The Greening Benalla group - which now comprises Christine Holmes, Judy Schwartzman,  Sue  Campbell and Kate Holmes -  operates on an occasional basis as a cooperative team.   

Since the group's successful event on the lake and at the market, where we gave away about 200 trees to be planted in the Benalla Rural City, the group hasn't taken on another project.  We had been hoping to have our suggestions welcomed by Council and offers from the Council to work together, however this has not been forthcoming, because of various constraints. 

The group isn't meeting regularly at the moment, but would be delighted to be contacted by anyone interested in  greening and cooling the urban spaces in Benalla.  It may be your passion!  If it is, we would love to hear from you!

Christine Holmes
[email protected]

Since the last AGM our focus has been on connecting people to the natural environment, with the well-documented aim that when people are better connected to nature and through social connection, they value the natural environment, and gain mental and physical health benefits.
 
With 2 successful grant applications by Kate Holmes on behalf of the Greening Group, to the Social Inclusion Action Group, the Greening Group ran:
 
Plant-A-Tree Day on Sunday 26th May 2024 with 85 plants to give away for people to plant. Christine selected & purchased suitable plants, Karen printed up signs.
 
65 people registered with 40 known attendees including some late attendees. 35 plants were taken with planting instructions. Another 20 plants were given out to 14 people at the Waminda Community lunch at the CWA hall on Wed 12th July. Some money left over was used to buy more plants, guards & stakes to give out with the remaining 30 at sessions like Food Co-op, Waminda morning teas.
 
On the day, people enjoyed the Wayapa session run by Kate, and the Nature Games session run by Rachel, as well as the planting demonstration and information sessions run by Christine and Kate, & the BBQ cooked and served by Benalla Lions.
 
Community education provided through a Nature Games session included:

• Facts about trees  
• Ecosystem dynamics
• How trees function  

The Wayapa Wuurrk session combined:

• Wellbeing  
• Mindfullness and
• Environmental education  

 
The Art of Connection was run by Kate Holmes in January 2025 with another successful SIAG application from the Health & Well-Being Program.
 
An immersive environmental awareness and wellbeing program, it invited participants to interact with the natural environment through a series of 3 nature-based art and games workshops.
 
The workshops were facilitated by local artists and nature connection practitioners in various nature reserves and parklands within and surrounding Benalla.
 
Participants had the opportunity to be guided through nature connection practices which help to "rewire" the nervous system to promote a sense of wellbeing and connection through nature. The groups then participated in the collaborative making of natural ephemeral art pieces to generate a collective snapshot of the experience and facilitate space for sharing, connection and discussion about their experiences and connection to environment.
 
Local area field guides and information about the landscape and relevant species to the reserve or park were made available as part of the program, promoting awareness and connection to the broader ecological community within which we live.

At an individual level, the facilitated nature connection experiences were designed to bring about a sense of personal well-being as nature time - particularly within a guided framework - acts as a nervous system reset and supports mental health. The program gave participants tools which they may integrate into their lifestyle to support well-being.
 
Opportunities for meaningful social connection were provided through the group facilitated processes including collaborative art pieces and sharing circles; opportunities for participants to meet like-minded community members and build social bonds through the shared experience of awe, wonder or curiosity in nature.
 
Broader environmental benefit for the community: The event promoted environmental awareness, connection and responsibility. By developing meaningful connection to the natural world, people develop a sense of purpose and stewardship which supports wellbeing and belonging and a desire to protect the natural environment.
 
In particular, the event was promoted to groups who support those experiencing isolation or mental health and wellbeing challenges.
 
 
Benalla Council National Tree Day Event – Planting. 28th July 2024
 
BSFG received notification from the Environmental Sustainability Coordinator at BRCC, of the Council’s Event with an invitation to share this among our Members and Supporters. Many from BSFG attended this planting day, in Council land adjacent to Psaltis Pde. It was a positive and enjoyable day, thanks to BRCC and the Regent Honeyeater Project.
 
Loss of mature trees. September 2024
 
BSFG received a copy of an email from a BSFG supporter to the Environmental Sustainability Coordinator at Council, which was shared with the BSFG committee and Greening &
 
Cooling group. It detailed the Supporter’s disappointment that 4 mature gums providing habitat, had been bulldozed in land north-east of the last industrial building in Irwin Rd, in a paddock adjacent to Sydney Rd, and included reasons why it is important to keep mature trees. We believe the writer followed up with their own questions to the ES Co-ordinator, but answers were not shared with BSFG.
 
The Greening Group is concerned about any potential tree loss in our Council area, and continues to look for ways to prevent this and for opportunities to plant suitable trees, if possible in collaboration with Council. We encourage people to write to the council with any concerns about tree cover and habitat trees, at any time.
 
Note that to have maximum effect, emails can be addressed to each councillor individually (email addresses are on the Council website), the CEO and the relevant Council employee.

The Greening group is currently working on the Plant a Tree Day event planned for this Sunday
26th May. We were successful at gaining a Social Inclusion Grant funded by Benalla Council. This event is free, for Benalla locals, all ages and abilities welcome. There will be Wayap Wuurrk for connection and wellbeing, nature games, and a free barbeque. People will be given a plant to plant around their home to create a shady spot for their household. They will also be provided with information on the importance of shade and how to plant their small tree or shrub. (flyer)

In March we hosted Andie Guerin of the Regent Honeyeater Project to speak at our BSFG General meeting.Andie shared his extensive knowledge on local plants that would be suitable for planting on our nature strips and in our gardens, and what conditions and pitfalls we need to consider when selecting plants.

The Greening group is concerned about the way we see subdivisions being developed in the
Benalla Council area. Specifically, the lack of planning to provide for public open space in new
subdivisions, and the mass clearing of all existing, often mature, trees to make way for new
subdivisions poses a problem for the future. Fewer shade trees have been planted in and around Benalla over the last 20 years. The problem of reduced and insufficient shade where people live is now widely recognised across Australia with regional towns having some unique blockers to solving this problem.

Climate Change being the driver of increased temperatures around the globe, trees have an important part to play in mitigating its effects, and in protecting the health of communities with a wide variety of benefits as we learnt when Dr Greg Moore spoke in Benalla last year.

In Benalla, less shade trees have been planted due to several factors, including overhead power lines, narrow nature strips in newer subdivisions, and a reduced budget for footpaths, curb and channel.

BSFG member Howard Bartlett has shared with us a document prepared for the Municipal Association of Victoria titled 'Shaping Regional and Rural Victoria - A Discussion Paper'. It has
many point of interest in common with BSFG objectives including:

1. Greening of streets and reserves
2. Solar farms
3. Council Resources
4. Affordable appropriate housing

If anyone is interested in a copy, see me or Howard after the meeting. This area is one that the
Greening & Cooling Benalla group will be working to address going forward.

We hope we can work with Benalla Council and developers to ensure that Benalla has shade trees in every subdivision and on all vacant Council land, and also encourage home owners to plant shade trees.

​

Judy Schwarzman

​An opportunity to improve greening and cooling in Benalla, as well as habitat for native birds and wildlife on council land.  Andie Guerin will speak about the Regent Honeyeater Project.  A free BBQ will be provided at the end of the planting.

More information on National Tree Day: treeday.planetark.org or www.benalla.vic.gov.au/

BSFG's 'Greening Benalla - Greening and Cooling our Urban Spaces' action group invite you to attend our BSFG General Meeting at 7:30 - 9:30 pm on Thursday 14th March at the Benalla Uniting Church meeting room, opposite the Coles Car Park. This time includes a light supper at the end of the evening.

The meeting part will be brief and the main focus is our guest speaker: 

Andie Guerin, Environmental Consultant from the Regent Honeyeater Project 

The theme for Andie's talk is ideas for planting on your Nature Strip.

Andie will share his knowledge on local plants that would be suitable for planting on our nature strips, and what conditions we need to consider when selecting plants. Many of these plants will be ideal for our gardens too. 

Background: Nature Strips

Nature strips are the area of public land that lies between the boundary of private property and the road kerb. They soften and enhance the streetscape by providing a ‘green’ zone and a buffer between pedestrians and vehicles. Nature strips play a crucial role in keeping our neighbourhoods healthy and attractive.  
​
Your nature strip can be more than just grass, it can be a beautiful garden right outside your front fence. Planting up this area will also enhance habitat, increase urban biodiversity, help mitigate climate change and beautify your street. Plus reduce the time you spend mowing!
While your nature strip may not appear large enough to make a difference, small areas of biodiversity can have a valuable, cumulative effect on species diversity in urbanised environments.
 
BSFG is keen to work with our community to develop our nature strips into beautiful gardens for all of us to enjoy.

Please RSVP your attendance to [email protected]   We hope to see you there,

Judy Schwarzman,
Secretary, BSFG

Event details:

Thursday 22nd February 2024
7.30pm - 9.30pm, including supper
Meeting Room, Benalla Uniting Church.
Opposite the Coles Car Park

In an article 'City Plants 70 new trees' in the Benalla Ensign on Wednesday 18 October, p 7, we learn of 70 newly planted nature strip trees representing "a diverse range of species, carefully selected to thrive in the local environment and coexist with roadside infrastructure". 

"Among the popular species planted this year are tree species known for their resilience to pest and disease, ...Callistemon (Bottlebrush), Grevillea, Eucalyptus, Meleleuca (Paper Barks); Agonis (Willow Myrtle); Acer (Japanese Maple), Fraxinus (Ash), Ulmus (Elm) and Zelcova (Chinese Elm).  ...Tree species have been carefully selected considering factors such as local conditions, climate and existing streetscape."   

​In the article, then Benalla Rural City Council Mayor Cr Bernie Hearn emphasized the tree planting program "not only enhances the visual appeal of our streets but provides environmental benefits in providing air quality, reducing heat and providing habitat for wildlife".   

The Council's Rec-Less: Less Water, Less Often, More Resilient Open Spaces Project works to ensure species planted in open spaces are hardy and resilient to the effects of climate change and that these spaces are prioritised for irrigation.

We've taken the liberty of incorporating links from the Rec-Less page for you here.  You can download the Council's information sheet for handy tips about improving resilience in your garden as well as tables with examples of resilient species: 

• Ground-covers, including flower species for mass plantings (PDF, 201KB)
• Climbers (PDF,4MB)
• Large shrubs(PDF, 6MB)
• Small shrubs(PDF, 7MB)
• Small trees (up to 10m tall)(PDF, 7MB)
• Large trees(PDF, 5MB)
• Tussocks(PDF, 9MB)

Many of us face choices in relation to planting hardy, resilient plants in our gardens - the varieties the Council chooses to plant, and those included in the Rec-Less information sheets provide a useful avenue to pursue in our research.

Bev Lee and Peter Maddock

Sources: 
Benalla Ensign, 'City Plants 70 new trees', Wednesday October 18, 2023 p7
Benalla Council Website 'Rec-Less: Less Water, Less Often, More Resilient Open Spaces Project' accessed 28 December 2023

Issues surrounding the need to retain, and grow, trees as essential infrastructure continue to emerge in our community.  Revisiting Greg Moore's outstanding talk can provide both inspiration and fact based evidence and strategies to support efforts to continue to advocate for trees as essential infrastructure.  

Sue Campbell has given us permission to include her submission on the website:  

 
BENALLA RURAL CITY

1 Bridge Street East Benalla 3672
 
Submission on Planning

13 November 2022
 
Permit No. PO 148/22

 
Removal of Tree 13 Bridge Street East Benalla 3672
 
I commend the Council for its report on the above mentioned tree by Enspec PTY
 
My concerns for the removal of this tree include
 

• It is Councils obligation to protect the residents from the predicted rise in deadly heatwaves.
• Forecasts of a sharp rise in deaths due to heatwaves, show street trees can reduce temperatures by as much as 10 deg.
• The trees planted in Bridge Street some 23 years ago were undertaken as a long term solution to this problem, to start removing them as they reach a size of usefulness to combat climate change is to defeat the original plans for Benalla.
• The species of tree i.e. Platinus Orientalis was carefully chosen after consultation with Mr. Kevin Heinz, expert in managing tree planting in suburban areas.
• The tree forms part of a well designed avenue its removal would not be in any way advantageous to the general landscape of the town, in fact its removal will be apparent for many years as a mistaken step by the Council.
• Is this stated Policy of Council and was it part of the original streetscape development process, or simply a convenient fall-back position now rather than a well thought through and deliberate strategy in which the community was consulted and involved.
• Is it known to the community that that the trees will be progressively replaced? Surely the original species selection was done in expectation of the tree’s permanence? Was there consultation and is this an agreed outcome? Is this approach generally adopted by Councils or simply a Benalla-centric practice?

 
Planting new trees will not help this situation for many years, how fortunate the citizens of this town are that a previous Council had the foresight to plan for the future; the removal of this tree would undermine the forward thinking of that enlightened council.
 
I refer to the Consultants report on the need to remove this tree and ask the Council to engage an expert on the use of root barriers as has been carried out on numerous sites around Melbourne on much larger trees.

Executive Summary - page 10 of report
 
The results of the executive summary undertaken by Enspec Environment conclude that:-
 
Damage to the front of the 13 Bridge Street West East, in the vicinity of the gas meter, is likely to be due to the influence of roots from the council tree. No significant roots were identified elsewhere along the frontage of the properties adjacent test area.
 
Pruning of the identified roots, or other root management options could be undertaken to resolve the issue.
 
I therefore request the Council to review their application to remove this tree.
 
 
Susan Campbell O.A M.
Landscape Architect .A.I.L.A.
(address provided)
 
13 November 2022