Our Urban Forest achievements
The Town recognises the important and valuable role that you, as members of our community, play in achieving our urban forest target. 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 achievements below, made possible in collaboration with our 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, 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.
Skinny Streets in St James a success!
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.
About the project
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.
Representatives from each team can be seen pictured below.
Gregor Wilson (Manager Infrastructure Operations), Ben Lee (Street Operations Coordinator), Paul Williams (Parks Project Officer), Andrea Siedl (Place Leader - Urban Design) and Deniqua Boston (Place Leader - Urban Forest)
How it came about
Long-time local resident, Greg Devereaux submitted a petition from the street to make improvements, the design solution was then endorsed by council.
Resident involvement
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.
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.
Share your urban forest experience by using #GreeningVicPark
We want to hear, support and celebrate all efforts in creating a healthier and stronger urban forest at the Town. Share your work, contribution, ideas, and questions by using #GreeningVicPark in your social posts.
Do you have an idea for your local street?
Submit a planting project proposal via the link below — we'd love to hear from you.
Submit a planting project proposal