We had such a great time at The Strand Night Markets last week, connecting with locals about something we all care deeply about—how we make Townsville cooler, greener, and more liveable for everyone.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our stall to chat about trees, shade, and what a more climate-resilient city could look like. It was genuinely encouraging to hear how many people are passionate about greener streets and healthier neighbourhoods.

A big thank you as well to our amazing volunteers - Monita, Frank, Jackson, Krissy, and Charlotte - whose time, energy, and conversations helped bring the stall to life.

We spoke to people who were very clear about wanting a city designed for people, not just heat.

Trees and urban greenery are a big part of that. As Townsville Mayor Nick Dametto recently noted, trees cool our streets, increase shade, and make our city a better place to live - and we couldn’t agree more.

It’s also great to see Council’s existing tree planting program, with trees grown locally, already making a contribution. That’s an important step forward.

But if we want to truly cool our city and plan for the future, we need to think bigger than individual projects. We need a comprehensive, long-term Greening Strategy for Townsville.

Because greening a city isn’t just about planting trees anywhere—it’s about planning well:

• Where do we most urgently need increased canopy cover?
• How do we create connected green corridors for both people and wildlife?
• How do we avoid conflicts with infrastructure like powerlines and roads?
• And how do we ensure all suburbs benefit fairly, not just a few?

Other councils across Australia are already taking this strategic approach, setting clear canopy targets and planning for long-term urban cooling. There’s no reason Townsville can’t do the same.

The conversations we have been having in the past months shows that there is strong community support for this direction. Now it’s about turning that momentum into a clear, community-informed plan for a cooler, greener future.

If you’d like to stay involved, we’d love to hear from you:
- Drop a comment and tell us—where would you like to see more targeted tree planting in Townsville?