Half-a-million trees planted in Melbourne’s west
It was a day of celebration at VU Community Tree Planting Day 2026, held last week at VU Werribee Campus, on the lands of the Boonwurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation.
More than 350 volunteers joined the day, planting 2,500 trees, bringing the total on VU’s Werribee Campus to 20,000 trees planted across the five annual events.
It was a milestone moment for both Victoria University and the broader Victorian Government’s More Trees for a Cooler, Greener West program, which has funded VU’s annual event, alongside a range of other locations in Melbourne’s west, in partnership with Traditional Owner groups, schools and community volunteers, and local organisations.
On a sunny winter’s morning, VU Chief Engagement and Employment Officer Patrice O’Brien opened proceedings, introducing Denzel James, proud Yankunytjatjara man and VU law student, who shared an Acknowledgement of Country, and paid respect to representatives from Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Corporation, who were in attendance.
Mr James is an environmental advocate, was one of UNICEF’s nine young ambassadors representing Australian youth at state, national and international levels, and was finalist for South Australia in 2025 Young Australian of the Year Awards.
“Native trees provide homes for our native wildlife, they protect our waterways, they improve our biodiversity; and some provide food, medicine and materials that we use and have used for thousands of years.
“Climate change can be overwhelming, but days like this show that it starts with one simple small action…That might seem small, but those actions grow into something much bigger over time. When we plant a tree, we’re leaving the environment better than we found it. And that’s something we can all be proud of,” Mr James said.
This collective impact was visible to attendees who planted small seedlings alongside established trees from previous events, with some now several metres tall.
VU Deputy-Vice Chancellor the Hon. Wade Noonan reflected on how far the project has come.
“Five years ago, it was a paddock and we were really windswept. It did seem like an ambitious undertaking to think that we would stand here five years later planting the 20,000th tree. It’s very special to see these trees change the landscape.”
Leah Wheatley, Project Manager at the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Change, has also been involved in VU’s event since its inception, while managing the broader program across Melbourne’s west. She said that she was “really excited” to achieve the half-a-million milestone in the project.
Trees have been planted along shared user paths, next to playgrounds, along waterways and places where people walk and recreate, to make those hubs of cool places where people can escape to.
“It’s hard to imagine we got here in five years, but we have, and the trees are thriving, and it’s created cooler and more livable spaces for the people who live in the western suburbs,” Ms Wheatley said.
VU partners also joined the day, planting on behalf of their organisations: Footscray Community Arts, Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect), Western Chances, Industry Capability Network, Westjustice Greater Western Water, commUnity+, Mercy Health, Royal Flying Doctor Service, Ambulance Victoria, MUFG Pension and Market Services.
We were also joined by John Lister MP, Member for Werribee, and Matt Hilakari MP, Member for Point Cook, local councillors, community groups including Club60 Tarneit, young children from Werribee Children’s Centre, and two local schools: Suzanne Cory High School and Stella Maris Primary School. Woods Environmental Service guided the planting sessions, and attendees got a chance to catch up in between sessions, over coffee and donuts.
VU in the Community Manager Fatih Tuncer extended thanks to all planters this year and at previous events who made the achievement possible.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone involved. Our students, staff, major partners and community of all ages, from our very little ones at the Werribee Children’s Centre who attend each year to seniors at Tarneit club 60 who are always one of the very first to register, it truly was a community effort across all ages. Everyone deserves to take great pride in the positive impact we’ve helped create to protect country for generations to come,” Mr Tuncer said.
