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The natural environment is one of the most valuable assets of the City of Armadale and is central to our sense of place. The following documents are important for guiding Council planning, decision-making, and activities that have an impact on our local environment. This is a shared vision for the future of our environment, as well as priority actions and the role of the Council.

State of the Environment Report

In 2011, Council adopted its third State of the Environment Report (City of Armadale State of the Environment Report 2011).

This report identifies the state of environmental assets in the City and sets a five-year direction for environmental management programs.

A more detailed reference document provides supporting information for the State of the Environment Report 2011 and is available upon request.

Urban Forest Strategy

Armadale is one of the fastest growing areas in Perth and with this rapid urban sprawl comes a loss of tree canopy and a greater need to plant and maintain trees in our neighbourhoods, creating what is known as an 'urban forest'.

Armadale was one of the first WA councils to develop an Urban Forest Strategy (UFS), identifying what needs to be done to protect and enhance this prized green infrastructure.

The strategy guides the establishment and ongoing maintenance associated with planting a large number of additional trees in the City’s parks, reserves and streetscapes.

The vision of the City of Armadale Urban Forest Strategy is to strengthen a diverse landscape character through allocating suitable tree diversity, to be proactive in appropriate landscape planning while showcasing the City’s botanic heritage and to distinguish an expanding ‘tree change’ destination from the existing Perth vernacular.

Benefits of Urban Forests

Urban forests have countless benefits including:

  • Increasing property value (by more than $1,400)
  • Reducing heating and cooling costs by an estimated 12% per annum
  • People are encouraged to stay longer in well treed commercial areas
  • People are encouraged to use open spaces more often where there are well treed parks, gardens and streets
  • Increases the creation of liveable, healthy and desirable communities
  • Keeping temperatures down in Summer

One mature 30 metre tree can absorb as much as 22kg of carbon and produce more than 2,700 kg of oxygen a year.

Additionally it can transpire up to 378 litres of water each day, making it the cheapest form of air-conditioning available.

A single tree can typically reduce the air temperature below the canopy by up to 1 – 2 degrees.

Corporate Greenhouse Action Plan

The Corporate Greenhouse Action Plan sets targets in relation to greenhouse has emissions.

The action plan covers emissions from the City's operations and includes actions to reduce its carbon footprint.

 

Local Biodiversity Strategy

The Local Biodiversity Strategy is designed to identify significant natural areas, and where possible plan for their protection, retention and management within the City.

The broad objectives of the Strategy are to:

  • Consolidate existing protection measures in existing City Strategies, policies and plans
  • Develop an accurate mapping base and a bushland protection plan for Local Natural Areas (LNAs)
  • Identify objectives, goals, targets and actions for the protection and enhancement of the LNAs in the City
  • Integrate with current planning and management systems
  • Engage stakeholders and the community during preparation and implementation of the Strategy and action plan.

Management plans

The City has prepared a number of management plans for designated natural areas. 

The aim of these management plans is to provide and organised and consistent approach to environmental management within the City.

Page Last Reviewed 22 February 2022