Background
Our Street Tree Strategy helps protect and increase our street tree canopy across Monash. This is something we know is very important to our residents because of the role it plays in cooling, shading and beautifying our streets.
We are inviting residents of Koonawarra Street to let us know what type of tree you'd like to see us plant in your street.
Click 'Follow' at the top of this page to receive updates on the project, including the results of voting.
Why does Council identify trees for removal?
When assessing a street as part of our Street Tree Strategy, we flag trees for removal that are dead, dying (assessed as having less than five years useful life), diseased or dangerous (pose an inappropriate level of risk to people or assets that cannot be reasonably be managed).
These trees are then replaced where appropriate and we also look for other opportunities to plant trees on the street.
Koonawarra Street, Clayton
Our arborists have completed individual tree assessments based on the above criteria. We will be:
- Removing 11 trees, and
- Planting 20 new trees.
Tree to be removed and replaced
New tree
Species for replanting
Wolgan Snow Gum (Eucalyptus gregsoniana) - to be planted on both sides of the street.
A small single stemmed tree with glossy green leave that have prominent parallel venation (leaf veins) that hang attractively from red branchlets in a weeping fashion. The mallee habit creates a beautiful spreading crown perfect for small urban environments and can be pruned regularly to maintain a single trunk. Adaptable to a range of conditions with low maintenance requirements.
Size – height and width: 4-6m x 3-4m
Foliage: Evergreen
Autumn Blaze Freeman's Maple (Acer x freemanii 'Jeffersred' Autumn Blaze) - to be planted on the side of the street with no powerlines.
A fast growing, upright deciduous tree with ascending branching and broad oval crown. Its vibrant green leaves are deeply cut with five pointed lobes. As the name suggests, the foliage turns into an autumn blaze of orange-red to scarlet-red autumn colour. Flowers and fruit are minimal.
Size – height x width: 6-8m x 12-15m
Foliage: Deciduous
Small-leaved Greenspire Linden (Tilla cordata 'Greenspire') - to be planted on the side of the street with powerlines.
A well-formed deciduous shade tree known for its strong central leader, dense pyramidal shape. Its glossy heart-shaped leaves turn yellow in autumn. Ideal for urban landscapes such as streets and parks, this tree offers reliable, structured shade. In early summer, it produces fragrant, creamy-yellow flowers that attract pollinators. Highly adaptable, it tolerates urban pollution, compacted soils and some drought once established.
Size – height and width: 10-15m x 8-10m
Foliage: Deciduous
Coral Gum 'Eucalyptus torquata' - to be planted on both sides of the street.
A small, adaptable evergreen tree with pretty coral-pink flowers. Native to the poor and shallow soils of the Goldfields in Western Australia, the Coral Gum tolerates dry summers and poor soils yet rewards with a conspicuous show of flowers in spring or summer.
The coral-pink or creamy flowers are also known for their abundant nectar and bird attracting. The latent hardiness and smaller adult size of the tree makes it a popular choice as a street tree, but it also works well as a feature tree in water-wise gardens and native plantings. Best in full sun.
Can grow in a variety of soils including poor, shallow or rocky. Tolerates dry summers and urban environments. Grows fast in suitable conditions. Needs good drainage.
Size - height x width: 4-10m x 2-6m
Foliage: Evergreen
Timeline
-
Timeline item 1 - complete
Residents invited to provide feedback
By 20 February 2026.
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Timeline item 2 - incomplete
Affected trees removed
By 30 April 2026.
-
Timeline item 3 - incomplete
Preferred species planted
By 30 June 2026.
