{"id":121960,"date":"2026-05-01T18:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/ballarat\/?p=121960"},"modified":"2026-05-01T17:54:34","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T07:54:34","slug":"microforest-draft-concept-plan-launched","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/ballarat\/news\/microforest-draft-concept-plan-launched\/","title":{"rendered":"Microforest draft concept plan launched"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s official. The Black Hill Microforest is happening.<\/p>\n

The multi-year project, which will transform a vacant Peel Street North block into a green-tinged wonderland, was launched at the Black Hill Primary School today.<\/p>\n

And according to its lead proponent, the young students could not be more enthusiastic about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cMichael (Fortescue) who is the environmental coordinator, a teacher, has said he hasn\u2019t seen them so excited about any other project; they\u2019re very excited about it,\u201d Clissold Street resident Stuart Porteous said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd they\u2019ve gone home and told their parents about it \u2013 and dragged their parents to the site over the weekends.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
Stuart Porteous says the Black Hill Primary School students are very excited about the microforest. Photo: Darren McLean.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

The children will be heavily involved in the planting of trees for the microforest, with at least 500 to be planted in each of the three years of its development starting this year.<\/p>\n

They have already been involved as the plan has developed, with many visiting the block for site tours and 10 \u2018environmental monitors\u2019 contributing to planning and ideas.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re also going to be integrating the learning across their curriculum,\u201d Porteous said.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s launch took place at a general assembly and involved explanations of how the project has progressed and the next steps.<\/p>\n

What happens now is a week-long display of the draft, with residents and others able to contribute feedback and more ideas.<\/p>\n

The draft will be on display at the school from 3pm to 4pm each weekday and also tomorrow (Saturday) from 9am to noon.<\/p>\n

A final master plan is expected to be released in June.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"
Project committee members (from left) Neil Leckie, Kaye Leckie, Colleen Filippa, Stuart Porteous and Jacki Metcalf after the concept plan was unveiled. Photo: Darren McLean.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

A microforest is a small, dense, biodiverse woodland planted in urban areas using a method developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki in the 1970s.<\/p>\n

Microforests feature native species planted closely together to rapidly grow into self-sustaining ecosystems that combat climate change, create wildlife habitats, cool their host areas and enhance mental wellbeing.<\/p>\n

Porteous, a retired landscape architect, took the idea from his Canberra-based son Mitch, who is heavily involved with the Microforest Collective, which champions similar greening projects.<\/p>\n

He founded the original working group with Ballarat-based Fifteen Trees founder Colleen Filippa and Neil and Kaye Leckie, whose property adjoins the block.<\/p>\n

When it is finished, the microforest will also feature an amphitheatre and a stage, a market space and an open link to Napier Street.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Stuart Porteous and school principal Donna Bishop in the dedicated microforest room at the school. Photo: Darren McLean.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

The block measures about 1.6ha and separates the post office and residential development.<\/p>\n

It was a builders\u2019 tip in the 1950s \u2013 which is why it remains undeveloped \u2013 and is known as the Peel Street Water Reserve, under management of the City of Ballarat.<\/p>\n

There will be working bees on the site as the project progresses, along with a possible fundraising drive to help meet costs of materials \u2013 particularly soil.<\/p>\n

The city, the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and Central Highlands Water have all been consulted in the planning work and all are supporting the project.<\/p>\n

The best place to learn more is the project\u2019s Facebook page, which is simply called BLACK HILL MICROFOREST.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s official. The Black Hill Microforest is happening. The multi-year project, which will transform a vacant Peel Street North block into a green-tinged wonderland, was launched at the Black Hill Primary School today. And according to its lead proponent, the young students could not be more enthusiastic about it. \u201cMichael (Fortescue) who is the environmental […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":225,"featured_media":121966,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-121960","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMicroforest draft concept plan launched - Ballarat Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover the Black Hill Microforest draft plan in Ballarat. 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