Consultation has concluded.

Caring for Randwick City’s urban forest

Randwick City’s urban forest - the trees and vegetation in our streets, parks, reserves, and backyards – is one of our most valuable assets. It helps make our neighbourhoods cooler, greener, and more resilient to the impacts of climate change. Trees provide shade that helps reduce urban heat, improve air quality, support biodiversity, and contribute to the overall health and wellbeing of our community.

As our city grows and changes, it’s more important than ever to protect and plan for the future of our urban forest.

Planning for the future of our trees

To care for and manage our urban forest effectively, Randwick City Council is implementing a new Urban Forest Management Framework. This framework brings together the key policies, strategies, guidelines and procedures that guide how we plant, protect, and maintain trees across the city.

A key part of this framework will be the development of a comprehensive Urban Forest Strategy (2025–2035), which will bring together five existing documents and set out a clear path forward for the protection and enhancement of our urban forest. It will be supported by new procedures for managing issues such as tree vandalism and damage claims, helping ensure our approach is holistic, sustainable and consistent.

Draft Urban Forest Policy – on exhibition now

The Draft Urban Forest Policy - which is on exhibition now - is the first document to be developed as part of this framework. It replaces three older policies and sets a clear direction for how we will manage and protect trees across public and private land in Randwick City.

The policy outlines the importance of the urban forest in improving local biodiversity, reducing urban heat, and supporting water-sensitive urban design. It also sets an updated tree canopy target of 22% by 2040 - a measurable goal that reflects the current state of our tree cover and what we aim to achieve.

The Draft Urban Forest Policy:

• applies to land under Council’s care and control (such as parks, sports fields, coastal reserves, streets and footpaths), and to private land where Council has the authority to approve the removal and replacement of trees.
• provides a consistent framework for tree planting, protection, removal and replacement
• reinforces Council’s commitment to a greener, healthier, more liveable city
• supports community education and engagement, including how we notify residents about significant tree removals
• aligns with Council’s strategic priorities and plans

Why we revised our tree canopy target

Since 2018, Randwick Council has worked to meet the Greater Sydney Commission’s target of 40% tree canopy cover by 2036 - planting trees on public land, applying planning controls to protect trees on private land, and promoting community education and awareness. Despite these efforts, the NSW Government’s 2022 canopy survey found Randwick’s tree canopy cover remains at just 16%.

Like other densely developed councils across Sydney, we face significant barriers to expanding canopy cover, including:

• limited control over private land
• land use conflicts on public land, such as the need for sports fields and social amenities, which limit planting opportunities
• large areas of green space outside Council’s control, including golf courses, national parks, and institutional lands
• financial constraints, with high costs associated with planting and maintaining trees
• community perceptions that can limit support for urban greening efforts

Recognising these challenges, several councils with similar urban environments, such as City of Sydney, Parramatta, North Sydney and Woollahra, have also revised their targets to more realistic levels.

Following a detailed review, Council has adopted a revised target of 22% canopy cover by 2040. This represents a 6% increase over 15 years and aligns with the capacity of Council-managed land and the reality of local constraints, while still pushing for meaningful urban greening.

View the Draft Urban Forest Policy and share your feedback. Your input will help guide how we protect and grow our urban forest for future generations.

Consultation open: 16 July to 20 August 2025 (extended).

If you're unable to make a submission via this website, you can send your comments headed 'Draft Urban Forest Policy' to council@randwick.nsw.gov.au(External link) or by post to 30 Frances Street, Randwick 2031.