Caring for our environment and green spaces

Council manages a range of vegetation and green spaces. These include urban street trees, roadside vegetation, creeks, playgrounds, small reserves, and the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens.

These areas reduce urban heat and cool our towns, making our shire more liveable. Council is working to improve the resilience and extent of these natural spaces. 

How we're caring for our environment and green spaces
  • We support local landcare works in their essential work. We often work in partnership with the local Catchment Management Authorities and State Government to improve these natural assets.
  • We're removing water-dependent grasses from sports grounds, replacing them with summer grasses.
  • We're continually increasing shade across the shire, prioritising natural shade. We consider the future climate in our region when choosing trees(PDF, 10MB).
  • Roadside weeds are controlled and endangered species are preserved along roadsides when funding allows.
  • The botanical gardens’ Environmental Management Plan(PDF, 16MB) and Tree Succession Plan(PDF, 1MB)  are informed by climate predictions.
  • The botanical gardens' irrigation system is future-proofed to take recycled water.
  • We're actively exploring alternative water supplies for all our recreation reserves, including the botanical gardens.
  • Measures have been taken to rehabilitate the habitat at the botanical gardens' Flora and Fauna Reserve for the Eltham Copper Butterfly, an endangered species.
  • We're aiming to avoid and minimise tree removal and reduce our footprint for all capital works projects.
  • We're aiming to improve environmental outcomes for developer funded works, including better drainage solutions and stormwater capture.
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