About Drayton Morley

Discover Drayton's vision for Melville's future.

Growing Together - Drayton Morley’s vision to save Melville’s canopy

The City of Melville's Urban Forest Strategy Review in October 2024 set a target to increase the city's canopy cover from 12.5% to 15% over the next decade. While other municipalities in the Perth metropolitan area as well as other jurisdictions interstate are increasing their tree canopy, it’s clear we need to take action in Melville now. To address this challenge, Drayton Morley’s initiatives (outlined below) aim to cultivate a greener more sustainable Melville whilst supporting all members of the community, particularly those who may feel apprehensive about what a greener canopy means.

Drayton’s policies are based on three principles: Education, Regulation and Equity and addressing each with a tailored approach.

Introducing GEE-TREES: Nurturing Melville's Green Future. Driven by Drayton Morley’s passion for community and environmental stewardship, GEE-TREES is a comprehensive initiative dedicated to preserving and enhancing Melville's urban canopy.

Central to this effort is the GEE-GUARDIANS program which engages students and families in conservation efforts, allowing them to learn about tree-identification (using leaves, fruit, nuts and bark), take responsibility for a tree and share updates on its growth and health on the GEE-TREES website. After “adopting a tree” in the Melville area, students will be able to report on the health and status of their adopted trees. This information has the potential to be invaluable in the fight against the Polyphagous Shot-Hole Borer, as it could provide critical data for researchers working to develop vaccines and other solutions. (<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-10/shot-hole-borer-tree-threat-australia/105740250>)

SNAGS FOR SHADE, which has evolved out of the of the successful GEE-DADS (Fathering Project) initiative at Caralee Community School, Willagee which Drayton co-ordinated for six years until earlier this year (2025).

Melville citizens will be invited to join us for SNAGS FOR SHADE DAYS, where communities across Melville come together for a classic Aussie sausage sizzle, all to support urban canopy preservation on private land. This initiative aims to deepen community connections while raising funds through the newly established not-for profit community focused business, Gee-Trees WA. SNAGS FOR SHADE has evolved from a school-based project to a city-wide campaign, fostering a greater sense of community involvement in the Melville City Council area.

The initiatives don't stop there…

This nurturing approach extends to the GEE-SAPLINGS project, encouraging families to plant a tree for each child born in Melville. It will be a living symbol of our commitment to future generations. Melville families will be able to watch their children grow alongside trees that they have planted.

With GEE-DRONES residents and their children can explore the Melville canopy from a new perspective, gaining a deeper appreciation for the urban ecosystem using responsible drone usage. Families will experience the intricate wonders of a mature tree canopy bustling with life in every leaf and branch and share their discoveries on the GEE-TREES website, all as part of co-ordinated community events.

Together, this suite of initiatives embodies a shared mission to protect and celebrate the natural beauty of Melville's canopy and to assist in combating the effects of Climate Change. This community-driven effort not only fosters environmental awareness but also directly contributes to the health and resilience of our local ecosystem.

Drayton is committed to backing legislation that protects existing trees and promotes the planting of additional canopy while emphasising the financial value of mature trees to private land-holders. By promoting the equity that these trees add, we can incentivize property owners to preserve them, thus supporting our community's green canopy and promoting a healthier and richer environment for everyone.

If Drayton is elected, he pledges to confidently communicate the community's wishes on all issues in the Melville City Council Chamber. He will refrain from giving his personal opinion on matters other than the Save Melville's Canopy issue, which is his flagship policy. To participate in debates in council, he’ll rely upon feedback from his community through the GEE-COFFEES initiative, feedback he receives from citizens on his campaign website, and other community events. He aims to be a true representative for all those who’ve placed their trust in him and to reflect their voices faithfully in Council. All this will rely on genuine community involvement and interaction.

For more information on any of these initiatives please contact Drayton Morley (candidate for Palmyra-Melville-Willagee – City of Melville)