More than a thousand trees growing in eastern Victoria are set to become the prominent green feature along the planned first route of the light rail.
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After uprooting nearly 700 mature trees to install the 12-kilometre first stage tram line, a returned Labor government would plant more than 1500, most grown in Gippsland.
Minister for Transport and City Services Meegan Fitzharris said the net increase in trees would be combined with landscaping along Northbourne Avenue and Flemington Road to bring a modern feel to the city's northern gateway.
There were 1200 eucalyptus mannifera growing at a western Gippsland nursery near Traralgon which would be transported once they were matured.
"By maturing the trees interstate and then bringing them into the region, we are ensuring we are planting trees of a consistent height and age along the corridor," Ms Fitzharris said.
"Once they have sufficiently grown, the mannifera trees will join a further 300 deciduous and native trees which are being grown at the Yarralumla Nursery."
Ms Fitzharris said Canberra landscaping and horticultural experts had played their part in the project which would maintain the "amenity and feel" of the Northbourne Avenue corridor.
The mannifera were a local species, with more than 100,000 already in Canberra streets and parks, the Gungahlin-based minister said.
A Transport Canberra and City Services spokesman said each block of plantings would be done progressively and in line with the rail production schedule, with consideration given to ensure each tree species had optimal planting conditions.
Five weeks out from an election, which would determine if light rail went ahead, the spokesman said Canberra Metro had advised that none of the trees to be removed on the city to Gungahlin route had yet been felled.
The construction would see the felling of 444 trees on Northbourne Avenue, 211 on the Federal Highway and about 44 to allow for a stabling depot at Mitchell.
Canberra Metro intended to remove the current trees in blocks, with the finer schedule details still to be decided.
In April, 42 diseased and dying trees judged to be unsafe were felled on Northbourne Avenue, but this was as part of the government's on-going "monitoring, safety and integrity review process" in the corridor, the spokesman said.
