Project highlights
Explore some of the Town’s standout urban forest projects, developed and delivered in partnership with the community to enhance our natural environment and green spaces.
Merton Street Green Basin
Delivered in 2022
An old sump is now a vibrant micro-park, thanks to a collaboration between residents and Town staff. Featuring native shrubs, trees, and a striking mural by local artist Brenton See, the project began with a resident’s proposal through the Urban Forest Project Portal—highlighting our community’s passion for greener spaces.
Features of the Micro Park:
- Artwork mural by Perth Artist - Brenton See. Brenton's art highlights the ecologically important local flora and fauna that are found at our Jirdarup Bushland:
- White-cheeked Honeyeater,
- Anigozanthos manglesii (Mangles Kangaroo Paw), and
- Jacksonia sternbergiana Huegel (Stinkwood)
- Native shrubs and tree stock, including:
- Melaleuca preissiana (Stout Paperback)
- Eucalyptus torquata (Coral Gum)
- Banksia attenuata (Candlestick Banksia)
- Banksia menziesii (Firewood Banksia)
Progress photos:
Final photos:
Bone-Upton Skinny Street transformation
Delivered 2022-2024
At the intersection of Bone and Upton Street in St James, the Town’s first Skinny Streets project transformed an oversized road area into a lush public open space. Initiated by a resident seeking to calm traffic on his street, the project successfully delivered both a safer street, and a vibrant new green space for the community.
The Town’s Skinny Streets sub-program involves narrowing and traffic calming measures to encourage lower vehicle speeds. By reducing their hostility, we hope to create safe streets for our residents to encourage more walking and cycling, fostering a healthier and cohesive community.
Now complete, the Bone Street and Upton Street intersection in St James was one of the Town’s first Skinny Streets projects.
This collaborative Town project was initiated by our Integrated Transport Program team alongside Engineering and Depot Operations – the Town's public places program was also involved, running design consultation with the community. Our Urban Forest team was also engaged to plant up the site to increase vegetation, canopy cover and create a local public open space.
Project history
Long-time local resident, Greg Devereaux submitted a petition from the street to make improvements, the design solution was then endorsed by council.
Greg Devereaux played a critical role in fostering the support from residents for the project. This was demonstrated by the number of locals that turned up to the Town's community planting event.
Read more about Greg's story
After one or two near misses, pulling out of his driveway, resident of 17 years, Greg Devereaux, started hatching a plan.
“The idea emerged after a change in my health, where I could not turn my neck to see vehicles approaching from the left. I realised that huge triangle of bitumen was an invitation for hoons to speed around the bend and up the hill. An accident waiting to happen.”
“It could be better designed with the street residents in mind it, so it was just a jump to the left to come up with the corner at 90* (degrees) for better slower traffic, better vision and landscape the large area of land to make a better street scape.”
“The absolute best part of the redesign is the two areas that have been planted to local native plants. Some of these are rare but native to the area. Many of them are low growing ground covers then with bigger trees included to highlight the upper canopy and provide shade. The area then features paths, timber and stone features to be climbed over by our kids.”
The process hasn’t all been smooth sailing, with plenty of challenges along the way. “Once I had the support of all the Councillors the Council staff tried to bury the project by recommending it be shelved to 3-4 years away. Fortunately, the Councillors voted to have it actioned in the upcoming works program. However, then the file appears to have been put to the bottom of the pile. It was only 12 months later when I asked where was the project and why wasn’t it in that years works program that it surfaced again. Even after that, I had to provide copies of the approvals and budget as the records seem to have disappeared.”
Greg’s fantastic work championing this project, has ultimately been implemented through the Town’s Skinny Streets program, focused on narrowing streets and traffic calming measures to encourage lower vehicle speeds. The project has totally transformed the corner of Bone Street and Upton Street, from a big triangle of bitumen to a beautifully designed, fully planted, public open space.
“There is no other street in St James that has such a natural and attractive entrance statement. The street narrowing and the planted entry forms a statement for the occupants to be proud of.”
“I sold my house before the project was completed which saddens me. One of the owners asked me why I was leaving before the work was finished. My answer was ‘because my work here is done’.”
Key dates
- October 2021 | Resident request
The project was requested on behalf of local residents, with a petition signed to show their support in the creation of a more liveable street.
- November 2021 | Council endorsement
Council endorsed the project.
- June 2023 | Community consultation
The Town’s Urban Forest and Public Places Program teams consulted the community to discuss the planned approach for the site.
- July 2024 | Community Planting Day
The final piece of the project was completed when the community showed their support by participating in the Town’s planting day event.
Site context (2021):
Progress photos:
Final photos:
Kent Street Ecological Corridor
Delivered annually from 2021
Since 2021, the Town has been building an ecological corridor along Kent Street to link the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River) and Djarlgarra Beelier (Canning River).
Our annual community planting days invite residents to expand this vital green corridor, fostering community spirit and teaching future generations the value of urban greening.
Site context:
2022 Planting:
2023 Planting:
2024 Planting
Awards and achievements
The Town recognises the important and valuable role our community plays in achieving our urban forest targets. Together we have and will celebrate many more achievements to make our Town a healthier, more sustainable and a happier place to live.
Check out urban forest awards and achievements below, made possible by the amazing contributions of the Vic Park community.
Environmental Stewardship Award for Excellence
On 8 June 2023, our Urban Forest Program was recognised with the inaugural Environmental Stewardship Award for Excellence at the Parks and Leisure Australia WA (PLA) 2023 Regional Awards. The award celebrates and acknowledges our work with our community to protect the local environment, improve climate resilience, ensure sustainability, and care for our land and global biodiversity.
Titled "Community Collaboration to a Greener Town," our award submission focused on the engagement and collaboration with our community to lead year on year greening and planting activities within the Town.
AILA - Australian Institute of Landscape Architects
On 31 May 2024, the Town's Urban Forest Program won the AILA WA Landscape Architecture Award in Small Projects for our Micro Parks (Green Basins).
The Landscape Architecture Award recognised the Town's excellence in turning long undervalued and under-utilised sumps into spaces that can provide long-term community and ecological benefits.
On 24 June 2022, our Urban Forest Program was announced as the category winner for the AILA WA 2022 Awards. Our first of its kind program, delivered in collaboration with our residents and community members, took out TWO prestigious awards:
- Award of Excellence winner in the Infrastructure Category - This is the first and highest award in each category, given to the work judged to be the most significant for the advancement of landscape architecture.
- WA Medal - This is the highest level of awards for landscape architects' profession for our State.
On 14 October 2022, our Urban Forest Program also received an Award of Excellence - winning the Community Contribution category against other entries from around Australia at the AILA National Awards 2022!
World Green City Awards 2022 commendation
On 14 October 2022, our Urban Forest Program competed against Paris and Bogota for the World Green City Award in the category of Biodiversity. Our program received a Highly Commended Award, with the top award going to Bogota's greening program.
Our entry was titled 'Act Local, Contribute Global to World Biodiversity Conservation' and explored how our Urban Forest Program is collecting 40 endemic species from Jirdarup Bushland to propagate them into plant stocks for our annual planting. This is in effort to ensure these endemic species do not go extinct and encourages the spread of these precious species beyond the bushland!
Tree Cities of the World status
In 2021, the Town received WA's first ever Tree Cities of the World status. The recognition, awarded by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the Arbor Day Foundation, highlights the Town's commitment to ensuring that our urban forests and trees are properly maintained, sustainably managed and duly celebrated.
In 2022, 2023 and 2024, the Town's Tree Cities of the World Status was renewed in recognition of our continued efforts in protecting and increasing our tree canopy cover.
Feature on Gardening Australia
In 2020, Gardening Australia's Josh Byrne explored how an Urban Forest Strategy developed by community volunteers successfully brought nature into the Town of Vic Park! Watch the feature here.
Submit your greening ideas
Do you have an idea for an urban greening project? Submit a planting project proposal via the link below and your idea could be brought to life.
Submit a planting project proposal