Parks Victoria is excited to announce Werribee Park has received a Green Flag Award, an international honour recognising high quality parks and green spaces around the world.
This is the first time a Parks Victoria site has received a Green Flag Award.
The Green Flag signifies Werribee Park has met high standards of management, provides access to quality open space, and recognises the hard work of volunteers, managers, staff and local residents. Werribee Park's outstanding horticulture, heritage, events and community programs also played a part in the park's successful application.
Werribee Park is on the traditional lands of the Bunurong People and occupies 121 hectares on the banks of the Werribee River in Melbourne's western suburbs. The park is also home to the heritage-listed Werribee Park Mansion and the internationally renowned Victorian State Rose Garden.
Photo: Parks Victoria staff celebrate with the unveiling of the Green Flag Award in the Victorian State Rose Garden at Werribee Park.
Werribee Park's award-winning Working Beyond the Boundaries community engagement program, which welcomes over 200 volunteers each week to assist the park's dedicated horticultural team, was singled out for praise. Many of the volunteers come from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, with a range of different abilities and skills, but all of whom work together to tend to the gardens.
Werribee Plains Area Chief Ranger James Brincat paid tribute to the park's staff and community of volunteers who work together seamlessly to make Werribee Park the best it can be.
"Werribee Park really punches above its weight. We have a fantastic team who are dedicated to their job and often go above and beyond what's required. We're also blessed to have over 200 volunteers who come in each and every week to do everything from gardening and sewing to education and interpretation," James said.
"The teams here have created a culturally safe place for people of all backgrounds and abilities to feel welcome and enabled to contribute to Werribee Park in really meaningful ways, and I believe the Green Flag award is recognition of that."
"Werribee Park has earnt its place by creating a space where everyone gets a seat at the table."
Photo: Werribee Park volunteers and members of the Harmony Club celebrate with Parks Victoria staff and the Green Flag Award.
Parks Victoria Chief Executive Officer Matthew Jackson said the award was well-deserved and reflected well on the Parks Victoria team and community that work and play in Werribee Park.
"Parks and reserves are so important to our general health and well-being that it's a real credit to the team at Werribee Park that their work has been recognised as world class," Matthew said.
"This Green Flag Award is the culmination of the tireless efforts and countless hours our fantastic rangers and staff at Werribee Park have put in to make it the much-loved community space it is.
"Congratulations are also in order for the many community groups and individuals who have selflessly volunteered their time in the park, as it's this community engagement that really makes Werribee Park a standout," he said.
The Green Flag Award is a non-profit international accreditation programme that sets a benchmark for management of recreational public outdoor spaces. The international program is managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, with more than 2400 parks in 17 countries having been awarded the Green Flag.
