In response to questions raised by Greens Councillors, the City of Sydney revealed it will spend a whopping $3.3 million in the coming financial year on the planter box program, a figure expected to grow in the coming years.

The Greens are calling on Council to cap the amount we spend on temporary planter boxes in the CBD to $1 million a year and re-invest the remaining funds into planting permanent natives and expanding our team of urban ecologists.

Questions from the Greens have revealed that Council spent more on temporary planter boxes each year than we do on other vital programs, including our affordable housing grants or our food relief program for people who can’t afford to eat.

City of Sydney Council provided answers to Greens Questions on Notice in the following memo: Information Relevant To Item 6.7-Tender-T-2024-1314-Mobile Planter Display Program memorandum.