Brimbank City Council has been recognised as a leader in planning and innovation at the Awards for Planning Excellence in Melbourne last Friday 6 November.
The Council was awarded the prestigious ‘From Plan to Place – Transforming the Public Realm Award’ for its Creating Better Parks – Open Space and Playground Policy and Plan, making it the fourth award Council has received for this project since it was adopted in 2008.
Chair of Brimbank Administrators Mr John Watson said, “this award is a significant achievement and is further recognition of Brimbank as a leader in planning excellence. It’s been great to see such a major transformation of the park network in the area.
“Feedback from the community has been extremely positive. The transformation has enhanced the character and identity of our city and has provided a range of places for people to play, relax and meet.”
In the seven years since adopting Creating Better Parks, 83 parks have been upgraded in the Brimbank area at around $20 million, including the five flagship parks, and there has been a significant increase in usage of all spaces.
Brimbank is currently updating this policy and has sought community feedback on the impact and gaps associated with delivery of the policy and plan since 2008, which includes an online survey that around 230 people have completed so far.
“We were keen to hear from as many people as possible to ensure the policy and plan update reflects the feedback and ideas of the community that this plan was created for,” said Mr Watson.
“We are not proposing to change the fundamental program and hierarchy that was adopted in 2008. Rather we want to take the opportunity to revisit this document and look at some of the functional aspects of the park network and consider what gaps there may be.”
In addition to the Creating Better Parks policy, Brimbank also adopted a Walking and Cycling Strategy in 2008 and a Greening the West strategy in 2013.
Creating Better Parks also won an Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) Planning Award in 2008. Ardeer Community Park and Alice’s Playspace at Errington Reserve, St Albans have also won awards from the AILA and Parks and Leisure Association respectively.
