A CITY of Swan councillor has put forward a successful motion to help fund increased infill and the city’s tree canopy, but the money for the latter will be collected by raising vacant land rates.

Whiteman ward councillor Dave Knight’s motion passed due to a casting vote by Mayor Tanya Richardson at Wednesday’s council meeting.

The original motion called to progress the introduction of the vacant land, residential, commercial and minimum rating categories as part of the city’s 2024-25 annual budget process.

“As part of the rates modelling, establish the proposed rate in the dollar for vacant land rating categories at a rate that is 30 per cent higher than for the improved land,’’ the motion read.

“Increase the allocation in the annual draft budget for the city’s street tree program by the sum of the additional revenue raised from this measure for every financial year thereafter.’’

Cr Knight said the reason for the motion was the housing crisis and the need to increase urban infill by encouraging vacant landholders to develop their land.

He said the proposals would bring the city into line with other local government areas and generate an estimated $1.5 million extra per annum.

His third reason was that the money raised could be spent on lining the city’s streets with trees, which would improve property values, create better, healthier more desirable places to live, which would improve the return for the landholders when they develop their blocks of land and sell; as well as expediting the goals of the city’s urban forest plan.

Published in 2022, the city’s Urban forest plan – greening the city, said the city was losing its tree canopy as clearing of vegetation increased with continued development.

The plan highlighted the difference between canopy coverage in the city’s suburbs with Guildford having a canopy coverage of more than 20 per cent and Woodbridge 15 to 20 per cent compared with Stratton 10 to 15 per cent, Ellenbrook 5 to 10 per cent and Aveley less than 5 per cent.

It also said a critical element of a successful urban forestry program was how planting priorities would be funded.

The February 14 officer’s report said in March 2023 councillors had considered a recommendation to introduce vacant land residential, commercial and minimum rating categories and to establish new rates in the dollar for vacant land rating categories as being 30 per cent higher than for improved land. Last year the council voted to refuse the introduction of vacant land rating categories in 2023-24.