral to a healthy environment. Trees not only green and shade our parks, streets and gardens, they also improve air and water quality as well as reducing stormwater runoff, erosion and global warming. To find out more about the benefits of trees, see the benefits of a greener city.
The citywide greening program aims to achieve 30 per cent shade cover from trees in our urban and residential areas and transform the Gold Coast into a city of tree-lined boulevards and avenues by 2020.
Programs run by the citywide greening team include:
- free tree program
- community street planting mornings
- emerging communities program
For further information on the citywide greening program phone (07) 5581 6984 or email citywidegreening@goldcoast.qld.gov.au.
Free tree program
Each year Council gives away more than 35,000 trees to ratepayers through the ratepayers tree giveaway scheme.
Ratepayers are entitled to two free trees between January and May by presenting their January rates notice. Body corporate or unit complex managers are also eligible to collect trees on behalf of their complex.
There are six different locations across the Coast to pick up trees including Coombabah, Mudgeeraba, Ormeau, Chevron Island, Miami and Tugun. There are approximately 20 different species available for selection, with residents taking home a planting guide and waterwise gardening booklet. Full conditions, planting guide and the tree giveaway selection can be obtained by clicking here (PDF 574KB).
Giveaway schedule - January to May 2010
| Location |
Giveaway |
Dates |
Time |
| Coombabah - Coombabah Nursery, Shelter Road |
1st Friday of the month |
5 Feb, 5 Mar, 7 May |
7.30am - 2.30pm |
| Coombabah - Coombabah Nursery, Shelter Road |
1st Saturday of the month |
6 Feb, 6 Mar, 1 May |
7am - 12pm |
| Coombabah - Coombabah Nursery, Shelter Road |
Last Saturday of the month |
30 Jan, 27 Feb, 27 Mar, 24 April, 29 May |
7am - 12pm |
| Mudgeeraba - Firth Park, Corner Gold Coast-Springbrook Road & Somerset Drive |
1st Friday of the month |
5 Feb, 5 Mar, 7 May |
7.30am - 10.30am |
| Ormeau - Brien Harris Oval, Peachey Road |
1st Friday of the month |
5 Feb, 5 Mar, 7 May |
12.30pm - 2.30pm |
| Chevron Island - Corner Stanhill Drive & Aruma Street |
2nd Friday of the month |
8 Jan, 12 Feb, 12 Mar, 9 April, 14 May |
7.30am - 10.30am |
| Miami - Burleigh Bears Rugby League Football Club, Pacific Avenue/Sunshine Avenue |
3rd Friday of the month |
15 Jan, 19 Feb, 19 Mar, 16 April, 21 May |
7.30am - 10.30am |
| Tugun - Tugun Park (next to Tugun Community Centre), Coolangatta Road |
4th Friday of the month |
22 Jan, 26 Feb, 26 Mar, 23 April, 28 May |
7.30am - 10.30am |
Community street planting mornings
The citywide greening team hold Sunday morning community tree plantings across the Gold Coast. Local residents are invited to join their neighbours in helping to plant trees in their street, share in a free sausage sizzle and take home two free trees for their own gardens.
The planting mornings result in streets being tree-lined by midday, and the Council maintains the trees thereafter, using recycled water.
Would you like your street to be involved in a street planting morning? Simply email citywidegreening@goldcoast.qld.gov.au to be considered.
Emerging communities program
Residents living in newly developed, less shaded suburbs are targeted as part of the emerging communities program. The aim of the program is to increase shade levels throughout the community by encouraging residents to plant trees within the property boundary. Eligible suburbs are determined in conjunction with Councillors.
Council encourages the residents to visit their local park on a specified day to pick up five free trees. Trees are to be planted within the property boundary only, not on the nature strip.
If the ratepayer has not yet collected their two free trees as part of the ratepayers tree scheme, they can bring their rates notice to take home an additional two trees!
The benefits of a greener city
We all know trees are an important part of our environment. Trees not only green and shade our parks, streets and gardens, they also......
improve air quality:
- tree leaves absorb carbon dioxide, producing oxygen through photosynthesis
- the surface of leaves trap airborne dust and soot
buffer noise:
- tree canopies dampen sound by intercepting sound waves
improve water quality:
- tree roots absorb soil water that contains both nutrients and pollutants
reduce stormwater runoff:
- tree canopies reduce the fast rate at which rain falls to the earth
- water enters the ground more slowly under trees and is better absorbed and filtered into ground water than when it runs off surfaces
reduce erosion:
- soils under a canopy and the thick layer of leaf litter are protected from the erosive energy of rain water
reduce global warming:
- trees absorb greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and store the carbon in woody tissues
trees also modify the reflectivity of sunlight on the earth's surface:
- the combination of the two effects can make tree clusters a remarkably cool spot
provide wildlife habitat:
- many wild animals have unique requirements for food and shelter
- they require a variety of plants and multiple layers of canopy to forage and nest
are beneficial to property values:
- homes that back up to greenbelts are often valued at more than comparable homes not near a park
- forested parklands also provide residential properties an adjacent natural area for walking and passive recreation activities such as bird watching
are visually appealing:
- trees provide visual relief from the urban environment, they simply look great and remind us of the green