City of Melville
The Ogilvie Road Streetscape Renewal upgrade showcases leading sustainable design—using recycled materials, water wise landscaping, mature tree retention, and advanced stormwater infiltration to protect the environment. By reducing waste, improving drainage, and enhancing urban greening, the project delivers a vibrant, climate resilient streetscape for the community now and into the future.
City of Melville
For decades, the City of Melville managed its 18km of Swan River foreshore through a patchwork of disconnected strategies that were reactive, fragmented, and under resourced. The Foreshore Management Plan (FMP 2025) changes that permanently. Underpinned by the most comprehensive foreshore assessment ever conducted in Melville, charting a lasting path toward biodiversity recovery, erosion management, and climate resilience for its ~100,000 residents.
Learn to Ride a Bike Track and outdoor Ninja Warrior equipment - Appin Park
Playspace Award (less than $1m)
NSW/ACT
Wollondilly Shire Council
Council in partnership with Moduplay Group, developed the designs for the ‘Learn to Ride a Bike’ Track and outdoor ‘Ninja Warrior’ equipment. By delivering safe, skill building play opportunities and introducing contemporary forms of active recreation, the project brings elements of the adopted Appin Park master plan to life.
Jayde Cameron is an emerging parks professional with experience across multiple WA councils. She holds Certificate III qualifications in both Horticulture, and Conservation and Land Management, and Level 3 playground inspection. As Technical Officer – Parks Assets, she designed an inspection and maintenance program requiring 14,500+ inspections annually, strengthening preventative maintenance and renewal planning.
Camden Council
BlueFit
The Oran Park Leisure Centre (OPLC) is Camden Council’s $67 million flagship leisure and aquatic facility which delivers strong outcomes in sustainability, inclusion and community participation. Opened in October 2024, the centre features a 50-metre indoor pool, four-court stadium and modern health and fitness facilities, located within the vibrant Oran Park civic precinct. The facility supports health, wellbeing and community connection in one of Australia’s fastest-growing local government areas.
Atlantis Liquid Dynamics
Urbis
Port Douglas Splash Park transforms a local park into a destination play space, boosting visitation and dwell time in Australia's most tourism-dependent region. Three immersive zones—The Canopy, The Gorge and The Tides—express the meeting of the Daintree Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef through innovative water play design that supports child development across the full spectrum of confidence, age and ability. Incorporating materials sourced from the region itself, this is a play space that could only exist in Port Douglas, offering a new benchmark for place-specific aquatic play in Australia
City of Burnside
The City of Burnside’s Open Space Plan is a transformative strategy guiding the future of Council's 119 parks and reserves, while balancing a range of competing demands. Through detailed analysis and extensive community input, it delivers a clear vision for accessible, resilient and environmentally sustainable open spaces that support health, wellbeing and vibrant neighbourhoods. The interactive and user-friendly map, combined with a clear Action Plan and supporting documents, ensures that it is accessible to residents, staff and other key stakeholders such as sporting and community groups.
Banyule City Council
Banyule’s Urban Forest Strategy turns sustainability ambition into real, on the ground outcomes for parks, reserves and open space. By targeting tree canopy where heat, low shade and disadvantage intersect, it delivers cooler parks, shaded walking and cycling paths, and healthier landscapes for everyday use. With clear canopy targets, biodiversity uplift and climate ready design, the Strategy treats trees as essential infrastructure, creating greener, more resilient places that support active and passive leisure, protect nature, and improve liveability now and into the future.
Maribyrnong City Council
The Multicultural Women’s Swimming (Swim Unity) initiative addresses barriers and drowning risks for CALD women in Maribyrnong. This free, eight-week program combines culturally safe women-only swimming lessons with behaviour-change strategies to build water safety, confidence, and social connection. Supported by Australian Government funding, Swim Unity removes participation barriers through inclusive delivery, structured lessons, practice time, equipment, and partnerships with community organisations, empowering diverse women to safely engage in aquatic environments.
Bayside City Council
The Wildflower Meadow serves as a living demonstration of climate‑responsive design. Indigenous species were selected for their drought tolerance, reduced irrigation needs, and capacity to thrive in local soil conditions. The space demonstrates how thoughtful open‑space design can simultaneously enhance biodiversity, prioritise sustainability, and deliver tangible social and community health benefits. It stands as a model for integrating ecological restoration with inclusive public realm planning, enriching both the environment and the lived experience of the community.
Casey City Council
Kendall Drive Reserve Playground is a nature rich community destination that blends challenging play, inclusive design and sustainable materials within a mature treed reserve. Featuring nature play, a flying fox, a climbing tower, sensory elements, and fitness equipment, it offers something for all ages. The upgraded paths, new canopy planting and creative rebound wall make it a vibrant and welcoming place for families and young people.
Wyndham City Council
Holyoake Parade Reserve Active Open Space delivers an inclusive, community centred open space transformed through sustainable design, native landscaping, and accessible play. The project revitalises local identity, enhances biodiversity, and provides welcoming recreation opportunities for all ages, demonstrating excellence in placemaking, environmental stewardship, and collaborative community engagement.
Fraser Coast Regional Council
Stage 1 of the Hervey Bay Aquatic Centre Master Redevelopment has transformed one of the Fraser Coast’s key community facilities, delivering modern, safe, accessible, and inclusive upgrades that support user well-being, rehabilitation and year‑round use. The project delivered a revitalised aquatic centre with new and accessible amenities, a bright contemporary pool hall, new marine theme waterplay activity tower, splashpad and renovated lagoon pool with major infrastructure upgrades, that has created a high‑quality, future‑ready community facility that will continue to grow with the community.
City of Greater Geelong
Geelong Waterfront Master Plan Adopted by the City of Greater Geelong in December 2025, this comprehensive update replaces the 2011 plan and maps a clear, resilient future for the Corio Bay foreshore, from Rippleside Beach to Limburners Point. It directly confronts ageing infrastructure, climate and coastal risks, population growth, and the need for enhanced public spaces, while bolstering Geelong’s $1.8 billion visitor economy and six million annual visitors. Core Vision A resilient, accessible waterfront that recognises Wadawurrung Country, safeguards the environment, preserves heritage,
City of Gold Coast
GHD Pty Ltd
The Snapper Rocks to Rainbow Bay Foreshore Precinct Master Plan (Plan)provides a community-driven vision for transforming one of Australia’s most iconic coastal destinations. The Plan aims to deliver a thriving, resilient, safer, greener, and more accessible foreshore precinct which balances the needs of locals, visitors, and the natural environment.
Lake Macquarie City Council
The $52.6M Hunter Sports Centre, kaiyu nungkiliko, has transformed an established sporting precinct into a contemporary, inclusive community hub with world-class sporting facilities, expanded community spaces and co-located wellbeing services. Featuring Australia’s first Trampoline Centre of Excellence, the project strengthens Glendale’s role as a regional centre, addresses social and infrastructure gaps, and delivers lasting social, health and economic benefits for Lake Macquarie and the broader Hunter region.
Hornsby Shire Council
Charles Curtis Park was upgraded by Hornsby Shire Council in partnership with North Grass Roots as a community instigated project to rejuvenate a local park that had become a community hub following the opening of a popular coffee shop next door. Council undertook a two stage consultation process with the community group to engage locals, refine a design brief and develop a landscape concept plan. The community group advocated for incremental park upgrades and broader local improvements. This comprehensive engagement process fostered a stronger community ownership of the park.
City of Parramatta
City of Parramatta Council is committed to creating inclusive public spaces where people of all ages and abilities can connect, play and feel welcome. To support this, Council is expanding the number of accessible playgrounds and making it easier for the community to identify play spaces that meet their access needs. A playground is identified as accessible when it includes seven key elements that improve access, comfort and independence. Together, these elements reduce barriers and support confident, dignified participation in outdoor play across Parramatta’s diverse communities.
Brisbane Sustainability Agency
The Archerfield Wetlands Land Management project is transforming a 150ha degraded green space and one of Brisbane’s largest floodplain ecosystems. The project exemplifies best-practice ecological restoration, community-driven conservation, and resilient parkland design. Through innovative land management, ecosystem improvements, cultural engagement, and sustainable infrastructure, BSA is creating an enduring asset that supports biodiversity, creates valuable habitat, fosters community connection, and strengthens the resilience of Brisbane’s urban landscapes.
Wyndham City Council
The K Road Cliffs Upgrade Project has transformed one of Wyndham’s most significant nature-based destinations. The project has addressed damaging stormwater impacts while achieving a range of climate resilience and sustainability outcomes. The Aboriginal stories of the site inspire us all to commit to Caring for Country well into the future.
Green Energy Plan Supporting Sporting Clubs Climate Resilience
Environment and Sustainability Initiative
SA/NT
City of Mitcham
The Green Energy Plan delivers renewable energy to 19 sporting clubs, 10 community facilities and 9 Council buildings while reducing emissions and energy costs. By Council installing and managing solar and battery systems on sports club rooms, the Plan removes financial barriers and embeds clean energy into everyday places people value. The initiative saves 19 sports clubs thousands annually in electricity bills, builds long‑term energy resilience and provides a scalable model for community‑led climate action that strengthens both environmental and social outcomes.
LD Total
Enchantment Park has woven physical landscape and play amenity with technology, to provide a multi-faceted space, that will cater to the burgeoning community growing within not only Indi Estate, but the wider northern corridor. A space for one’s imagination to go wild, it provides a multitude of play opportunities.
City of Burnside
Webb Street Reserve is a community‑designed, nature‑rich playspace that celebrates local identity through inclusive public art, biodiversity planting and circular reuse. Delivered for under $1M, it features Burnside’s first Braille signage, co‑created butterfly‑themed art, and sensory play elements that foster learning, belonging and connection.
City of Gold Coast
The Our Coastal Lifestyle Strategy 2050 sets a long-term, integrated vision for managing the Gold Coast’s coastal places. Developed through robust engagement and evidence-led planning, it aligns resilience, accessibility and lifestyle outcomes to protect coastal environments while supporting a growing community and a thriving coastal economy.
City of Canada Bay Council
The Majors Bay Reserve Recreation Precinct delivers a vibrant, inclusive and multi generational playspace featuring an accessible playground, youth courts, a BMX pump and jump tracks, fitness stations and landscaped social areas. This $5.5M transformation, jointly funded by the NSW Government and City of Canada Bay, creates a standout destination supporting active lifestyles, community connection and lifelong play.
DesignInc Adelaide Pty Ltd
The SALC is a vibrant, inclusive community hub, bringing together competition‑level swimming, leisure and learn‑to‑swim programs, warm‑water therapy, and a 24/7 gym within an accessible, community‑focused facility. Shaped through extensive community engagement, the design draws from its natural setting and ensures accessibility for all ages and abilities, while flexible spaces adapt to the diversity of users. With strong sustainability measures and deep integration with its landscape, the Centre delivers a civic asset that strengthens community wellbeing and Mount Barker’s recreation precinct.
LD Total
Illyarrie POS B is a 21,000 m² hilltop playspace in Sinagra for Stockland, celebrating retained tree canopy and Lake Joondalup views. Endemic plantings, salvaged grass trees, and recycled site materials anchor a sculptural, community landscape where families gather to explore nature, enjoy lookouts, and play within a uniquely local setting.
City Of Perth
PLAYCE
Playful Perth is a best-practice design guide for creative innovative, inclusive and meaningful play experiences in our highly urban context.
City of Gosnells
Inspired by railway heritage, a once quiet corner of Gosnells Oval now pulses with life. The all abilities playspace blends train themed adventure with fully inclusive design, offering wheelchair friendly fun, sensory discovery and safe, joyful freedom. It’s a vibrant community anchor where every child, every family and every story can belong, only a few steps from the historic heart of Gosnells Town Centre.
City of Belmont
The Garvey Park Ecological Connectivity Upgrade has transformed 1.6 hectares of grassland into a thriving green corridor. The large-scale revegetation project was achieved through a partnership with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions ‘Swan Canning Riverpark Urban Forest (SCRUF)’ Program and involved the local community. The drastic transformation provides ecological benefits such as increased canopy, connectivity, absorption of carbon dioxide and increased biodiversity. Evidence of returning fauna has been sighted and survival rates of vegetation have been up to 85%.