In July 2023, Council noted the Town’s Green Infrastructure Strategy that outlines the way we will manage the natural areas and street canopy throughout Cottesloe. Our Green Infrastructure Strategy aims to enhance community benefits such as reducing the urban heat island effect, improving aesthetics, mental health, sense of place, and supporting native bird habitats for Cottesloe. The strategy includes maintaining and expanding canopy cover, improving natural habitats to promote biodiversity, greening significant areas and activity centres, and encouraging community involvement. Specific goals include achieving 30% tree coverage by 2040. Other matters addressed include diseases such as different types of borers affecting the Peppermint and Queensland Box trees, together with a drought fuelled pathogen impacting mature Norfolk Island pines trees.

Forming part of the Green Infrastructure Strategy is our Natural Areas Management Plan, noted by Council in September 2023 which guides our activities for dune and native vegetation restoration and management in Cottesloe, as well as our Street Tree Masterplan which was also noted by Council in March 2024 for public engagement. This outlines suitable street trees for planting in Cottesloe and the cost implications of retaining the Norfolk Island pines as informing documents to achieve the targets within the Green Infrastructure Strategy.

Responses from this survey will allow us to understand the community’s aspiration on the Green Infrastructure Strategy objectives, Natural Area Management Plan priorities and the appropriateness of the Street Tree Masterplan selected verge species for each street.

Other focus areas target the future rationalisation of the iconic Norfolk Island pine trees for the continuation of this Cottesloe legacy, and the retention of trees on private land to contribute towards the Green Infrastructure Strategy outcomes. Context relating to these outcomes are detailed in the various sections of the survey.