A RE-ELECTED Albanese Labor government will help the City of Vincent replace trees in Hyde Park with a $500,000 grant.

About 20 per cent of the park’s trees were removed because of a shot-hole borer infestation and the money will help support endangered black cockatoos and bolster biodiversity in the heart of Perth.

Federal Perth Labor MP Patrick Gorman said the commitment would deliver environmental and community benefits. 

“Investing in projects like this isn’t just good for wildlife—it’s good for people, too,” Mr Gorman said. 

“Expanding our urban tree canopy helps cool our neighbourhoods, improve public spaces and safeguard Australia’s unique biodiversity for future generations.”

• Federal environment minister Tanya Plibersek with Perth Labor MP Patrick Gorman at Hyde Park.

Mr Gorman said Kings Park, which also lost a host of trees, wouldn’t be getting any funding from Labor as it had the funds to deal with the outbreak, while Vincent was a small council with a modest budget.

Hyde Park is already home to a range of urban bird species, including the endangered black cockatoo. The revegetation will follow containment efforts against the polyphagous shot-hole borer and will include the planting of native species that improve food sources and nesting sites for threatened birds.

Environment minister Tanya Plibersek joined Mr Gorman in the park and said urban areas had a critical role in conservation efforts. 

“Nearly half of all nationally listed threatened animals and a quarter of our threatened plants are in urban areas,” she said. 

“Investing in better protecting our parks and urban spaces is great for our precious native wildlife, and helps improve the quality of the outdoor spaces Australians love to spend time in.”

“This election commitment builds on the Government’s other investments to better protect our environment,” she added, citing significant funding for conservation and climate initiatives.