Whittlesea City Council has taken out two major landscape architecture awards for its Quarry Hills Regional Parkland Landscape Master Plan and Norris Bank Reserve Play Space.
Council won two categories at this year's Victorian Landscape Architecture Awards - best Landscape Planning (Quarry Hills) and Play Space (Norris Bank Reserve).
Administrator Lydia Wilson applauded Council's work, which demonstrates leadership, innovation and excellent community engagement.
"It is fantastic to see Council awarded for its vision and execution of transforming open spaces for our community to enjoy in many ways, all while continuing to protect and enhance our natural environment," she said.
Award judges described the Quarry Hills Master Plan as an "ambitious document (that) sets a new benchmark for outer suburban regional parklands.
"Quarry Hills parklands is a defining landscape feature in the City of Whittlesea and is considered the 'jewel in our crown'," Ms Wilson said.
"Our award-winning Master Plan will guide future development and conservation of Quarry Hills Regional Parkland with high-quality landscape settings that will encourage people to be active, social and outdoors."
Judges praised the construction student ambassador program used during the design for Norris Bank Reserve Play Space, which opened late last year.
Major features include a 6-metre-high custom-designed play tower with slides, monkey bars, rope play, water play and a skate and scooter loop.
"The construction students who were part of the ambassador program did a wonderful job working with Council to bring the vision for this fantastic outdoor play space to life for the whole community," Ms Wilson said.
The City of Whittlesea prides itself on its open spaces, parks, conservation reserves and play spaces that are essential to sustainability and biodiversity and supports wellbeing and social inclusion.
Stage 1 of the Quarry Hills Regional Parkland plan, which includes the development of a major community park and playspace, will start in 2020-21.
