VIC/TAS Awards Submissions

Wright Paterson is a consummate industry professional, whose commitment, passion, diligence and partnership approach has shaped Casey Fields, one of Melbourne’s most prominent sports and recreation precincts, and the only one of its kind at local government level. His leadership and contribution is a shining example of the industry’s capabilities.

Cardinia Shire Council

insideEDGE Sport and Leisure Planning

Mosaic Insights

The concurrent development of Cardinia Shire Council’s Open Space Strategy and Active Cardinia Strategy exemplifies Council’s commitment to ensuring our open spaces and recreation facilities are welcoming and encourage our community to be physically active, supporting their long-term health and wellbeing. Through the implementation of these key strategies, Council will plan, deliver, and maintain enticing and inclusive open spaces and recreation facilities that meet the current and future needs of our community.

Chahana is a PhD student at Deakin University, and a Recreation and Open Space Project Manager at Whitehorse City Council. With both research and practice experience, Chahana consistently demonstrates a commitment to bridging the gap between academia and practice. Her proactive approach in translating research findings into practical solutions showcases her dedication to advancing the parks and leisure sector. She excels at fostering a team-based environment, navigating diverse stakeholder interests, and prioritising inclusive community engagement to ensure projects align with community needs.

Yarra Ranges Shire Council

Wesburn Pump Track provides a venue for a wide range of wheel-based activities, including biking, scootering, and skateboarding. Features a 440m sealed competition-grade pump track, with two separate areas. the Wesburn Pump Track project has made a significant contribution to the community by encouraging increased participation in recreational activities, stimulating economic activity, and promoting the region as a destination for outdoor recreation.

Chloe Dupont, an emerging leader dedicated to professional growth, brings her expertise from Port Philip Council to Maribyrnong City Council. Her recent strategic review identified opportunities within existing constraints, promoting excellence and accessibility. Chloe prioritises team engagement and fosters a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation. She champions these values across all team interactions and initiatives.

City of Kingston - Waves Leisure Centre

Kingston is a resilient, inclusive, diverse, and sustainable community. We promote water safety by empowering our First Nation community, strengthening their voices, and learning from their culture. Culturally appropriate programs closed health gaps and increased swimming skills, knowledge, and confidence. The program provided a sense of belonging and connectedness, especially for CALD students, fostering inclusion within our community. Access to information, places, and spaces ensured self-determination and equitable community participation in a safe environment.

Kingston City Council

Leaf Design Studios

The Peter Scullin Reserve Playspace Renewal project demonstrates a comprehensive approach to community engagement, inclusivity, and planning, aiming to create a significant and enduring recreational asset for the City of Kingston and the South East Region.

Frankston City Council

The Healthy Futures Hub emerges as a transformative space, strategically uniting community collaborators with a shared dedication to fostering social, economic, and accessibility advancements in local communities. With a focus spanning disability, health, aged care, community sport, and education, this visionary initiative has undergone a significant $5.6M refurbishment led by Frankston City Council, the asset owner. In collaboration with the long-term lease holder, St Kilda Football Club, the former elite training facility has been reborn, poised to become a multipurpose facility with a commi

City of Casey

Nestled in Banjo Paterson Reserve, this playground showcases innovative design and resilient execution. Despite challenges like drainage complexities and pandemic-related cost escalations, it stands as a testament to effective project management. Its seamless integration with nature includes a central boardwalk offering stunning lake views and accessible pathways. Sensory play elements promote inclusivity, fostering community connections and cherished memories. The playground embodies the transformative power of well-designed public spaces, enhancing community well-being and belonging.

Colac Otway Shire Council

The Colac Otway Shire City Reserves Master Planning Project has established master plans for four of Council’s City Recreation Reserves and established a Principles-Based Planning Framework which has determined and prioritised realistic future upgrades and developments for five of Council’s City Reserves.

Kingston City Council

Elder Street South Reserve forms a section in the long-planned joint State Government/Council project to turn historic landfill areas into a series of linked parks known as the ‘Chain of Parks’. It is a 4-hectare former landfill site in Clarinda, which has been rehabilitated and developed into a park showcasing high quality community facilities and environmental management.

Katie McDonald - Victoria University

A critical analysis of aquatic and recreation centre planning and decision-making: A tale of two Cases in metropolitan Melbourne, is derived from a PhD research project completed by Dr. Katie McDonald at Victoria University. This research provides a comprehensive analysis, examining the multifaceted interactions between public sector management theories and local contextual factors. By uniquely applying local government theories the study uncovers insights into the influences shaping ARC planning and decision-making by providing actionable recommendations for optimising ARC planni

City of Whittlesa

The Redleap Reserve Playspace provides a community-centric approach to planning and design amidst the significant River Red Gums found throughout the City of Whittlesea. The playspace blends seamlessly with the natural environment, offering diverse experiences for toddlers, children, and teens. The playspace's design, with earthly tones and organic materials, harmonises with the natural setting, fostering community pride, engagement, and well-being ensuring it serves as a welcoming and inclusive space for all for many years to come.

Abby leads communications for her team, managing information flow to golf clubs nationwide. She drives a successful intern program, expanding opportunities in Australian golf, leads a Social Media pilot, leveraging data for impact. She manages the "Shifting Courses" video series that highlights community benefits and diverse participation in golf venues and in a local government role, she supports Golf Australia's collaboration with PLA and Local Government. Abby displays versatility, dedication and a drive to continuously improve herself and her team every day.

Aligned Leisure

Taking a bold approach to accessibility and inclusion, the Free Youth Pool Entry Pilot breaks new ground within the industry through the removal of all youth entry fees – prioritising community benefit over financial gains and demonstrating a unique approach to reducing barriers for participation, promoting positive youth behaviour and improving community safety, whilst simultaneously creating opportunities for young people to be empowered in the co-design of a community project to create a safe, welcoming and affordable community space for all residents.

Colac Otway Shire Council

From paddock to park, the Cororooke playspace embraces inclusive and locally sourced nature-based play opportunities for all children and families. The playspace includes a range of play equipment of different types and sizes to enable children of all abilities and ages to participate and experience.

Colac Otway Shire Council

In 2013, after a century of operation, dairy company Fonterra closed and donated part of its factory site for the creation of open space as a parting legacy to the Cororooke community. The Cororooke Open Space incorporating tennis courts, public toilets, a playspace, path networks and history trail, provides a place for locals and visitors to gather, exercise and discover local history in a safe and welcoming space, and has created an intense connection with Council and the community to ensure that the Cororooke and surrounding communities have a sense of ownership of this fantastic space.

Rural City of Wangaratta

To continue to support the King Valley’s visitor economy and define the area as a premium destination, a range of enhancements and enabling infrastructure investments were required. This includes much needed improvements to public amenity, infrastructure, trail connectivity.

East Gippsland Shire Council

The East Gippsland Gymnastics Club had outgrown its home of seventeen years. This project evolved from an evidence based strategic planning project undertaken by Council into a co-designed and co-delivered project between the club and Council.

Golf Australia

PGA of Australia

SGS Economics and Planning

The Australian Golf industry commissioned the Community Benefits of Golf in Australia report to understand the substantial economic, social and environmental benefits that golf contributes to everyday Australia. SGS Economics & Planning implemented a robust methodology that is game changing for the industry. This report quantifies and clarifies a depth of data on how Australians engage with golf and the benefits that flow beyond the spend on an activity (typically the basis of most community impact studies).

City of Whittlesea

Mitchell Shire Council

Hume City Council

The Cloverton Regional Community and Recreation Needs Assessment outlines the infrastructure required to service a new community the size of Canberra in Melbourne’s north. It will result in over $300M of economic benefit and the construction of 12 vertical indoor courts, an aquatics centre, four sports fields, six outdoor courts and broader recreation facilities such as playspaces and a performing arts centre. This project resulted in the first ever joint Council meeting and will ensure that Whittlesea, Mitchell and Hume residents have access to quality regional infrastructure in the future.