Tour - 'A Forest for Australia' by Agnes Denes at Altona Treatment Plant

Explore the land artwork ' A Forest for Australia' by Agnes Denes on a guided tour around Altona Treatment Plant

As part of Hobsons Bay City Council’s contemporary public art program ‘Dear Agnes,’ which pays tribute to the forest and its iconic creator Agnes Denes, Greater Western Water is opening the doors of the Altona Treatment Plant to visitors for a series of Dear Agnes short tours. These tours will be led by Joseph Phillips from Greater Western Water with guests from RMIT University.

In 1998, New York-based environmental artist Agnes Denes created and installed the work, ‘A Forest for Australia’, as a series of tree plantings within Greater Western Water’s Altona Treatment Plant.

The 400m piece of conceptual land art consisted of 3700 trees planted in five concentric circles of different heights, to create a pyramid effect.

Twenty-eight years on, the forest has grown and adapted thanks to a rejuvenation in 2015 that followed the ravages of the millennial drought and inhospitable soil conditions.

As the Altona Treatment Plant is a working water treatment plant, you’ll need to read and agree to the below conditions carefully before you sign up for this event.

I MPORTANT INFORMATION - PLEASE READ PRIOR TO BOOKING

Agnes Denes’ ‘A Forest for Australia’ is located within a Greater Western Water wastewater treatment plant site. Due to the nature of the site, by registering, attendees are agreeing to the below conditions.

Organisers have the right to refuse entry or require departure from the site. In addition, if safety is in any way compromised or at risk due to unforeseen circumstances including weather, the event may be cancelled.

Please be aware that attendees will need to be comfortable and able to walk for up to an hour. Any attendees with mobility issues will be invited to enjoy Section A, one of the closest sites. See site map below.

Conditions of entry:

1. Directions must be followed at all times.

2. Access permitted to pre-registered attendees only.

3. Permitted attendees MUST wear appropriate attire: long pants and long sleeve tops, flat heeled and enclosed shoes.

4. High visibility vest and safety glasses will be supplied and must be worn at all times during the tour.

5. Children below the age of 6 years will not be permitted to attend tours.

6. Permitted children are required to be supervised with a maximum of two children per parent or guardian.

7. Attendees must be free from the effects of drugs and alcohol.

8. Smoking or vaping is not permitted on site.

9. Vehicles must comply with all signage, an onsite speed limit of 20km/h and park in a specified area.

If you have any queries on the Agnes Denes ‘A Forest for Australia’ tour, please contact the Greater Western Water site representative via our customer service team on 13 44 99.

Disclaimer

The attendee agrees to indemnify and to keep indemnified Hobsons Bay City Council and Greater Western Water, their servants and agents and each of them from and against all actions, costs, claims, charges, expenses, penalties, demands and damages whatsoever which may be brought or made or claimed against them, or any of them, arising out of or in any way related to the attendee’s participation in the art tour