Principal Partner These awards aim to foster recognition of the profession of landscape architecture, encourage excellence and provide public acknowledgement of the valuable contributions made by the profession to the improvement of our natural and built environments. The 2005 AILA Victoria Awards were announced in Melbourne on 11 November 2005. Major Sponsors  producers of               AILA Victoria Award for Excellence in Landscape Architecture AILA Victoria Award for Excellence in Design CRAIGIEBURN BYPASS - Taylor Cullity Lethlean with Tonkin Zulaikha Greer and Robert Owen This project is an exemplary demonstration of the extended professional arena of landscape architecture. No less than for its collaborative design achievements and research efforts, its successful negotiation with an extensive range of authorities and stakeholders at all levels is a great achievement. The controversial bypass had finally aligned itself between richly raw indigenous grasslands on one side and equally testing residential housing on the other. The work comprised sound walls and a pedestrian bridge, and takes both of these potentially simple elements beyond functional requirements and even the established expectations of well-funded freeway beautification. The hard landscape elements are a clear response to and comment on the existing extended landscape. The framing of critical views, the different dynamism and emergent blending of the two wall types and the sheer interrogation of technological and mechanical possibilities for a range of new materials contributes to an exciting, more than ‘by-pass’ experience. As winners of the 2003 competition for the project and the only landscape architectural led team Taylor, Cullity Lethlean, with Tonkin Zulaihka Greer + Robert Owen, have realised an unusual role for the profession and delivered a project combining almost domestically delicate detailing with engineered monumentality.                                                                 Design Awards MERIT AWARD LITTLE MALOP STREET REVITALSIATION - City of Greater Geelong: Urban Design Unit Steve Scott and his team continue to evidence a commitment to ongoing and varied development of Geelong’s core public realm, working collaboratively with different consultants for distinct sites. As a design project the vision and skill of Council’s landscape architects in collaboration with Dryden Design, Vision Design, Tim Hall & Associates and Hyder Engineering have realised a delightfully well-detailed project. There are as many risks in tinkering with the intimate urban fabric of a laneway as with whole waterfronts and the City has made confident and convincing decisions. COMMENDATION AWARDS NEWQUAY PODIUM GARDEN, DOCKLANDS - Tract Consultants Pty Ltd ... commend the designers for convincing the developers to invest in living and useable landscapes instead of simple pattern making with synthetic roofing materials.   KENSINGTON BANKS URBAN LANDSCAPE - GbLA Landscape Architects ... a thoughtful and practical piece of work. The designers understood the constraints as well as the opportunities such commissions offer and made a lasting and important contribution to the livability of this substantial community Planning Awards AILA Victoria Award for Excellence in Planning MAB CORPORATION'S UNIVERSITY HILL - HASSELL Pty Ltd with Contour Consultants and Urbanism + The Urban Design Master Plan has evolved from an extensive analysis of the significant environmental and cultural values of the site. The proposed mixed-use urban village is a place where town meets country, being flanked by a major road, a freeway, medium density development, a large university and the Plenty Gorge Parklands. The jury was impressed by the leading role taken by landscape architects in the planning and design of this substantial mixed-use development, to produce a highly responsive master plan in which the underlying qualities of the landscape were a critical determinant.                                                                 MERIT AWARD SPRINGTHORPE MASTER PLAN REVIEW - Taylor Cullity Lethlean Springthorpe is a unique parcel of land, its built form and natural setting enabled the consultant to allow the evolution of a landmark residential development. The consultant team had to craft a residential subdivision from a unique landscape theme using the existing vegetation and seamlessly introducing a raft of indigenous and introduced species. The jury was impressed with the apparent ease of blending the old with the new and the existing with the introduced in both soft and hard landscape works including water sustainable urban design, the introduction of wetlands, designing streets and open spaces whilst still respecting various heritage values of the site. The jury considered the lessons brought to the site are capable of setting a benchmark for residential subdivisions around Melbourne. COMMENDATION AWARDS LAVERTON URBAN DESIGN FRAMEWORK - Hansen Partnership Pty Ltd ... the collaborative approach between stakeholders in an intensive short four month program was able to achieve a high degree of physical change resulting in an improved social well being for the community. PENTRIDGE PIAZZA - Tract Consultants Pty Ltd ...sensitivity to the site's heritage and contemporary and bold additions are proposed by the master plan ... Pentridge Piazza should create a unique environment in Melbourne in what amounts to a modern medieval city. Environment Awards AILA Victoria Award for Excellence in Environment  AFTON STREET CONSERVATION PARK - HASSELL Pty Ltd The Afton Street Conservation Park Master Plan evolved from an ecological approach which draws on the interaction of diverse vegetation and topography. Interventions into the landscape are minimal to allow the existing conservation values to develop greater significance. The jury was impressed with the degree of consultation, analysis and ecological rigour which underpinned the project, and the sensitive approach taken to planning for the conservation and rehabilitation of the site. The Afton Street Conservation Park is well placed to complement the ‘Living Museum of the West’ and to offer a unique landscape experience for the region.                                        COMMENDATION AWARD   TENTERFIELD - Collie Pty Ltd ... the commitment to WSUD principles across the entire site, including swales within road medians and nature strips, in addition to the traditional wetland stormwater treatment techniques is impressive.   Research & Communication Awards AILA Victoria Award for Excellence in Research & Communication  PLACES FOR PEOPLE: MELBOURNE 2004 - City of Melbourne - Urban Design Branch This  study was undertaken in collaboration with Gehl Architects, Urban Quality consultants, Copenhagen, and is the second study produced in an ongoing urban design program spanning 20 years. 'Places for People: 2004' assessed the central city's urban form in detail, including public spaces and pedestrian connections, building form, street furniture, integrated urban art and other factors which contribute to a high quality urban environment and enhance public life. The jury was impressed with the city's ongoing commitment to monitor and improve the quality of it's public realm with the assistance of a rigorous research program to inform it's design processes and policies. The publication is produced in an easily accessible format, and clearly demonstrates the substantial revitalisation of the city's urban settings and public life over several decades.                                         MERIT AWARD LIVEABLE MELBOURNE- Tract Consultants Pty Ltd Following on from the popular theme of Melbourne – The World’s Most Liveable City, Adam Terrill of Tract stopped to question Where is the most liveable suburb in the world’s most liveable city? This initiated an innovative and thought provoking study by Tract in conjunction with ACIL Tasman and with the support of The Age. The study explored what constitutes liveability in Australia by utilising a range of existing data sources from which 14 indicators of liveability were devised, such as tree density, shopping, schools, crime and public transport. The jury was impressed by the original idea, the approach by Tract, to The Age, to become the client, the interest and debate generated in the qualities of place, and the fact that the study has become a useful planning tool COMMENDATION AWARD   THE MESH BOOK - LANDSCAPE/INFRASTRUCTURE - Julian Raxworthy & Jessica Blood The Mesh Book represented a significant and unique collection of landscape architectural research and debate, with a strong Victorian influence. Its publication extends the conference’s influence to a wider audience, reflected by its sales to bookshops, libraries and universities both in Australia and overseas. The jury was impressed with its diverse content, graphic layout, and investigation and celebration of the profession of landscape architecture.   President's Awards                                          PRESIDENT'S AWARD FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT SCOTCHMAN'S CREEK CORRIDOR REHABILITATION - City of Monash Urban Design & Architecture The Scotchman’s Creek Project is still a work in progress, but demonstrates solid achievement over the past ten years of planning, design and implementation The process requires the involvement of a wide range of disciplines working cooperatively; it requires vision, leadership and commitment from State and Local Government, making the best use of scarce resources over long project implementation periods. PRESIDENT'S AWARD FOR PLAYGROUND DESIGN AURORA SCHOOL PLAYGROUND - Mary Jeavons Landscape Architects Everything we saw in this “special” playground would be enjoyed greatly by “ordinary” kids. Therefore his project is certainly a desirable model for design of play/learning environments for mainstream schools and parks. Play areas like those at Aurora School provide essential opportunities for learning. All elements were specifically designed to meet observed needs and opportunities of this special deaf/blind young user group. Peter Todd Prize The Peter Todd Prize is presented by Flemings Nurseries for exemplarily use of plant material within the landscape. LANCASTER GATE - Collie Pty Ltd This project has set a new benchmark in terms of protecting landscape and environmental values inherent in remnant indigenous treescapes and ecosystems.The process adopted to preserve existing trees in the landscape and protect them during construction phases should be adopted as a standardpractice for developments in the future. Apart from the remnant tree protection, the project recovered andrelocated a threatened species population of matted flax lily, this after extensive research and consultation. The project was alsoattentive to the protection of ecological corridors and protecting the integrity of local plant provenances. Overall, it is rare to see such leading edge andinnovative approaches to the integrity of the environment and landscapes in development projects. Graduate Landscape Architect Award                                         NATASHA MORGAN   Natasha Morgan graduated in October 2004 and has spent her first year in the office of Taylor Cullity Leathlean.  In a short professional career, Natasha has seized the opportunity to have her design ideas heard and incorporated into projects, culminating in a built outcome – her LED light solution for a section of the Craigieburn Bypass. Other projects which Natasha was involved in include the Canberra Arboretum competition, Cranbourne Gardens and the Darlington campus, Sydney University. Well done Natasha and best wishes for a great career! AILA Victoria Landscape Architecture Student Award                                        ZAKI SALLEH   Zaki’s project was a bold investigation into ‘stitching up’ the disjointed urban fabric in Frankston. The existing railway station was the chosen site for a 3 tiered urban intervention with associated student housing, the objective being to integrate form, space and social facilities, connecting both the formal and informal texture of the city. The jury was impressed with Zaki’s visual articulation and exploration of urban landscape / infrastructure issues.