00:00From above, this new development in Melbourne's outer south east looks pretty familiar.
00:08But the difference is growing from the ground up.
00:12More trees, it's bigger, healthier trees.
00:15It is all about changing the way that we build new suburbs, so having a tree first approach.
00:19This neighbourhood in Clyde North is designed to achieve 30 per cent canopy coverage in all public spaces.
00:27It's more than double what's required.
00:29We want to create connected communities and having pathways and green paths is really important to that.
00:36It's not just street trees.
00:38The project also has a minimum requirement for two trees on residential blocks.
00:43It has become a real challenge because over the last, let's say, 30 to 40 years,
00:48probably the average size of a block of land, it's now half what it used to be.
00:54For residents, it's worth it.
00:56And the greenery side is pretty good.
00:58And that's what my family likes, because my family likes to roam around.
01:01On a hot day, you can really feel the difference in temperature standing under a tree can make.
01:06Some studies estimate shadier suburbs can be cooler by up to 10 degrees.
01:11The state government has a target of 30 per cent canopy in urban areas.
01:16But the most up to date data from 2018 shows an average cover of just 15 per cent across Melbourne.
01:25The leafy eastern suburbs have the most coverage with 25 per cent.
01:30It's 15 per cent in the southern suburbs and just 5 per cent in the west.
01:35Analysis from Casey Council shows Clyde North only has about 5 per cent canopy coverage.
01:42I think there's a good appreciation, but we're not seeing it as a critical infrastructure of cities.
01:48Next, green shoots for a shadier future.
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