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Native Nursery in the City of Sydney

Decision Maker: Council

Decision status: Recommendations Determined

Decision:

Moved by Councillor Phelps, seconded by Councillor Miller -

It is resolved that:

(A)        Council note:

(i)          one of the City of Sydney's visions in Sustainable Sydney 2030, is of being "Green, Global, and Connected";

(ii)         the City has an Urban Ecology Strategy and a Bush Management Strategy which addresses the management of urban biodiversity;

(iii)        however, obtaining native plants is problematic. Randwick Community Nursery propagates mainly hybrids, and Rozelle Bay is struggling to keep up with the needs of the Inner West Council area;

(iv)       climate change is producing more erratic weather conditions; native plants are hardier than exotics, and more likely to survive in areas like those maintained by local communities;

(v)         encouraging residents to grow natives in their gardens and on their balconies sends a valuable message about our changing environment;

(vi)       the City supports the provision of native plants to the community through: tree giveaways; supporting community planting days (such as National Tree Day); and, donations of native plants and related materials to approved community gardens and City Landcare volunteers;

(vii)      the City gives away over 1,000 free trees to the community each year in autumn. A mixture of native and exotic species, that will grow into small, medium and large trees are given away. These trees are well suited to the City’s current growing and future climate conditions;

(viii)     as National Tree Day 2020 didn’t proceed local schools were offered native plant and materials donations. Four schools have received donations so far with a total of 135 native plants donated;

(ix)       273 native plants have been donated in 2020/21 to two Landcare groups – Friends of Orphan School Creek and Pyrmont Ultimo Landcare.  Additional plant donations can be sourced for LandCare/Bushcare work if required;

(x)         at the last National Tree Day community planting in 2019 at Dalgal Way, Forest Lodge 200 people participated in planting 1,520 native species in just 40 minutes; and

(xi)       during 2020 the tree giveaways and community plantings were severely impacted by Covid-19 restrictions. Volunteer bush restoration activities continued subject to Covid-19 requirements; and

(B)        the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)          investigate enhancing the supply of native plants for local residents and community groups to maximise native urban biodiversity; and

(ii)         where possible, support local nurseries, especially Indigenous social enterprises; and

(iii)        report back to Councillors via the CEO Update.

The amended motion was carried unanimously.

S129263

 

Report author: Erin Cashman

Publication date: 03/03/2021

Date of decision: 22/02/2021

Decided at meeting: 22/02/2021 - Council

Accompanying Documents: