The City of Melville will prioritise increasing greenery at its bus stops as the local authority looks to ramp up tree planting to look after public transport users.
The idea was put forward by Cr Jane Edinger on Tuesday, who said she wanted two trees at each bus stop throughout the city.
“As a city we need to do everything we can to increase our green coverage,” she said.
“Unshaded bus stops provide a clear opportunity to provide planting.”
An officer’s advice note said there were 547 bus stops across the City of Melville, but only 141 with shelters.
“This equates to 406 potential locations for consideration for additional trees,” the report said.
“These locations are mostly on local roads adjacent to private residences.”
Cr Matthew Woodall supported the intent of Cr Edinger’s motion, but successfully had it changed to remove “prescriptive operational matters” such as the number of trees and the radius of where they are planted.
“I think the officers who work in this area are experts,” he said.
Cr Tomas Fitzgerald queried whether forcing the bus stop priority could interfere with existing tree planting programs in the city.
“The key concern I have with the motion is that it effectively steps into our tree planting program and asks officers to re-prioritise that program in favour of planting at bus stops,” he said.
“This is a problem; our tree planting program is already prioritised on the basis of other targets.
“It looks at what areas (or) suburbs need the most trees and it identifies in a systematic way, where tree renewal is needed. That is different to where the bus stops are.”
Cr Fitzgerald also described the motion as a “zero sum game” which did not prescribe any additional resources or budgeting for more trees.
The motion was passed 10-2.