City of Canning
Maniana Park’s play space is a key feature of a major redevelopment, offering diverse, high quality play for all ages. Nestled among mature trees, it includes a multi level tower, swings, slides, sand and water play, and nature based discovery. Fully fenced with BBQs and amenities, it creates a welcoming hub that supports active recreation, community connection and extended family visits.
Parks Victoria
The Sensory Garden at Serendip Sanctuary is an inclusive nature-based space designed to connect visitors with the environment and Wadawurrung culture through sight, sound, smell, touch and taste. Developed through a community co-design process with Traditional Owners and local organisations, the garden removes barriers to nature-based experiences and promotes learning, accessibility and cultural understanding. The project strengthens community connection to Country while creating a welcoming and accessible destination for visitors of all ages and abilities.
Playce Pty Ltd
Alice Springs Town Council
MPH Projects
The Newland Park Regional Skate and Play Precinct is a transformational new vibrant and exciting recreation precinct in the heart of Alice Springs. Designed for as a space for all ages and abilities, this iconic new precinct includes the territory's largest skatepark complemented with a separate pump track, enclosed dog park, ball court, bouldering and climbing elements, bespoke playspace and a range of sheltered social gathering and seating spaces. With night time lighting, toilets and new carparking, Newland Park has been become a much loved and incredibly popular precinct for all.
East Gippsland Shire Council
By transforming the WORLD Sporting Precinct, the East Gippsland community now has access to a modern facility which delivers courts, pitches, pedestrian connections, accessible change rooms and improved lighting. It expands participation, boosts inclusion, and creates a vibrant regional hub where sport, connection and community pride thrive. It is a place for all!
Parks Victoria
The Serendip Sensory Garden is an exceptional example of community-led regional initiative that has transformed Serendip Sanctuary into an inclusive nature experience for the greater Geelong region. Co-designed with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners and local organisations, the project addresses regional gaps in accessible outdoor spaces while promoting cultural storytelling, environmental restoration and community education.
City of Adelaide
This nomination celebrates the City of Adelaide Biodiversity team and volunteers from schools, community groups, and local organisations who restore and care for the Adelaide Park Lands. Through 25+ planting and maintenance events, they’ve established over 10,000 native plants propagated locally from seed collected on-site, strengthening habitats, enhancing biodiversity, and connecting the community to these iconic green spaces while delivering practical, on-ground outcomes aligned with the Integrated Climate Strategy.
Cardinia Shire Council
The Worrell Reserve Youth Plaza and Skate Park transforms the underused space into a vibrant, inclusive recreation hub for Emerald and its surrounding community. A well-loved space, delivered through strong collaboration, it showcases innovative design, sustainable construction, and a replicable model for repurposing public land. Featuring accessible, community‑driven spaces for skate, BMX, and social connection, the project boosts local activity, supports youth wellbeing, fosters sense of pride as it sets a new benchmark for future‑ready, environmentally responsible recreation planning.
Cardinia Shire Council
Papworth Design
Warrandale Industries
Officer District Park is a flagship district destination in Cardinia Shire, delivering inclusive play, flexible recreation spaces and connected paths within a strong, shade-rich landscape. Designed for a fast-growing community, the park strengthens the green network, supports health and wellbeing, and integrates people-first comfort with climate-resilient planting and green infrastructure—creating a welcoming place for everyday use and community connection.
City of Belmont
The City of Belmont’s Brearley Avenue Living Stream project has transformed a fenced drainage reserve into a thriving, 0.55 ha riparian landscape. With 42,442 native plants (including 424 trees), the project cools a local heat island hotspot, filters stormwater, reconnects NatureLink habitat, and elevates community amenity. Co designed with Water Corporation, the project integrates urban greening outcomes with best practice WSUD and cultural recognition, to ensure long term operational resilience in addition to multiple community and environmental benefits.
Morris Wang exemplifies Council’s vision of “a safe, sustainable and vibrant community” through the planning, strategy, design and delivery of innovative parks and public spaces that enhance community wellbeing and urban liveability. His work demonstrates how thoughtful landscape architecture and strong community engagement create inclusive environments that encourage active recreation and social connection. Through strategic planning and thoughtful design, Morris delivers public spaces that strengthen connections to nature while creating vibrant, welcoming places for the community.
City of Canada Bay Council
Rhodes Recreation Centre (RRC) is a transformative 9,200 m² multi-level community, sport and wellbeing hub located within the Rhodes Central master-planned precinct. Delivered through a $97 million Voluntary Planning Agreement between the City of Canada Bay and Billbergia, the Centre addresses significant service gaps in one of Sydney’s fastest-growing urban communities. Rhodes Recreation Centre integrates indoor sport, fitness, early learning, allied health, community spaces and cultural activation into a single destination designed to strengthen community health, wellbeing and connection.
Industrial Automation Group
"Innovation meets experience. The Industrial Automation Group is recognised for the Public Open Space Management System, a breakthrough in local government infrastructure. By moving beyond fragmented legacy systems, they have created a single, cloud-based universal controller that brings 'Digital Twin' technology to life. Their system empowers councils to manage irrigation, floodlighting, and water distribution with unprecedented efficiency—and opens the door for integration of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors."
Wollongong City Council
The Port Kembla Community Skate Space project demonstrates the effectiveness of harnessing community power in delivering new and upgraded recreational facilities. Co‑designed with local residents and delivered with a DIY ethos, the new facility strengthens social connection and creates new active recreation opportunities that enhances liveability and fosters community pride.
Town of Victoria Park
Emerge Associates
McCallum Park Active Area - A culturally embedded, community-driven riverside recreation precinct connecting people, place and play.
Shared Vision, Shared Spaces – SANFL & the Department for Education
Innovation in Parks, Sport and Recreation
SA/NT
SANFL
Department for Education - South Australia
A collaboration between SANFL and the SA Government (Dept. for Education) is transforming school sporting infrastructure and opening shared‑use facilities that benefit both students and the wider community. By improving access to safe, modern greenspaces, we’re giving more people opportunities to be active, connected and engaged in sport for life.