By Tate Papworth
An initiative to green the west is bearing fruit.
Greening the West, a project designed to deliver positive health and social outcomes for Melbourne’s west through urban greening initiatives, has taken out the President’s Award at the 2018 Planning Institute Awards.
The award is given out for planning excellence for the initiative which best demonstrates leading practice, leadership and achievement in planning.
Planning Institute of Australia president Laura Murray said Greening the West ticked all the boxes.
“Melbourne’s western suburbs are some of the fastest growing in Australia,” she said. “There is a continued need and social responsibility as planners to ensure the suburbs we create are healthy, sustainable and liveable and leave a positive legacy for generations to come.
“Greening the West is an exemplary initiative which shows just what can be achieved when a range of disciplines and sectors work together to achieve joint goals and outcomes for the greater good.”
City West Water is a major partner of the initiative. The authority’s managing director David Ryan said there’s been double cause for celebration recently.
“Just a couple of weeks ago we celebrated the planting of the one millionth tree at Altona in Melbourne’s west [as part of Greening the West],” Mr Ryan said.
