In this engaging and insight-driven webinar, Parks and Leisure Australia shines a spotlight on the 2025 Award winners in the Community Initiatives and Community Facility categories. This session offers an in-depth exploration of the projects that set the benchmark for excellence across the parks, leisure, and community infrastructure sector.
Participants will gain exclusive insight into the winning submissions, unpacking what made these projects stand out—from strategic vision and community impact to innovation, sustainability, and delivery. The webinar will feature conversations with the project leaders and collaborators behind the award-winning initiatives, providing firsthand perspectives on challenges, lessons learned, and success factors.
Designed for professionals across local government, planning, design, and community development, this webinar goes beyond celebration to examine what it truly takes to become an award-winning Community Initiative or Community Facility. Attendees will walk away inspired, informed, and equipped with practical ideas and proven approaches to elevate future projects and outcomes within their own communities.
Gipps Street Recreation Precinct
Community Facility of the Year Award
NSW/ACT
Penrith City Council transformed its disused waste facility site at Gipps Street into an exciting recreation precinct. The site presented a unique opportunity to address Penrith’s need for more sport and recreation facilities to support the growing population. It’s a dynamic facility that responds to community requests for a variety of recreation opportunities with sports fields, playspaces, youth zone, dog park, and more. The precinct welcomes thousands of visitors weekly, supports an active and vibrant city, and enhances Penrith’s reputation as the most liveable place in Western Sydney.
Presenters:
Andrew Robinson – Penrith City Council, Head of Community Facilities and Recreation
Matthew Buckly – Penrith City Council, Major Projects Coordinator
David Forward – Penrith City Council, Acting Head of Design