The new Urban Street Tree Management Plan is designed to increase the city's green canopy in a responsible and sustainable way.

Councillor Helen Tickle said the council needed to make sure trees planted today will be there for the benefit of current and future generations.

"Maintaining and increasing green spaces and streetscapes increases the appeal and liveability of urban spaces by decreasing temperatures during the summer months and by providing habitat health and well-being benefits," she said.

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"The support from community groups, individuals, training organisations and neighbourhoods in embracing our plan and planting trees has been extremely encouraging.

"Our challenge now is to ensure maintenance for at least two to three years in the critical establishment stage."

Cr Tickle said the lack of green canopy in existing subdivisions and industrial estates needed to be addressed.

Councillor Juanita Wilson said it's also critical to make the town an attractive place for tourism and could attract research on smart-greening as the University of New England establishes in the city.

"Also, we need to value and care and understand what we have - in other words this is where we want to go but we have to value what we've got," she said.

The plan passed on Tuesday.

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