The City of Casey has been recognised at the 2025 National Growth Areas Alliance (NGAA) Strategic Foresight & Innovation Award, announced at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday 26 November.
Casey was a joint winner with the City of Armadale in WA, with Casey's win recognising the groundbreaking Green Streets in Orana project.
Delivered in partnership with developer Balcon, Green Streets in Orana is designed to achieve more than 30% canopy cover by planting 2 to 2.5 trees per lot, more than double the industry standard. To date, over 2,700 trees have been planted at Orana Estate, creating habitat corridors and enhancing community safety and amenity.
City of Casey Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen said the award reflects Casey's leadership in building liveable, resilient communities.
"We are proud to be recognised nationally for our Green Streets project. This goes beyond standard planning and design to deliver streets that are cooler, safer and more inviting for our residents," Cr Koomen said.
"By working closely with our partners and the community, we've created a model that not only enhances liveability today, but sets us up for more sustainable development into the future."
Some of the key features of the Green Streets in Orana project include:
Innovative design principles
Introduced Urban Forest Design Principles and a dedicated Tree Growth Zone-a first-of-its-kind approach providing developers with clear, actionable guidance to meet canopy targets in new communities.
Reduced environmental impact
Avoided 1,000 metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions by eliminating concrete footpaths, and 5,000 metric tonnes through the use of recycled asphalt and crushed concrete in road construction.
Health and wellbeing benefits
Safer, cooler, walkable streets will strengthen community connection, reduce heat-related illnesses, and lower chronic disease risks as the canopy matures.
Cr Koomen added "Green Streets is about creating places where people want to live, connect and thrive. It's a fantastic example of how innovation can deliver real environmental and social benefits for our growing community."
Caption for photo: City of Armadale Mayor Ruth Butterfield and City of Casey Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen accepting the Strategic Foresight & Innovation Award.
