Penrith City Council received $705,000 in Greening Our City grant funding that we’re using to fund the increase of green infrastructure across a number of industrial estates and transport corridors. Based on the heat studies research Council conducted in partnership with Western Sydney University in 2019, this project will see much needed green infrastructure planted across many sites that were deemed among the hottest in the Penrith Local Government Area (LGA). Industrial areas have large expanses of concrete and other man-made surfaces that absorb heat, contributing to the heat island effect.
Corridors
Council’s project team and landscape architects have identified planting locations along corridors that will cause minimal intrusion for residents, such as median strips, railway corridors, and stormwater reserves while ensuring that our community gains the full benefits of grouped tree planting, including restoring biodiversity in urban environments, carbon dioxide absorption, and cooling.
Below are maps that show where we are planning to plant in these corridors.
Industrial Estates
Council is working to improve the thermal comfort of workers by planting trees in several industrial estates across Penrith and Emu Plains. Extreme heat can be detrimental to workers and businesses alike, leading to decreased productivity and visitation, and greater health concerns for employees.
Tree planting is one of the simplest and most beneficial solutions for creating sustainable cities and addressing such issues.
While keeping in mind the importance of advertising in business, Council has taken measures to minimise impacts on lines of sight to signage and from driveways, ensuring businesses in the area remain operating business as usual and that signage and driveways remain highly visible and safe.
Planting Maps
Below are maps that show where we are planning to plant in these estates. These maps will show you the approximate location of each tree for each site.
Jamisontown Estate
Emu Plains Station Estate
Emu Plains West Estate
Lambridge Estate (North Penrith)
Below is an example of Regentville Road Estate before trees were planted and a predictive image of how they will grow and mature. Trees have been carefully selected based on each estate's soils and environments.
Tree Species
A selection of over 60 exotic and native trees will be used in the tree planting program.
We are dedicated to implementing sustainable planting practices wherever possible, including the use of Waterwell plant collars to retain moisture at tree roots, reducing the amount of watering maintenance required, and using Penrith's own food organic, garden organic (FOGO) compost from the green-lidded FOGO bin to provide nutrients to the plants.
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.
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 8-10m at full maturity, with a canopy of 3-5m wide.
Dwarf Lilly Pilly (Acmenia smithii minor)
A small and compact variant of the native Lilly Pilly. This tree has dense glossy dark green leaves with bronze-coloured new growth. Fluffy cream-white flowers bloom over summer followed by pink berries in autumn. Given the nature of the soils and local environment, we expect this tree to reach 3-4m at full maturity, with a canopy of 2m wide.
Black She-Oak (Allocasuarina littoralis)
A small native evergreen conifer species. It features dark and highly textured bark and long, drooping needlelike leaves. Male flowers are dark brown at the end of branchlets, and female flowers are red and appear alongside branches. Its cones are small and sit tightly on the narrow branches. Given the nature of the soils and local environment, we expect this tree to reach a height of 8-10m at full maturity, with a canopy of 4-5m wide.
Rough Barked Apple (Angophora floribunda)
A medium to large indigenous native species featuring large twisting branches and a 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.
Broad-Leaved Apple (Angophora subvelutina)
This indigenous native evergreen tree features large, twisted branches. Rich long blue-green leaves stand out against the rough pale grey-brown bark, creating a perfect backdrop for clusters of cream blossoms that burst to life over summer. 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 12m wide.
Cinnamon Myrtle (Backhousia myrtifolia)
A small native evergreen rainforest species. This tree features dark green, leathery leaves that give off a cinnamon scent when crushed. Clusters of cream flowers bloom throughout November and December, followed by fruit capsules. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach up to 6m at full maturity, with a canopy of 4m wide.
Coast Banskia (Banksia integrifolia)
A rough-barked evergreen native species. Its long leathery lance-shaped leaves are dark green with a silvery underside. Large bristly yellow flower spikes bloom mainly in winter, followed by woody cones. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach up to 7-10m, with a canopy of 3-7m wide.
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.
Ivory Curl Flower (Buckinghamia celsissima)
A bird-attracting native tree with a compact rounded form ideal for street tree planting. This tree features soft dark green leaves and spectacular long cascading white flower spikes that bloom over summer. These trees will attract an abundance of pollinators, inviting increased biodiversity to the area. Given the nature of the soils and local environment, we anticipate this tree will grow to an approximate height of 4-10m at full maturity, with a canopy of 2-8m 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.
Callistemon shiressii
Bottlebrush (Callistemon citinus var. ‘Endeavour’)
A small evergreen native shrub with green leaves that are narrow and stiff. Brilliant crimson bottlebrush flowers fill the shrub with vibrant colour in spring and autumn. This shrub attracts an abundance of native wildlife. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach a height of 2-4m.
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.
Lemon Scented Gum (Corymbia citriodora)
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.
Dwarf Lemon Scented Gum (Corymbia citriodora ‘Scentuous’)
A hardy, small evergreen cultivar sub-species with smooth white bark. It’s fine soft weeping leaves have a strong lemon scent. Creamy white flowers appear on this tree from late winter to summer. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach a height of 6-8m, with a canopy of 3-4m wide.
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.
Tuckeroo (Cupaniopsis anacardiodes)
This small to medium native evergreen tree is ideal for street tree planting as its dense foliage creates a lovely shade canopy. Featuring dark green glossy leaves and greenish-white blossoms from late autumn, this tree attracts many bird visitors, baring small fruit in early summer. Given the nature of our local soils and environment, we anticipate this tree to reach a height of 5-8m at full maturity, with a canopy of 6m wide.
Eumundi Quandong (Elaeocarpus eumundii)
A slow-growing evergreen rainforest tree that is native to Australia. Its leaves are dark and glossy with flourishes of bronze coloured new growth. Fringed creamy scented flowers bloom from late spring, followed by small blue rounded berries. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach a height of 8-15m at full maturity, with a canopy of 8m wide.
Blueberry Ash (Elaeocarpus reticulatus)
This native evergreen species features long serrated lance-shaped leaves that are dark green in colour and a smooth grey trunk. Its older leaves turn red before falling and delicate white flowers bloom in late spring followed by small blue berries. Given the nature of the soils and local environment, we anticipate this tree to reach a height of 8m at full maturity.
Woollybutt (Eucalyptus longifolia)
A medium-sized native evergreen species. Its bark is rough, fibrous, and grey in colour. The taller branches often shed their bark, leaving them smooth and pale grey green. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach a height of 20-25m at full maturity.
Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliodora)
A medium-sized native evergreen species. This tree has wide-spreading branches with a rounded crown. Its bark is mostly rough around the main trunk, with grey-green leaves and white scented blossoms that flower during spring. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach a height of 20-25m at full maturity, with a canopy spreading up to 20m wide.
Grey Ironbark (Eucalyptus paniculata)
This tall native evergreen tree features a long straight trunk with deeply textured bark and a compact crown of glossy pale green leaves. Cream flowers appear from winter to spring. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach a height of 20-30m at full maturity, with a canopy width of 8-12m.
Grey Gum (Eucalyptus punctata)
A medium to large native evergreen species. This tree is recognised for its smooth cream to grey bark that often sheds in plates to reveal its fresh pale orange surface. It has cream white flowers that bloom from summer to autumn with year-round glossy green leaves. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, this tree may reach a height of up to 35m at full maturity, with a canopy width of 8-15m.
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 35m at full maturity, with a canopy width of 15-25m.
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.
Evergreen Ash (Fraxinus griffithii)
A small to medium exotic evergreen species. This tree features dense foliage of bright glossy green leaves and a light grey trunk. Fragrant white flowers blossom throughout spring, followed by small brown seed pods that develop in autumn and hang in clusters at the ends of the tree branches. Given the nature of the soils and local environment, this tree may reach a height of up to 12m at full maturity, with a canopy width of 4m.
Urbanite Green Ash (Fraxinus ‘Urbanite’)
A seedless medium-sized deciduous exotic species. It features a straight trunk with mid-grey textured bark and a domed canopy of thick leaves that turn a deep bronze colour in autumn. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach a height of 15-18m at full maturity, with a canopy width of 8-10m.
Native Frangipani (Hymenosporum flavum)
A small to medium-sized native evergreen species. It features rough grey bark and long waxy green leaves. Its flowers are similar in shape to the frangipani but often smaller. They are fragrant and cream in colour changing to warm yellow tones as they mature. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach a height between 8-20m at full maturity, with a canopy of width of 2-4m.
Lagerstroemia indica – Indian Summer ‘Sioux’, ‘Lipan’, or ‘Zuni’
Lagerstroemia indica – Indian Summer ‘Tuscarora’
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.
It features rough grey bark and long waxy green leaves. Its flowers are similar in shape to the frangipani but often smaller. They are fragrant and cream in colour changing to warm yellow tones as they mature. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach a height between 8-20m at full maturity, with a canopy of width of 2-4m.
Queensland Brush Box (Lophostomen confertus)
A medium to large evergreen species with smooth pink to brown bark. It features dense domed foliage creating a lovely shade canopy. Small white fragrant flowers blossom throughout spring which is replaced by small woody brown capsules. Given the nature of the soils and local environment, we expect this tree to grow up to 9-18m at full maturity, with a canopy width of 6-10m.
Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’)
An exotic evergreen tree with a thick foliage of dark green glossy leaves that have a velvety brown underside. Large cup-shaped white flowers bloom during spring and summer, followed by red/brown cones. Given the nature of the soils and local environment, we expect this tree to reach a height of up to 8m at full maturity, with a canopy width of 5m.
Black Tea Tree (Melaleuca bracteata)
A small native species with a rounded top and dark grey bark. This tree features small fine dark green leaves with spiked tips that are scattered along its thin branches. Soft white clusters of flowering blossoms are displayed throughout spring. The tree’s aromatic oils were traditionally used as a natural insect repellent. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, this tree will grow to an approximate height of 4-8m at full maturity, with a canopy width up to 6m
Honey Myrtle (Melaleuca decora)
A small native evergreen species with fine papery brown to whiteish bark. Its branches are covered with fine leaves forming a narrow dome. Small white flowers cover the tree in summer. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach a height of 7-10m at full maturity, with a canopy width of 3-5m.
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.
Photinia Tree (Photinia robusta)
A small exotic evergreen tree with a neat, rounded form. Young leaves are glossy red which turn green as they mature. Small white flowers blossom in spring followed by red fleshy fruits. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach a height of 4m at full maturity.
Illawarra Plum (Podocarpus elatus)
A small native conifer species. Its needlelike leaves are shiny, narrow and dark green with sharp tips. This tree produces edible fruits that are round and dark purple in colour. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach a height of 8m at full maturity.
Firewheel Tree (Stenocarpus sinuatus)
A medium-sized native tree with green glossy leaves. This tree stands out for its unique large orange/red wheel-like flower that blooms over summer. It also produces boat-shaped fruits. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to reach a height of 12m at full maturity.
Small Leafed Lilly Pilly (Syzygium leuhmanii)
A small native rainforest species with gently weeping branches. The tree produces small white flowers in spring, followed by fleshy pink-red berries. Young leaves are often a pale pink colour. Given the nature of the soil and local environment, we expect this tree to grow up to 12m at full maturity, with a canopy width of 3-5m.
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.
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 8-15m, with a canopy of 3-10m wide.