Parks Victoria has scooped up a slew of architectural awards, gaining national and state-wide recognition for its work.
Celebrating its success, Parks said it received nine awards in total at the 2022 AILA Victoria Landscape Architecture Awards, and the 2022 National Architecture Awards.
“Celebrating excellence in tourism, land management, and landscape and building architecture, the awards recognise Parks Victoria’s work across the State to care for Country and connect people to nature,” Parks said.
It said the Grampians Peaks Trail (Gariwerd) received two National Architecture Awards, the Victorian Architecture Medal and the Regional Prize, as well as two ALIA awards, the Award of Excellence for Tourism and the Regional Achievement Award.
“Launched in November 2021, the Grampians Peaks Trail showcases the stunning Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park through a world-class 160km long-distance hike,” the Agency said.
“Featuring 11 unique hike-in campgrounds with day hikes, multi-day trips and the full 13-day journey available, hikers can experience Gariwerd’s dramatic rocky peaks and outcrops, ravines, waterfalls, forests, and lakes.”
Parks Victoria’s Lake Tyers (Bung Yarnda) Camping and Access Strategy took out two ALIA awards, the Award of Excellence for Land Management and the Regional Achievement Award, while its Yallock-Bulluk Marine and Coastal Park Access and Infrastructure Plan took home the ALIA Award of Excellence for Landscape Planning.
The Agency said one of its two new nature-based play areas in Jells Park – the all-abilities playscape – was recognised for its focus on social inclusion with the ALIA Landscape Architecture Award for Play Spaces.
“The playscape was custom built with minimal traditional play equipment to stimulate the senses and accommodate adventurous children of all ages and abilities,” it said.
Parks said its Maits Rest self-guided circuit trail through ancient rainforest within the Great Otway National Park was also recognised with the ALIA Award for Tourism, while its Woowookarung Dementia Friendly Forest and Sensory Trail in Ballarat received that ALIA’s Award for Health and Education Landscape.
