Whitehorse News - July 2021

If you enjoy the greenery and open spaces of Whitehorse, there’s a good chance that you’ve seen the handiwork of Kevin Smith.

The landscape specialist has spent 30 years with Whitehorse Council, after quickly realising three months into a job that office life was not for him. “The rest is history,” he said. “There is never a day I wake up and hate coming in to work”.

The bulk of Kevin’s job involves planting and landscaping, including installing park seats, picnic tables, drainage work and path upgrades – all things that the community uses. During the past 15 years, it is estimated that Kevin has planted about 500,000 plants and 12,000 trees with most of those indigenous to Whitehorse.

Part of a crew of three that is based out of the nursery, the 51-year-old thrives being part of a team. “It’s like a family because we’ve been here for so long. We all help each other out. That’s what makes it – we just work well together.”

Some of the big projects he has worked on include Aqualink Box Hill (three times), Surrey Dive and landscape development of SportLink. The 2009 job was a 10-week program completed in four weeks while combatting extreme heat for the centre’s opening on 7 February, 2009 – Black Saturday. Landscaping projects at new sporting pavilions, upgraded playspaces, streetscape upgrades and construction for new parks also feature heavily.

One recent rewarding project is Wattle Valley Road Reserve in Mitcham, a former house block which was transformed into a park linking two bushland areas and create an uninterrupted corridor for wildlife and people to use. More than 80 trees and 2000 plants indigenous to the area were planted.

Kevin has loved his time with Whitehorse. “All through the years people have supported me and given me opportunities. I’ve been lucky enough to take them and end up where I am,” he said.