Grant awarded to assess Tarralla Creek naturalisation project

Wendy Walls and Farshad Bahrami from the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, have been awarded the 2025 Landscape Performance Case Studies Program (LPCS) grant by the Landscape Foundation of Australia.

This program fosters collaboration between academic researchers and design practitioners to evaluate and document the environmental, social, and economic benefits of high-performing landscape projects across Australia.

Ms Walls and Mr Bahrami will partner with multidisciplinary design firm GHD to assess the Tarralla Creek naturalisation project in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. This initiative transformed a previously piped and channelised stormwater system into a sustainable, meandering watercourse featuring cascades, pools, and wetlands. The project has significantly enhanced local biodiversity, reinstated environmental value, and reconnected the community with their natural surroundings.

Ms Walls and Mr Bahrami's selection for this program underscores their commitment to advancing sustainable landscape practices through rigorous research and collaboration. Their work will provide valuable insights into the tangible benefits of ecological restoration projects like Tarralla Creek, informing future designs and policies aimed at enhancing urban ecosystems and community well-being.

The LPCS Program aims to bridge the gap between academic research and design practice in Australia. By contributing to the evidence base for sustainable landscape planning, design, and management, the program supports the creation of resilient and vibrant urban environments.

Image credit:  David Hannah