Our Urban Forest achievements 

The Town recognises the important and valuable role that you, as members of our community, play in achieving our urban forest target. Together we have and will celebrate many more achievements to make our Town a healthier, more sustainable and a happier place to live. 

Check out urban forest achievements below, made possible in collaboration with our community!

Skinny Streets in St James a success!

The Town’s Skinny Streets sub-program involves narrowing and traffic calming measures to encourage lower vehicle speeds. By reducing their hostility, we hope to create safe streets for our residents to encourage more walking and cycling, fostering a healthier and cohesive community.

Now complete, the Bone Street and Upton Street intersection in St James was one of the Town’s first Skinny Streets projects.

About the project

This collaborative Town project was initiated by our Integrated Transport Program team alongside Engineering and Depot Operations – the Town's public places program was also involved, running design consultation with the community. Our Urban Forest team was also engaged to plant up the site to increase vegetation, canopy cover and create a local public open space.

Representatives from each team can be seen pictured below.

Gregor Wilson (Manager Infrastructure Operations), Ben Lee (Street Operations Coordinator), Paul Williams (Parks Project Officer), Andrea Siedl (Place Leader - Urban Design) and Deniqua Boston (Place Leader - Urban Forest)

How it came about

Long-time local resident, Greg Devereaux submitted a petition from the street to make improvements, the design solution was then endorsed by council.

Resident involvement

Greg Devereaux played a critical role in fostering the support from residents for the project. This was demonstrated by the number of locals that turned up to the Town's community planting event.

Key dates

• October 2021 | Resident request
  The project was requested on behalf of local residents, with a petition signed to show their support in the creation of a more liveable street.
• November 2021 | Council endorsement
  Council endorsed the project.
• June 2023 | Community consultation
  The Town’s Urban Forest and Public Places Program teams consulted the community to discuss the planned approach for the site.
• July 2024 | Community Planting Day
  The final piece of the project was completed when the community showed their support by participating in the Town’s planting day event.

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Greg's story

After one or two near misses, pulling out of his driveway, resident of 17 years, Greg Devereaux, started hatching a plan!

“The idea emerged after a change in my health, where I could not turn my neck to see vehicles approaching from the left. I realised that huge triangle of bitumen was an invitation for hoons to speed around the bend and up the hill. An accident waiting to happen.”

“It could be better designed with the street residents in mind it, so it was just a jump to the left to come up with the corner at 90* (degrees) for better slower traffic, better vision and landscape the large area of land to make a better street scape.”

“The absolute best part of the redesign is the two areas that have been planted to local native plants. Some of these are rare but native to the area. Many of them are low growing ground covers then with bigger trees included to highlight the upper canopy and provide shade. The area then features paths, timber and stone features to be climbed over by our kids.”

The process hasn’t all been smooth sailing, with plenty of challenges along the way. “Once I had the support of all the Councillors the Council staff tried to bury the project by recommending it be shelved to 3-4 years away. Fortunately, the Councillors voted to have it actioned in the upcoming works program. However, then the file appears to have been put to the bottom of the pile. It was only 12 months later when I asked where was the project and why wasn’t it in that years works program that it surfaced again. Even after that, I had to provide copies of the approvals and budget as the records seem to have disappeared.”

Greg’s fantastic work championing this project, has ultimately been implemented through the Town’s Skinny Streets program, focused on narrowing streets and traffic calming measures to encourage lower vehicle speeds. The project has totally transformed the corner of Bone Street and Upton Street, from a big triangle of bitumen to a beautifully designed, fully planted, public open space.

“There is no other street in St James that has such a natural and attractive entrance statement. The street narrowing and the planted entry forms a statement for the occupants to be proud of.”

“I sold my house before the project was completed which saddens me. One of the owners asked me why I was leaving before the work was finished. My answer was ‘because my work here is done’.”

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Share your urban forest experience by using #GreeningVicPark

We want to hear, support and celebrate all efforts in creating a healthier and stronger urban forest at the Town. Share your work, contribution, ideas, and questions by using #GreeningVicPark in your social posts. 

Do you have an idea for your local street?

Submit a planting project proposal via the link below — we'd love to hear from you.

Submit a planting project proposal