Parks and Leisure Australia announces 2022 Awards of Excellence winners

Parks and Leisure Australia has presented its annual Awards of Excellence, with consultant Suzanne Suter presented with the Frank Stewart Distinguished Service Award, the body’s most prestigious award, for role as a long-standing PLA member and her significant contribution to the parks and recreation industry.

Presented at the end of PLA’s National Conference in Melbourne, 36 finalists competed in 12 award categories, with judges also awarding the Frank Stewart Award, PLA’s highest individual honour.

2022 PLA Awards of Excellence winners (including judges’ citations):

Frank Stewart Distinguished Service Award
Suzanne Suter from Suter Planners was awarded PLA's most prestigious award for her role as a national board member, for having been a significant contributor to the body’s current strategic plan and as a key person in the development of policies for PLA.

David Aldous Young Professional of the Year Award
Hayley Ashworth is an outstanding young leader who is committed to being a positive role model for other young professionals in the sector. Hayley continually displays leadership and a commitment to learning and development that underpins excellence. Her commitment to her role makes her an amazing ambassador for the industry.

Best Regional/Rural Industry Contribution Award
Redland City Council took out this award for their project The Redlands Coast Eastern Escarpment Conservation Area. The project has delivered over 20 kilometre of multi-use and shared trails, supporting visitor infrastructure and connections to neighbouring trail networks. The area now provides a unique regional all abilities destination experience with significant rural/nature-based tourism value for the Redlands Coast.

Best Use of Technology Award
The Western Australia’s Government’s and Botanic Gardens & Parks Authority secured this award for its naveze digital map that navigates visitors to the best places and experiences. 
The digital map’s benefits include increased visibility of brand, improved visitor experiences and collection of visitor CX data to inform future decisions. The map gives up to 30% increases in ROI.

Community Based Initiative of the Year Award
SA Water's Activating Reservoirs for Healthy Communities initiative has taken an exciting step forward with the opening of vast areas of land and water for recreation. For the first time, people can walk, cycle, fish and kayak in these unique places, making them available for all South Australians to 'Enjoy. Explore. Preserve.'

Community Facility of the Year
Mornington Penninsula Shire's Yawa Aquatic Centre is an exemplary facility providing safe year-round swimming and offering a mix of wet and dry activities regardless of age, gender, culture or ability. Coastal resort themed, this standout facility is inviting and welcoming and contributes significantly to improved outcomes in community health, wellbeing and social inclusion.

Major Event of the Year Award
Roma Street Parkland's event ‘The Enchanted Garden at Roma Street Parkland’ combined magical lighting, audio special effects and digital art for thousands of visitors to the Brisbane green space between 1st and 23rd December 2021. The family-friendly lighting trail combined over 8,000 metre² of custom-made lighting, audio, special effects and sculptures, delivering a world-class digital art experience in a world-class parkland.

Park of the Year Award
City of Casey won this award for the revitalisation of its Wilson Botanic Park during COVID-19. The Park placed the environment and people first, supporting the community's heightened reliance on open space, through rare species planting, bird attracting area, pop-up café, signage, amenities, paths, smart bin, park and ride, stormwater harvesting and a visionary, immersive sunken walkway into the Park’s Lilypad Lake.

Playspace Award (less than $500,000)
Nature Based Play won this award for the Cottesloe Nature Discovery Space In Perth. 
Reclaimed from invasive Victorian tea trees, this coastal site was sculpted, transformed, and revegetated with native planting. Subtle interventions using large pieces of timber and limestone have created a space that allows children to play in, and discover, the natural environment. Continued community maintenance has seen the play space flourish.

Playspace Award (more than $500,000)
Bayside City Council took out this award for The Thomas Street Playground. The Playground is an exceptional play space that is welcoming to community members of all ability. A range of accessible play elements and sculptures, a Changing Places facility, seniors exercise area and a 500 metre loop walking path ensures a wide section of the community can find challenge here.

Research Award
Federation University and Victoria University won this award for The Sport Participation Research Project developed by the Physical Activity and Sport Insights (PASI) Research group at both universities. The project is a world-leading program of research that is transforming our understanding of what drives sports participation and retention. This informs policy and strategic developments of infrastructure, programs and competitions.

Strategic and Master Planning Award
Sunshine Coast Council took out this award for The Sunshine Coast Recreation Parks Plan 2022-2031. The Plan has been developed to compliment and carry out the strategic directions expressed in Council’s Environment and Liveability Strategy. The Plan was created to ensure that community values are always reflected in their park design, management and operations.

PLA also thanked award category sponsors Belgravia Leisure, Christie, City of Melbourne, Endeavour Turf Professionals Pty Ltd (ETP Turf), Gossi Park and Street Furniture, GreenLife Group, Kompan, Otium Planning, Playground 123, Softfall Testing, Syngenta and The Glascott Group.

Images: Hayley Ashworth, recipient of the PLA's David Aldous National Young Professional of the Year Award with Suzanne Suter, recipient of the Frank Stewart National Distinguished Service Award, at the PLA's national award this week.