City of Canning to trial root cell technology in attempt to prevent tree root damage on roads

CITY of Canning is the first local government in WA to trial the use of root cell technology to prevent tree root damage to roads.

Trees on Lynwood Avenue are being planted into recycled plastic ‘root cells’, some of which are installed directly under the roadway to allow for greater soil area.

The City is trying to improve its tree canopy coverings, after a report showed it was the third worst in the metropolitan area.

It even considered crowd funding to pay for more plants back in June.

The Benchmarking Australia’s Urban Tree Canopy report, released by the Institute of Sustainable Futures in 2014, found the City of Belmont had one of the nation’s lowest rates of tree canopy cover at just 9.1 per cent.

The cities of Fremantle, Canning, Bayswater and Vincent all had tree canopy coverings of between 10 and 15 per cent.

Mayor Paul Ng said the pilot program would create large healthy trees and reduce the cost of road maintenance and resurfacing.

“The project allows the City to capitalise on a number of strategies we are strongly committed to, such as increasing the tree canopy and reducing the annual costs of road maintenance, so we are really pleased to be the first council piloting this project,” Cr Ng said.

The pilot project is being delivered in partnership with Citygreen and involves three types of structural root cells to be monitored for five years.

The Stratavault30 cells were placed within the median whilst the Stratavault45 and Stratavault30 are laid under the carriageway.

Monitoring will include periodic strength and deflection tests to measure how well they support the carriageway.

Residents who want more information about the program can contact Nanette Nguyen on 9231 0581.