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MLSA AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

ENTRIES FOR THE
2025 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE ARE OPEN!

The MLSA Awards of Excellence celebrate the pinnacle of landscaping achievement in South Australia.  From apprentices to trade contractors, and small businesses to the biggest names in the landscaping industry, there's an award to suit everyone.

These prestigious annual awards recognise and honour the outstanding work of landscaping professionals who have demonstrated excellence, innovation, and a commitment to quality in their projects. The Awards of Excellence aim to inspire and elevate industry standards, showcasing the best in Landscape Design, Construction, and Maintenance.

The MLSA Awards of Excellence have grown to become a highlight of the landscaping calendar. Over the years, the awards have evolved, adding new categories to reflect emerging trends and innovations in the industry. From modest beginnings, the awards now attract entries from the most talented and dedicated professionals in South Australia, making it a true celebration of landscaping excellence.


 ENTER YOUR AWARD HERE

2025 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE CATEGORIES

DESIGN

Residential

  • Allotments 1000sqm & Under
  • Allotments Exceeding 1000sqm
Commercial 
  • Business & Education Environments 
  • Parklands & Open Public spaces
Documentation 
  • Excellence in Design Specifications

construction

Residential
  • $200k & Under
  • $200 - $500K
  • Exceeding $500k
Commercial
  • $800k & Under
  • Exceeding $800k
Regional SA
  • Regional SA Construction of the Year

Projects within 50km radius of Adelaide CBD may be judged on site. Refer map for regional areas.

MAINTENANCE

Residential 

  • Allotments Exceeding 1000sqm
  • Allotments 1000sqm & Under

Commercial

  • Business and Education Environments
  • Parklands & Open Public Spaces

PROJECT SPECIFIC

  • Individual Landscape Feature
  • Best-Use of Green-Life
  • Judges Choice Award

RECOGNISE A PERSON OR BUSINESS

  • Trainee or Apprentice of the Year
  • Frank Ugody Award
  • Craig Norman Award - Industry Supplier of the Year
  • Rising Star

NOMINATE HERE

Looking for Some Tips and Advice on Entering? CLICK HERE

Reference map for regional areas.
CLICK HERE

Not a Member?
Join Today to Enter

Winning an Award of Excellence will:

  • Gain you industry and public recognition for your high quality workmanship and projects
  • Get you a winner's trophy and logo to promote the win to clients and differentiate you from your competitors
  • Drive business sales and catch the attention of potential clients
  • Access unrivalled media coverage and promotion across a range of Master Landscapers of SA opportunities; and
  • Boost staff morale.

entry information

Entry fee

Entry Fee
$110 per entry.

Plus, enter the same project in additional categories for ONLY $75 per additional entry.

IMPORTANT DATES

ENTRIES CLOSE

Special Awards categories

15 August 2025

Design & Construction Categories

12 September 2025

JUDGING COMMENCES

Special Awards categories

tbc

Residential & Commercial categories

tbc

2025 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
GALA DINNER

EVENT DETAILS

Join us for the grand Awards of Excellence Gala Dinner, Saturday, 15 November at Ian McLachlan Room, Adelaide Oval. The evening will feature delicious food & drink, lots of fun, and of course, the announcement of the award winners. It is a night to celebrate the best in the landscaping industry, network with peers, and enjoy an evening of recognition and celebration.

HOW TO ATTEND

Tickets for the ceremony will be open for purchase soon.  For more details, visit our the event page HERE.


THINKING ABOUT STAYING AT THE OVAL HOTEL

Oval Hotel are pleased to extend an exclusive 20% discount to event attendees to experience Australia’s first stadium hotel, wrapping gently around the eastern facade of Adelaide Oval.

Book through this link to receive the discount.



SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

We offer a range of sponsorship packages designed to provide maximum visibility and engagement with our audience. Event Packages include; Screen and Light Show, All Night Screen Show and Individual packages include; Branded Entrance and Drinks Station, Photo Booth and Entry Form Sponsorship each with unique benefits such as branding opportunities, speaking slots, and VIP seating at the ceremony.

HOW TO BECOME A SPONSOR

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities and to tailor a package that meets your business needs, email Chris Wiltshire


Join us in celebrating excellence in landscaping and gain unparalleled exposure to industry leaders.


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JUDGING PROCESS

Each entry is assessed against the judging criteria by a panel of independent judges during an on-site inspection. 
Here's a brief overview of the judging process:

ENTRY SUBMITTED
Entry submitted through the online awards entry system.


ENTRY CLOSED
After entries are closed an on-site inspection is scheduled - MLSA will contact you to advise your allocated inspection day.

Please note: Due to the high volume of entries, flexibility around judge’s inspection times is limited. However, MLSA will endeavour to give you as much notice as possible to allow for arrangements with building/home owners.

On-site judging excludes entrants in the following categories, that will be judged solely on the submission provided:

  • Rising Star [Interview also required]
  • Trainee or Apprentice of the Year [Interview also required]
  • Frank Ugody Memorial Award
  • Documentation - Excellence in Design Specifications
  • Regional SA - Construction of the Year
On-site judging excludes entrants in the following categories, which will be judged solely on MLSA Member votes:
  • Craig Norman Award - Industry Supplier of the Year

JUDGING DAYS
Special Award categories - online interview.
Our independent judges will interview nominees and evaluate their entry according to the judging criteria.

Residential & Commercial categories - on-site inspection.
Our independent judges will inspect and judge your entry according to the judging criteria. Judging days will be conducted on the 29th and 30th of September (Monday and Tuesday).

Regional SA
All Regional entries will not have site inspections.


DELIBERATION
The judges will deliberate and choose a winner for each category.


WINNERS ANNOUNCED
All winners are announced at the 2025 MLSA Awards of Excellence Gala Dinner; Saturday 15 November.


NATIONAL JUDGING COMMENCES
Not all categories go through to the National Awards. All eligible winners will be chosen to compete at national level.  Immediately after the Awards of Excellence, entrants will be notified if they have been chosen to go through to the National Awards.


NATIONAL WINNERS ANNOUNCED
National winners are announced at the Champion of Champions Awards.


Conditions of Entry

VIEW DOCUMENT

TIPS AND CONSIDERATIONS

To assist with your entry submissions, the tables below provide some handy guidance.

ALL ENTRIES

Project Elements 

Useful tips

Adherence to the client's brief          

Demonstrate how the project responds to client's requests               

AWARDS FOR CONSTRUCTION CATEGORIES

Project Elements 

Useful tips

Degree of difficulty

Identify which parts of the project provided the most challenges       

Hard surfaces and structures            

Nominate all hardscaping elements that form part of the project

Water management

Identify drainage/irrigation methods and/or systems used

Plant life and health

Show suitability to the surrounding environment

Set out

Identify levels and layout required for the construction

AWARDS FOR DESIGN CATEGORIES

Project Elements 

Useful tips

Complexity

Identify challenges relating to the site and the client's brief

Creativity

Show innovative ways in resolving client's brief  

Material selection

Nominate both hard and softscaping

Plant life and health

Show suitability to the surrounding environment

Movement through the site                

Show how there is appropriate access to and within the designed spaces

AWARDS FOR MAINTENANCE CATEGORIES

Project Elements 

Useful Tips

Chemical use & weed management 

Identify the products used to maintain the site

Manual Skills

Nominate the labour techniques used on site 

Maintenance program

Identify scheduling and implementation of the products/techniques  

Ground treatment

Show how the ground is best maintained i.e. mulch

Water efficiency

Identify drainage/irrigation methods and/or systems used

Plant life and health

Show suitability to the surrounding environment

AWARD FOR BEST USE OF GREEN-LIFE

Project Elements 

Useful Tips

Plant selection

Nominate the plant species used on site

Set out

Identify the spacing of plants and their relationship to the site           

Chemical use & weed management 

Identify the products used to maintain the site

Plant life and health

Show suitability to the surrounding environment

AWARD FOR INDIVIDUAL LANDSCAPE FEATURE

Project Elements 

Useful Tips

Originality

Show innovative ways in resolving the client's brief

Compatibility

Show suitability to the surrounding environment

Installation

Identify the methods/techniques used to place the feature                

Material selection                            

Identify what materials the feature consists of/is made of

AWARD FOR DOCUMENTATION

Project Elements 

Useful Tips

Graphics

Demonstrate clarity within images/figures/diagrams

Specifications                                            

Nominates clear material/product selection and relevant instructions where required 

To help inform our judges, it is recommended working drawings such as site plans and elevations are provided within an entry, along with any relevant photos, reports and/or specifications. Don't forget, the application process is a chance to make yourself stand out. 



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 office@landscapesa.com.au

 0488 300 272

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