Warrnambool City Council is seeking quotations for the services of a suitably qualified consultant with appropriate experience in urban forest planning, to develop the Warrnambool Urban Forest Framework, comprising of the development of an Urban Forest Strategy, the review and update of the Public Tree Planting and Management Policy and the review and update of the Public Tree Planting and Management Guidelines.

The purpose for Warrnambool City Council is to provide a comprehensive framework for the sustainable management and development of our urban forest. This Framework aims to guide decision-making processes, resource allocation, and community engagement initiatives to ensure the long-term health, resilience, and vitality of our urban forest. The Framework should set clear objectives, priorities, and actions that seek to address current challenges such as climate change, development, and biodiversity loss, while also anticipating future needs and opportunities.

The Framework should incorporate the following goals:

• value and protect the existing urban forest;
• increase tree canopy cover to achieve an ambitious target;
• grow a resilient forest by balancing age classes and species diversity;
• support biodiversity by increasing vegetation connectivity and health;
• strengthen planning and development standards to promote green infrastructure;
• collaborate with stakeholders to grow and maintain the urban forest;
• engage with the community to increase environmental awareness of how trees enhance liveability; and
• build resilience to the impacts of climate change.