Melbourne regional trails strategy wins 2020 AUDA award

An interconnected trail network across seven Melbourne local government areas has been recognised with an Australian Urban Design Award (AUDA).

The Eastern
Regional Trails Strategy was developed by Fitzgerald Frisby Landscape
Architecture and the cities of Boroondara, Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash,
Whitehorse, and Yarra Ranges.

Judges said
the strategy addressed significant impediments to achieving high quality and
connected active transport routes in large cities: multiple responsibilities,
lack of coordination and varying standards.

“The
strategy involved extensive engagement with a wide range of stakeholders and
authorities, research, and detailed site analysis that has demonstrated a
commitment to excellence in process,” judges said.

“The
outcome is a realistic and practical framework that will enable fundamental
changes to active transport movement … [and] an outstanding example to other
regions and cities of how we might achieve major urban design improvements to
access and movement, recreation and community health.

Another
Melbourne project, Transforming Southbank Boulevard, jointly won the Leadership,
Advocacy and Research – Local and Neighbourhood Scale category with the ANU
Acton Campus Master Plan and Design Guide (ACT).

The Transforming Southbank Boulevard project, developed by the Melbourne City Council and City Design Studio, turned a wide multi-laned road in the CBD into a two-lane street flanked by a linear park and a tree-lined walkway and cycle path.

Judges said it “is not only an improvement to city liveability and street space but also a reminder to keep pushing for change and thinking differently about the uses of our land”.

Click here for more details on the winning AUDA projects.