Newcastle City Council promised 230 new trees and shrubs in January of this year, and now have issued another promise: there will be ‘twenty times more shade than previously available’ after the plantings have fully matured.

“This is just the first stage of plantings that will also include broad-leafed lilly pillies, coastal banksias, native hibiscuses and kentia palms through the Foreshore precinct,” mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.

“Once fully grown, the trees will provide twenty times more shade than was previously available. The staged planting program will eventually create an improved, greener and more user-friendly public space.” 

As well as the 55 Norfolk Pines included in the 2018 batch of re-plantings, council’s January comments revealed an additional 37 planned for the 2019 to 2021 work periods. The matured trees will provide shade coverage from 500 to 9800 square metres.

Four of the mature Norfolks have already arrived in Newcastle this week, after being trucked from a Central Coast nursery where they first reached advanced stages of growth.

Twelve trees are planned to be bedded in the northern end of the Nobbys roundabout amphitheatre, with seven larger plantings planned for Customs House in the next fortnight.

Trees in stage one will also be planted around the new Wharf Rd car park and on the northern side of Wharf Rd adjacent to Horseshoe Beach Rd.

More plantings are planned by council, though those plants will be subject to availability, and “when conditions best suit.”