The project was the winner in the Environmental Protection category, which recognised leadership and excellence in protection and prevention of harm to the environment.
Greening the West – 1 Million Trees project was delivered
between 2015 and 2018 and is part of the broader Greening the West initiative.
This multi-agency collaboration aims to deliver positive health and social outcomes
and enhanced liveability for communities in the western suburbs of Melbourne
through a program of urban greening.
The project planted 1,072,320 trees and shrubs across 320
parks, reserves, open spaces, roadsides and private land, covering an area of
1,755 hectares. Over 4,500 volunteers and 100 private landowners participated
in 61 community events and tree planting days.
Greening the West – 1 Million Trees project partners celebrate their combined achievements
Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority’s
CEO, David Buntine, said the project is a shining example of what can be
achieved when governments and communities work collaboratively.
“We can achieve more together than we can alone … this project has made a significant and lasting difference to Melbourne’s west by creating new natural areas for people and animals, as well as strengthening the connection between local communities and the environment.”
Sustainability Victoria’s interim Chief Executive, Carl
Muller, said the awards showed how management of environmental issues was of
growing importance for all Victorians – no matter age, no matter where they live
or what they do.
“Each year, the Premier’s Sustainability Awards continue to discover Victoria’s best and most inspiring Victorian individuals, organisations and businesses who are developing and implementing new sustainable practices,” he said.
“Congratulations to all of this year’s winners. Your contributions will have positive long-term benefits for us all.”
The Greening the West – 1 Million Trees project was delivered
by LeadWest, Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority, City
West Water, Melbourne Water, Brimbank City Council, City of Melton, City of
Moonee Valley, Hobsons Bay City Council, Hume City Council, Maribyrnong City
Council, Wyndham City Council, Parks Victoria, VicRoads, Western Water, Friends
of Lower Kororoit Creek, Friends of the Maribyrnong Valley Inc. and
Conservation Volunteers Australia.
This project was supported by Lead West through funding from the Australian Government’s Green Army and National Landcare Program.
Between 2015 and 2018, Greening the West planted 1,072,320 trees and shrubs across 320 parks, reserves, open spaces, roadsides and private land, covering an area of 1,755 hectares.
This amazing achievement was due to the hard work of 16 government and community organisations, over 4,500 volunteers and over 100 private landowners, who participated in 61 community events and tree planting days.
The awards ceremony will be held on Thursday 10 October.
Greening the West – 1 Million Trees project partners included PPWCMA, LeadWest, City West Water, Melbourne Water, Moonee Valley City Council, Hobsons Bay City Council, City of Melton, Hume City Council, Wyndham City Council, City of Maribyrnong, Brimbank City Council, Friends of Lower Kororoit Creek, Friends of the Maribyrnong Valley Inc. and Conservation Volunteers Australia.
The project was supported by the National Landcare Program’s 20 Million Trees Program.
In May 2015, Greg Hunt MP planted the first tree of the Greening the West – 1 Million Trees Project along the lower Kororoit Creek in Altona.
The project’s goal was ambitious – to create sustainable, liveable, healthy communities by creating a network of greener open spaces across Melbourne’s west.
Today this ambitious project was brought to a close, but not an end, when Craig Rowley from LeadWest and Geoff Mitchelmore from Friends of Lower Kororoit Creek planted the 1 millionth tree on the same site.
The project is an outstanding example of what can be achieved when we work together and Port Phillip & Westernport CMA was proud to contribute to its success by planning over 700,000 trees in the upper Werribee and upper Maribyrnong catchments through their Greening the Maribyrnong and Grow West programs.
The project covered a vast area including the Brimbank, Melton, Moorabool, Wyndham, Hume, Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay and Moonee Valley areas and was supported by Melbourne Water, City West Water and community environmental groups.
The Greening the West – 1 Million Trees project was funded thanks to $5 million in funding through the Australian Government’s 20 Million Trees program and National Landcare Program.
First tree being planted by Greg Hunt MP in May 2015
1 millionth tree being planted in October 2018 by Craig Rowley from LeadWest and Geoff Mitchelmore from Friends of Lower Kororoit Creek.
PPWCMA and Lead West project partners celebrate the project’s successful completion.