As part of our Greening our City — Be Cool to School program, we’re planting 1,800 trees in the parks and suburban streets to provide shade, cooling ambient air temperatures, and boosting amenity in Cambridge Park.

Our research identified Cambridge Park as one of the suburbs in the Penrith local government area (LGA) with low canopy. It was strategically selected by Penrith Council based on the potential risk heat poses to our community.

Be Cool to School will provide shade to active transport corridors that connect public transport stops and shopping precincts to schools and sporting facilities within the suburb. The project aims to plant trees along pathways used by schoolchildren and residents to cool these walkways during the hotter months.

Council is looking forward to sharing the long-term benefits of this project with our residents. Not only will planting trees help to create cooler and more liveable streets, but they will also add to the beauty of our parks and vibrant recreational spaces for years to come.

Penrith Council’s expert landscape architects have worked alongside our contractors to determine the right tree for the right place. This means that careful consideration has been given to ensure the benefits of planting on mass is experienced while accounting for factors such as overhead powerlines and underground utilities, safety and visibility for road users and pedestrians, and seasonal variations in temperature. Click the link above to find out further information about the species selection process.

After conducting research on the area, we have selected streets and parks that we feel will be best to plant trees to help cool the suburb. The list below is indicative and does not include house numbers. We will be reaching out to residents whose nature strips we feel are best to plant trees, and will be allowing residents to opt in and out of the program.

• Barry Street
• Breyley Road
• College Street
• Dorset Street
• Harrow Road
• Herbert Street
• Newport Street
• Oxford Street
• Tasman Street

• Allsop Oval
• Harold Corr Oval
• Lincoln Park
• Patterson Oval
• Shaw Park

Find out more about the tree species we're planting in Cambridge Park. (For images, see our Document Library in the top right corner.)

Capital Pear (Pyrus calleryana ‘Capital’)

This hardy tree is expected to grow up to 8 metres. An exotic deciduous tree featuring luscious dark green leaves that change to reddish-purple in autumn. In late winter, white flowers bloom all over the tree followed by small round inedible fruits. The tree has a narrow and compact shape and given the nature of the soils and local environment, we expect this tree to reach 8 to 10 metres at maturity, with a canopy of up to 3 metres wide, perfect for tight spaces.

Narrow Leaf Paper Bark (Snow in Summer) (Melaleuca linariifolia)

This small native evergreen species features a soft papery bark and small dark green leaves. Flower spikes bloom in early summer leaving attractive masses of snowy white fragrant blossoms. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach up to 8m at full maturity, with a canopy of 4-8 metres.

Kanooka Water Gum (Tristaniopsis laurina var. ‘Luscious’)

A native evergreen species featuring dark green leaves that are glossy on the surface and have a silky texture on the underside. Its leaves are larger in size than the common Water Gum. Its bark is smooth and mottled in tones of cream and brown. Yellow flowers bloom in the summer months. Given the nature of the oil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach 7-9 metres at full maturity, with a canopy of 3-6 metres wide.

Weeping Lilly Pilly (Waterhousia floribunda)

A medium to large native evergreen tree with a lush, beautiful weeping habit and dense glossy leaves. This tree features small white blossoms in summer. Given the nature of our soil and local environment, this tree is expected to grow up to between 8-15 metres, with a canopy of 3-10 metres wide.

Weeping Bottlebrush – Dawsons River (Callistemon viminalis)

A small native evergreen tree with lovely weeping branches. The leaves are green, long and thin. In spring and autumn, the tree will attract nectar-loving birds that will come to drink from the quantities of bright red bottlebrushes. Given the nature of our local soil and climate, we anticipate that this tree will grow to a height of around 3 to 4 metres.

Kings Park Special Bottlebrush – (Callistemon citrinus)

A small native evergreen tree with a neat, rounded shape. The leaves are shiny green, long and thin. In spring and autumn, it will attract nectar-loving birds that will come to drink from the quantities of deep crimson bottlebrushes. Given the nature of our local soil and climate, we anticipate that this tree will grow to a height of around 3 to 4 metres.

Green Vase Japanese Elm (Zelkova serrata ‘Green Vase’)

This exotic species is ideal for street tree planting with its upright V-shaped habit. It features bright green serrated leaves that turn yellow, and coppery bronze to red putting on a tremendous autumn display. Given the local soil and climate conditions, we anticipate that this tree will reach an approximate height of 8 to 10 metres at full maturity, providing a good amount of shade and cooling.

Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia Indica x fauriei ‘Tonto)

This compact and hardy small tree is one of the most popular small trees around. It is a deciduous tree with attractive bark that has a mottled effect. The dark green leaves turn orange in autumn before falling. This tree has a wonderful display of red to dark pink frilly flowers in summer. Given the nature of our local soil and climate, we anticipate that this tree will grow to a height and width of around 3 metres.

Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia Indica Var. Indian Summer ‘Sioux’)

This spectacular small deciduous tree features long-lasting intense pink flowers throughout summer and into autumn. Its beauty doesn’t stop there with rich autumn foliage on display before the leaves fall and smooth, mottled caramel-pink bark. Given the nature of our local soil and climate, we anticipate that this tree will grow to a height of around 4 metres and width of around 3 metres.

Kurrajong (Brachychiton populneus)

A medium-sized Australian native semi-deciduous species that is highly drought-tolerant. It features glossy green leaves and cream flowers with pink and purple streaks from late spring to autumn. The flowers are a nectar treat for bees, butterflies and other foragers. The seeds in the pods are bush tucker — when roasted they can be eaten, and when grounded can be used in bread. Given the nature of the soils and local environment, we expect this tree to reach 10-15 metres at full maturity, with a canopy of 3 to 6 metres wide.

Lilly Pilly (Acmena smithii)

An Australian native evergreen species featuring dark green leaves. Cream-white flowers blossom in summer, followed by round white to mauve fruits. This tree attracts native birds. Given the nature of the soils and local environment, we expect this tree to reach 8-10 metres at full maturity, with a canopy of 3-5 metres wide.

Forest Red Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis)

A tall native evergreen species. This tree features a long straight trunk with ascending branches. Its bark is smooth but mottled in colours from blue grey to cream, shedding in patches. Younger leaves are often rounded in shape, while mature leaves are long, narrow and lance shaped. Flowers bloom in delicate white clusters from winter to spring. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach a height of up to 35 metres at full maturity, with a canopy width of 15-25 metres.

Narrow Leaf Paper Bark (Snow in Summer) (Melaleuca linariifolia)

This small native evergreen species features a soft papery bark and small dark green leaves. Flower spikes bloom in early summer leaving attractive masses of snowy white fragrant blossoms. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach up to 8 metres at full maturity, with a canopy of 4-8 metres.

Broad Leafed Paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervia)

An attractive native evergreen tree. One of the largest paperbark species with olive-green lance-shaped leaves. It has creamy white bottlebrush flowers and thick and papery bark. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach 8-15 metres at full maturity, with a canopy of 8 metres wide.