Major State Government transport projects take place in Whitehorse. The removal of vegetation is one of the significant impacts of these projects. 

Council aims to protect existing trees. However, if trees need to be removed, Council manages their replacement in collaboration with the State Government. 

A tree replacement program is underway for areas impacted by North East Link, Suburban Rail Loop and Mont Albert Road level crossing removal projects.

Thousands of trees are being planted as close as possible to the areas where vegetation was removed. The aim is to plant more trees than are removed. For example, the Suburban Rail Loop project is doubling the tree canopy it removes. 

Since not all replacement trees can fit within the project boundaries, Council is planting the remaining trees at other sites across Whitehorse. 

For the three transport projects, 1,518 trees have been planted so far in:

• Gawler Chain Park, Mont Albert North
• Koonung Creek Reserve, Mont Albert North
• Memorial Park, Box Hill North
• Ronald E Gray Reserve, Nunawading 
• Slater Reserve, Blackburn North
• Heatherdale Reserve, Mitcham
• Furness Park, Blackburn
• Kalang Park, Blackburn
• Blacks Walk, Blackburn
• Sparks Reserve, Box Hill
• Gardiners Creek Reserve, Burwood 
• Kingsley Gardens, Mont Albert
• Surrey Park, Box Hill
• and nature-strips throughout Surrey Hills, Mont Albert North, Box Hill North and Box Hill.

These tree planting efforts will continue until all targets are met. This will ensure green spaces are maintained for wildlife and the Whitehorse community. 

The tree replacement program is funded by the State Government. Council grows, plants, and maintains these trees, with most of them propagated at Council’s nursery from locally collected seeds. This partnership provides a cost-effective and efficient service while maintaining the high standards applied to all Council-managed trees.