Trees are one of the Town of Cambridge's most important natural assets with more than 27,000 Council-owned trees growing throughout the Town, lining streets and growing in parks.
Programmes proudly co-funded by Water Corporation’s Waterwise Greening Scheme form part of our aim for the Town to be a leading waterwise community.
Less rainfall, hotter temperatures and increased urban development has made retaining existing trees and planting more trees an important issue for the Town.
The aim of the Street Tree Master Plan is to;
- develop attractive streetscapes for every street;
- increase the overall tree canopy area each year;
- improve the visual appeal of commercial centres; and,
- foster community awareness of the importance of street trees and create a sense of pride in the quality of Cambridge streets.
If you would like to know more about the tree species selected for your street or across the Town, download the Master Plan(PDF, 14MB).
The Tree Planting program takes place throughout May – June each year.
Each winter, the Town plant over 600 trees across both parks and residential verges.
The Town planted an additional 1,000 trees during the 2023-24 financial year, with a total of 1,600 trees planted during May and June 2024. This proactive step comes in response to the challenges posed by increased urban density and environmental threats such as the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer.
As part of the tree planting program, all suitable locations across the Town are identified and allocated. Letters will be sent to residents in October-November to inform them they are scheduled to receive a tree on their verge in the following winter.
If you have received a letter and would like to discuss the tree planned for your verge, please email mail@cambridge.wa.gov.au or complete this form to request a call back from our Parks Team within 10 business days.
Apply here if you would like to request a tree for your verge or would like to suggest a location that needs shade in a street or reserve:
Request a Tree or Suggest a Location
If you would like a street tree on the verge in front of your property, please request it online via the form below or contact the Town on (08) 9347 6000.
Request a Street Tree
When will my tree be planted?
Street trees are planted each winter, starting in May (depending on the weather). Letters are sent to residents in October-November each year to advise of upcoming tree planting on verges that are adjacent to their property.
When do I need to order my tree?
The Town orders the tree stock in the months of November/December each year to ensure the nurseries can provide the number and species required for the winter tree planting season.
Requests made for street trees after December will be planted in the following year’s winter tree planting season., e.g. a request made in January 2025 will be planted in May 2026.
What tree species can I choose?
The Street Tree Master Plan contains a list of recommended street trees, depending on the size of your verge and where you are located within the Town.
How many trees are being planted this year?
This year the Town will plant 600 trees on verges and in reserves.
What if I don’t want a street tree on my verge?
The Town has a planting program in place that all available verges will have a tree planted on it in the future. Trees are planted in an attempt to increase the Town’s dwindling tree canopy coverage. Street trees are planted to benefit the community as a whole, pedestrians use the shade provided by the trees while walking around the neighbourhood in summer and adjacent homeowners and their visitors also get some shade to park under in hot weather, there are many other positives to tree planting including environmental, social and economical benefits.
What if I park on my verge or have reticulation in the verge?
The Towns Officers are happy to work with residents to ensure that the trees provide as little impact to the adjacent residents, preferred tree locations can be requested by adjacent residents prior to planting. Tree planting is completed by hand, this is to ensure that the reticulation on the verge isn’t damaged. However, if the reticulation is damaged due to the tree planting the Town will repair the damaged section.
Can I request a different species of tree?
Yes, a request to change the species of tree must be completed prior to trees being ordered in December. A list of alternative species can be found on the Town Street Tree Masterplan. Please email mail@cambridge.wa.gov.au with the alternative species request.
The Town is responsible for maintaining all street trees.
Residents are not permitted to plant, prune, or remove trees from the verge, nor are they permitted to attach swings or other items to the street tree.
Trees are planted in winter and, to help them establish, the Town waters them for their first two summers. Residents are encouraged to apply extra water during hot dry periods and to continue summer watering after the initial two years.
Residents may request for a street tree to be pruned back to the property line. Pruning of trees will be in due consideration to tree form, character, leaf fall and flowering. The Administration may vary the pruning based on individual assessment and safety and health considerations. Where possible, pruned vegetative matter will be recycled as mulch.
To request your verge tree to be inspected or pruned, fill out this online form. Please note the Town generally will undertake property line clearance pruning work in May each year to limit shock to the trees.
The Town will consider pruning a street tree if it:
- Improves the safety, structure and health of the tree
- Provides clearance for people and vehicles moving below the tree. Generally, this is a minimum of 2.5m over the footpath and 4.5m over a carriageway or road
- Prevents branches from overhanging a property boundary
- Maintains safe clearance zones from powerlines as per Western Power requirements
- Maintains a clear line of sight for vehicles and cyclists.
The Town will generally not prune a street tree if:
- Allergies are experienced by a resident/s
- The tree is dropping leaves (you can request a street sweep via this online form or phone the Town on (08) 9347 6000);
- The tree is shading solar panels;
- The tree is blocking views;
- Due to birds nesting in the tree;
- To take off some height.
The Town will only remove a tree if it has died or where there is sufficient evidence the tree will cause ongoing damage or be a danger to the public.
Removal is seen as a last resort and will only happen after a risk assessment has been completed. Removing a street tree usually means all options to manage the tree have been exhausted.
Our Parks arborists investigate reports of street trees that present a danger or are in declining health.
Trees will only be removed under the following circumstances:
- Dead/Diseased
- Structurally unsound
- Obstructing an approved works program, by either the Town or utilities
- Tree root damage to public and/or private assets, when root barrier installation is not viable
- Damage by a storm event
- Identified as an invasive species.
Report a Problem Tree
If you see a tree being removed in your street and would like to know why, please call our Parks Department on (08) 9347 6000.
Council-managed Ficus Trees
The Town manages 24 ficus trees in Holyrood Street, West Leederville - a conservation street under the Town of Cambridge Town Planning Scheme No. 1.
To-date the Town has managed to retain the trees with regular canopy and root pruning and root control barriers, however at some time in the future these trees will need to be replaced.