As part of the Greening our City tree planting program, Penrith Council is planting over 1,000 trees in several parks and reserves in Penrith. The first stage of this planting program commenced in September 2022, with the second and final stage set to commence March 2023.

The first stage (2022) – Jamison Park and Melaleuca Park

The first stage saw 211 trees planted in Jamison Park and Melaleuca Park.

Placement of the trees has been thoughtfully considered so that when the trees are established, the trees at Melaleuca Park will frame views of the lake for surrounding residences and provide shade for paths and shady spots in lawn areas for park users to enjoy the lake.  

Tree planting at Jamison Park will help create shade along the pathways surrounding this popular and highly utilised recreational area, making it a more enjoyable space for people to participate in recreation and sporting activities.

The second stage (2023) — seven parks and reserves

The second and final stage will see 820 trees planted in the following locations:

  • Ched Towns Reserve, Glenmore Park
  • Doug Rennie Reserve, Kingswood
  • Eileen Cammack Reserve, South Penrith
  • Jamison Park, South Penrith
  • Rance Oval, Werrington
  • Surveyors Creek Sports Ground, Glenmore Park
  • Trinity Drive Reserve, Cambridge Gardens

This work supports Council’s Cooling our City objectives by strengthening the existing tree canopy to help mitigate the urban heat island effect and improve the liveability and well-being outcomes for residents and visitors to Penrith. The plantings will provide shade and cooling benefits without impacting the ability of the reserves to be used for open space community recreation.

We will be using a selection of predominantly native species that will enhance biodiversity in these areas. We have worked hard to ensure that we have selected the right tree for the right place while maintaining consistency with existing species.

These trees will receive twelve months of contracted maintenance, including watering, weeding, and mulching, to encourage healthy growth and establishment.

This project is proudly funded by the NSW Government’s 2021 Greening our City grant program, which supports local councils to enhance urban tree canopy and green infrastructure projects.

Jamison Park

Map

Present and Future

We have created an example image of how Jamison Park may look after the trees have been planted and matured. Below you can see a "present", which is before the trees were planted, and a "future", which is how the park may look in years to come.

Before: A view of Jamison Park before the trees were planted. After: A view of Jamison Park after the trees were planted.

Melaleuca Park

Map

Present and Future

We have created an example image of how Melaleuca Park may look after the trees have been planted and matured. Below you cna see a "present", which is before the trees were planted, and a "future", which is how the park may look in years to come.

Before: A view of Melaleuca Park before the trees were planted. After: A view of Melaleuca Park after the trees were planted.

Maps of Seven Parks and Reserves

We have included maps to provide an indication of where trees will be planted at the seven parks and reserves that are a part of the second and final stage of Cooling our Parklands.

Tree Species

Australian Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon)

This native evergreen species features dark green-grey foliage, with pale yellow blossoms that flower in late winter. Seed pods twist and curl intricately from the branches. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach 12-15m at full maturity, with a canopy of 8m wide.

Rough Barked Apple (Angophora floribunda)

A medium to large indigenous native species featuring large twisting branches and domed shaped canopy. Rough reddish-brown bark and elongated glossy green leaves are complemented by creamy white blossoms in spring and early summer. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach around 25m at full maturity, with a canopy of 8-15m wide.

Cook Pine (Araucaria columnaris)

A tall, narrow exotic conifer species. This evergreen tree features branches that are lined with cord-like, small green spirally arranged overlapping leaves. Its bark is rough and grey in colour that peels off in paper-like sheets. Given the nature of our soils and local environment, we expect this tree to reach up to 20m at full maturity.

Illawarra Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius)

An attractive semi-deciduous tree native to Australian rainforests. This tree features grey bark and red bell-shaped flowers that bloom in early summer before large dark green glossy leaves develop along with boat-like fruit pods. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach 18m at full maturity, with a canopy of 6m wide.

Weeping Bottlebrush (Callistemon viminalis)

This small rough-barked evergreen tree is native to Australia. It features small elongated pale green foliage. Young leaves have fine bronze-coloured hairs. Flower spikes are deep red and bloom in spring, followed by small seed capsules that sit tightly amongst the branches. 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 4-6m wide.

Dawson River Weeper (Callistemon viminalis)

This small native evergreen has a rounded form, often with low, weeping branches. Its elongated leaves have fine hairs. Bright red bottlebrush-shaped flowers bloom in spring and autumn. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach between 8-10m at full maturity, with a canopy of 3-5m wide.

Moreton Bay Chestnut (Castanospermum australe)

This large evergreen native rainforest tree features a dense canopy of dark green glossy leaves. Bright orange pea-shaped flowers are produced over the summer months followed by large cylindrical seed pods. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach 15m at full maturity, with a canopy of 10m wide.

River She Oak (Casuarina cunninghamiana)

This tall evergreen species is an indigenous native. Conical in shape, it features thin branchlets of green needle-like foliage and dark rough brown and small round cones. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach between 12-20m at full maturity, with a canopy of 5m wide.

Swamp Oak (Casuarina glauca)

A tall evergreen, indigenous native with grey to light brown bark. Long grey-green needle-like leaves hang from thin branches. Female trees bear cylindrical fruit cones. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach 10m at full maturity.

Spotted Gum (Corymbia maculata)

This medium to tall native evergreen tree is easily identified by its smooth blotchy bark in shades of cream, brown and grey. It features leaves which are glossy pale green and white fragrant flowers that appear throughout winter and spring. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach up to 25m at full maturity, with a canopy of 12-15m wide.

Cabbage Gum (Eucalyptus amplifolia)

This tall indigenous native tree is easily identified by its shedding bark that reveals a smooth grey trunk. Its young leaves are often bluish-green which change to a duller green as they mature. White flowers blossom on this evergreen tree over summer. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach up to 30m at full maturity, with a canopy of 8m wide.

Grey Box (Eucalyptus moluccana)

This is a large-sized evergreen native tree. The bark on the trunk is often rough in texture and smoother along its branches with bark peeling in long ribbons. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach up to 30m at full maturity.

Red Ironbark (Eucalyptus sideroxylon)

This tall native evergreen species features dark, heavily textured bark. Its broad crown of blue-green lance-shaped leaves creates a backdrop for white and pink blossoms that flower during spring and summer. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach 15-20m at full maturity, with a canopy of 7-10m wide.

Forest Redgum (Eucalyptus tereticornis)

This indigenous evergreen native species features a straight trunk of smooth white or grey mottled bark and ascending branches. Young leaves are broad and rounded in their shape while adult leaves are elongated and glossy green in colour. Clusters of delicate white flowers blossom over spring. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach up to 35m at full maturity, with a canopy of 15-25m wide.

Port Jackson Fig (Ficus rubiginosa)

This native evergreen tree features a broad canopy and a thick trunk with wide-spreading exposed roots at its base. Its oval-shaped leaves are dark green and shiny on top and rust coloured and velvety on the underside. It bears yellow fruits that turn red as they ripen from February to July. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach up to 20m at full maturity, with a canopy of 8-20m.

Lemon Scented Tea Tree (Leptospermum petersonii)

This small native tree is highly perfumed and emits a strong lemon fragrance. Small thin leaves are borne from this plant’s long hanging branches which house small white flowers in summer. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach 5-8m at full maturity.

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 4-8m.

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 8-15m at full maturity, with a canopy of 8m wide.

Prickly Leaved Paperbark (Melaleuca styphelioides)

This shapely medium-sized evergreen tree is native to Australia and features dark green pointed, finely textured foliage and pale papery bark that peels in layers. Creamy white flowers are borne in loose bottlebrush flower spikes in summer. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach 6-10m at full maturity, with a canopy of 4-8m wide.

White Cedar (Melia azedarach)

This native deciduous species features soft gloss-green foliage. Lilac-coloured fragrant flowers blossom in spring prior to the development of new leaves, followed by an abundance of green berries which later change to yellow attracting wildlife. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach 12m at full maturity, with a canopy of 6-8m wide.

Water Gum (Tristaniopsis laurina)

A native evergreen rainforest species featuring a thick canopy of glossy green leaves. In urban environments, this tree often has a conical crown. Its bark is smooth and grey but gets rougher in texture and darkens with age. Golden yellow flowers bloom on this tree in summer. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach 8-12m at full maturity, with a canopy of 3-7m wide.

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 7-9m at full maturity, with a canopy of 3-6m wide.