The Redbank Track project at Westmead won a Highly Commended Award in the Community Services and Facilities category at this year's Keep Australia Beautiful Awards presented on Thursday 1 September 2005.

The Award recognises the planning and development of community facilities or services that benefit the environment of an urban community.

Over the past three years inmates from the Silverwater Periodic Detention Centre have turned an overgrown creek behind Westmead Hospital into an attractive recreation area. They have planted over 10,000 seedlings from the Silverwater Periodic Detention Centre Nursery, and installed 50 bird boxes. They also built a walking track from Redbank Road to Mons Road, Westmead.

The project is the result of a unique partnership between the Silverwater Periodic Detention Centre, the Upper Parramatta River Catchment Trust, Parramatta Council and the Westmead and Children's Hospitals.

Patients and their families and staff from the Hospitals and Ronald McDonald House regularly use the area as a welcome respite from their daily routine.

Stephen Lees, the Executive Officer of the Upper Parramatta River Catchment Trust, said:

"The Award recognises the hard work by all the partners involved in the project. This type of collaboration is a key to achieving better outcomes for the community and the environment."

Pictured at the Awards ceremony are the Hon Pam Allan MP, Member for Wentworthville; Felicity Dangerfield, Community Relations Officer, UPRCT; the Hon Kerry Hickey MP, Minister for Local Government; Clr Maureen Walsh, Deputy Lord Mayor, Parramatta City Council.