A RIVERLAND council is planning to implement an ‘adopt a tree’ program to help maintain greenery across the district.
At its most recent monthly meeting, Berri Barmera Council elected members voted to allow staff to investigate and organise a program.
Berri Barmera Council chief executive officer Karyn Burton said a more detailed plan would be presented to elected members at a later date.
“The council plants 80 to 100 trees every year across the district that, of course, council has to maintain and water so, if we have volunteers to help, it will save council staff a lot of time,” she said. “All that volunteers will be required to do is water their tree twice or three times each week, and that would make a big difference.”
A report to council said volunteers would be provided with a watering bucket and a tree care guide upon their registration.
“This program takes into consideration the care requirements of each tree (e.g. watering and pruning), as well as the general work requirements of the parks and gardens team,” the report said.
“New plantings require large amounts of attention within the first five years of being planted, with regular pruning, weekly watering, and additional tree care to ensure long-term health. “Increasing the current rate of replanting is expected to place an unsustainable amount of pressure on council’s parks and gardens team and may result in both newer and older plantings not receiving the appropriate level of care.
“Acknowledging this, the Barmera Improvement Committee discussed the possibility of council acquiring assistance from community members to provide additional care for street trees.
“This would then relieve the parks and gardens team of the pressure of trying to care for an already abundant number of plantings in each town and in turn, enabling additional trees to be planted throughout the council region.”