Greening our neighbourhoods
As South Australia’s summers grow hotter and drier, councils across the state are stepping up with practical incentives to green neighbourhoods and cool our communities.
It might not feel like it now in the depths of winter, but this is the perfect time to start thinking ahead to a cooler, greener summer.
With many local councils offering verge and tree-planting incentives to residents, now is the ideal time to check what’s available in your area, make a plan and get planting. The work you do today will help shade and cool your neighbourhood when it matters most.
Greening your verge
Greening your verge is a great way to add street appeal, boost local biodiversity and show some neighbourhood pride by improving the look of your home. It also helps to cool the local environment, reduce stormwater runoff and absorb carbon from the atmosphere.
It’s classed as a minor development so you’ll need council approval to make sure it’s safe for kids, pets and pedestrians.
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Different councils have different requirements and rebates available. Here’s just a few of the council verge programs on offer, but be sure to check with your local council to find out what’s available in your area.
- Campbelltown City Council offers rebates of up to $1,000 on eligible verge makeover costs.
- City of Marion residents can apply for 50% (up to $500) of the costs of developing their verge.
- Alexandrina Council offers tree planting species advice, with residents also able to request the council plant trees or shrubs on their verge, which council will maintain for 12 months.
- City of Norwood, Payneham & St Peters offers a Verge Incentive Program, which offers eligible residents up to $500 towards landscaping their verge.
- City of Unley’s Greening Verges program assists residents to beautify their verge, with expressions of interest open for 2025-26.
- City of Holdfast Bay offers a rebate of up to $40 to purchase plants indigenous to the area from an indigenous plant supplier through its Green Living rebates.
Supporting big trees
Healthy tree canopies help cool urban areas, reduce air pollution, support biodiversity and create more comfortable places to live. That’s why many councils are planting more trees and increasing tree canopy coverage.
Big trees make a big difference and councils want to help owners maintain, enhance and preserve them. A growing number of councils is providing financial support or resources for residents to plant or maintain mature trees on their properties. Here’s a snapshot of some of the leading programs:
- Port Adelaide Enflield Council’s Get Shady program provides options for residents to buy and plant a tree of their choice, plant it in their yard and receive $100 reimbursement. Applications for the 2025-26 round of the program will open soon for trees purchased after July 1.
- City of West Torrens offers assistance of up to $1,000 for ratepayers to help maintain significant and regulated trees, helping the community to retain and safeguard these historical trees.
- City of Charles Sturt’s Treebate provides residents with up to $100 back on the purchase price of a tree, for up to three trees on a residential property.
- City of Adelaide is also encouraging the community to help bring more greenery into the city through its Living Buildings initiative, which provides rebates of 50% (up to $5,000) for a green wall or rooftop garden. The council also offers up to $100 towards the purchase of selected established mature trees or indigenous plants.
More natives, please
Many South Australian councils also run annual native tree or plant giveaway programs to encourage residents to plant species that are well-suited to local conditions. Native trees require less water, support wildlife and are more resilient to changing climate conditions. Here’s a few on offer:
- City of Burnside offers residents a free native tree, up to the value of $75, to plant on their property until September 30, 2025.
- Onkaparinga Council also provides up to $50 for the purchase of indigenous plants, from a native plant nursery.
- Town of Gawler is giving 1000 native plants thanks to the Greening Gawler Incentive. Residents will be able to grab theirs at the Gawler Show on August 23, where they can also collect a $30 voucher towards native trees and plants.
Greening our suburbs is something we can all be part of and it’s as easy as adding a verge, maintaining existing greenery or planting a new tree.
Want to find out what is available in your area? Rebates and programs vary from council to council, so be sure to check with your local council to see what’s on offer.
This article was brought to you by InDaily and LGA South Australia.
