Why are we planting more trees on King William Street?

    Planting trees along King William Street will provide additional greening in the area and increase the City’s tree canopy coverage. It will also provide greater shade for pedestrians and encourage walking within the Bayswater Town Centre. Additional benefits include enhancing the streetscape and contributing to natural traffic calming.

    Why are trees being planted in the road and not in the verge?

    Due to the presence of extensive underground services in the verge, planting in the road pavement allows us to avoid these utilities while preserving footpath widths and existing street furniture.

    Will there be a loss of on-street parking?

    There will be a reduction in the overall parking bays along King William Street to facilitate the planting of trees. Careful consideration has been given to parking demand, particularly near businesses in the Bayswater Town Centre.

    How many trees are being planted?

    Approximately 40 trees are being planted along King William Street between Whatley Crescent and Guildford Road. The City is also looking at planting more trees along King William Street south of Guildford Road to Eric Singleton Sanctuary in the future.

    Why aren't more trees being planted near the town centre?

    The City has investigated planting more trees, particularly between Whatley Crescent and Murray Street; however, the high cost of relocating extensive underground services has made this cost prohibitive. 

    Safety concerns have also been identified, such as restricted sightlines for motorists caused by trees potentially obstructing traffic signal lanterns. 

    Additionally, limited verge space due to existing infrastructure such as loading and parking embayment, parklets, street furniture and bicycle parking have constrained planting opportunities.

     The City will consider installing larger planter boxes to enable additional tree planting in this area.

    What tree varieties will be planted?

    The proposed tree species include Corymbia Maculata and Melaleuca Linariifolia. The selection was based on their typical trunk size, canopy coverage and height. Consideration was also given to their suitability to the area in general and their ability to thrive within paved environments.

    When will the tree planting happen?

    The trees have been purchased from a nursery and the City is looking at planting early July 2025.

    What will happen to my bin collection?

    There will be no change to rubbish bin collections. The current parking restriction for the designated collection days and times will remain.  

    Who will be responsible for maintaining these trees?

    The City will be responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the street trees, including watering, pruning and the application of soil conditioners.

    Will the tree roots damage sidewalks or utilities?

    The trees will be installed together with root directors (root barriers) to prevent root swirl and to direct root growth downward and outward. Filtration media and structural soil will also be used as part of the installation.  

    Will the tree planting create more traffic congestion?

    The geometric layout of the vehicle lanes has not changed; therefore, further congestion is not envisaged as a result of this project. It is anticipated, however, that the tree planting will naturally create a slower speed environment.

    What impact will the tree planting have on cyclists?

    Although cyclists will still be permitted to ride on the road as well as on the verge path, the placement of trees in the design allows for the future widening of the verge. This would enable additional verge space to be allocated for pedestrians, cyclists and other users. The City is advocating to Main Roads for a further reduction of the speed limit to 50km/h along the section of King William Street that is currently 60km/h. 

    Will the speed limit be affected?

    The speed limit is not changing, however, the City is advocating to Main Roads to consider lowering the speed limit to 50km/h along the section of King William Street that is currently 60km/h.

    Which community groups have been engaged with?

    The City has engaged with a number of groups in the local area. These include Bayswater Tree Canopy Advocate Group, Bayswater Traders Association, Future Bayswater, Baysie Rollers, Bayswater Historical Society and Environmental House.

    Who is funding this project?

    This project is funded by the City of Bayswater.