Armidale Regional Council has pledged its support for the Smart Urban Forests Project, that would see locally designed technology used to improve the environment.

“When you can see a city like Melbourne with no more water but getting more people, you simply have to do something,” ICT International managing director Peter Cull said.

Developed by Mr Cull, the technology measures the amount of water a tree needs to improve vegetation, lowers water use and helps grow better trees.

Choosing the most water-efficient street trees and planting them means Council can water them only when they need it.

“It helps Armidale become a city of agricultural excellence,” Mr Cull said.

“As a regional town it means Armidale can give examples to other regional towns about which trees and vegetation to plant.”

Council will contribute $80,000 towards the $1.55 millions project, a collaboration between ICT International, Brimbank City Council, Swinburne University and RMIT University.

Shortlisted for potential funding by the Smart Cities and Suburbs Program, it will now move into the final stage of funding assessment.

And, the community can watch the data being collected in real time.

Using an app on a mobile phone or computer, community members can track their favourite tree Mr Cull said.

“They can participate with Council’s activities and help us all grow better, prettier, more functional trees – with less water,” he said.

“To have people in the community participating, they start to gain a comprehension of the cost of that tree in terms of water.”

Armidale Regional Council councillor Dorothy Robinson said cities around the world are starting to see the value in implementing Smart Urban Forests. “They aim to increase vegetation cover in urban areas, improve biodiversity and maximise the benefits of trees in the urban landscape,” Cr Robinson said. “The proposed project will support the establishment of Smart Urban Forests in Armidale and another region of Australia, and test a strategy that could deliver immense benefits including optimising water management of trees.”