Awarded Excellence in Land Management

Balance Enviro is proud to work with great clients who understand and cherish the challenges and rewards of excellent Land Management.

We focus on the sustainable use, development, and conservation of land resources to meet current needs while preserving the land for future generations. This includes practices such as soil conservation, vegetation control, water management, and planning for land use to balance environmental, economic, and community priorities. Effective land management helps prevent degradation, supports biodiversity, and ensures land remains productive and safe.

One of the key challenges in this project were the steep embankment. Smart erosion control through Geocell helped to achieve the intended outcomes.  A more information about this technique can be found here, and the case study is here.

Our clients just received two AILA 2025 awards for the Stonehill Gully and Escarpment Regeneration project, including the Award of Excellence for Land Management and the Landscape Architecture Award for Infrastructure.  AILA awards here.

The Brief

The Stonehill gully and escarpment sit on a challenging site with steep slopes, erosion risks, and nutrient-deficient soils, including a significant infestation of noxious weeds. Our brief was to manage stormwater runoff, protect against erosion while preserving remnant indigenous vegetation and establish new planting. A tailored approach for different zones included selecting appropriate plant species and erosion control methods. The project focused on long-term sustainability, with years of pre-planting weed and pest management. Collaboration with various stakeholders led to a self-regenerating landscape, now thriving with indigenous species, no need for irrigation, and successfully reducing sediment runoff into the Werribee River.

Partners on this project

• Thomson Hay Landscape Architects
• Resolution Property Group (Development Manager)
• Axiom Consulting Engineers (Civil Design)
• Douglas Partners (Geotech)
• Ecology and Heritage Partners (Natural and Cultural Heritage Assessment)
• Ballarat Wild Plants (Nursery)

Here the jury’s comments:

Land Management

Delivered with skill over ten years, a degraded landscape has been transformed into a biodiverse ecosystem. The project uses a diversity of local Indigenous species, holding and cladding the land, and reducing sediment falling into the Werribee River. Stonehill Gully demonstrates the value of an unwavering process. Funding was used strategically over the ten hectares and the designers successfully collaborated with the client, Council, Melbourne Water, consultants and contractor.

The result shows that the country can be revived with will, skill and ongoing commitment. Care is forever. The jury commends the thinking applied and the remarkable detail and knowledge of the design team. Stonehill Gully will be a best-practice reference for design standards, method and knowledge.

Infrastructure

The previously degraded and neglected landscape of Stonehill Gully has been transformed into a rich, bio-diverse ecosystem. The project involved repairing a denuded escarpment and regenerating it with local Indigenous species. The approach establishes a standard of design, method and knowledge for others to follow. It demonstrates the inherent potential and possibility of left-over landscapes. Delivered with patience, over time, this project showcases a determined and considered process. The result illustrates the revival of the landscape through will, skill and ongoing commitment.

Contact us today to learn more about our Land Management approach and the Geocell installation.