The plan was awarded an Australian Landscape Architecture Award for Planning by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA).

Council representatives were presented with the award at a ceremony in Canberra recently.

City of Greater Bendigo CEO Craig Niemann said he was delighted to see the efforts of the city’s Landscape and Open Space Planning Team, who developed the master plan in-house, acknowledged on the national stage.

“Our staff spent 18 months consulting with the community and other key stakeholders to develop the plan and it’s very pleasing to see that their work continues to be recognised by experts in their field through these important industry awards,” he said.

In their feedback, AILA commended the plan’s vision.

“The depth of understanding and commitment to gardens is clearly shown in the end result: a document that will result in a lasting legacy for the community, the region and in fact, botanical gardens and arboreta nation-wide,” the citation read.

The award was the fourth taken out by the plan in the past two years.

As part of the plan, the Botanic Gardens will undergo ongoing restoration and extension work.