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The 黑料大事 proudly announced the winners of the 2024 NSW Awards for 黑料大事 Excellence at their Awards ceremony on November 14th.
This prestigious event, held in Sydney, brought together over three hundred planning professionals and allied experts from the built environment to honor outstanding achievements in planning across twelve categories in the presence of Hon Paul Scully, Minister for 黑料大事 and Public Spaces. 12 Awards and 21 Commendations were awarded by a jury of peers from across the industry.
This year’s awards show how planning can improve the way people live, work and play. The winning projects demonstrate why strategic planning is so important in creating more vibrant, healthy and inclusive communities. From climate resilience to community wellbeing, each project shows how thoughtful planning changes our cities, towns, suburbs and buildings for the better.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and commendations!馃弳
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PIA in the Media
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Climate Change & Resilience Award Winner | Mid Richmond Place Plans
Awarded to: Place Design Group - Richmond Valley Council & NSW Reconstruction Authority Partners: Meridian Urban & Broad Property Research and Advisory
Richmond Valley Council has creatively turned increasing climate change challenges particular to their coastal and riverine landscapes into an opportunity, developing resilient place specific plans for the villages and towns of Coraki, Broadwater & Riley’s Hill, Woodburn and Evans Head.
The plans skilfully integrate strategic planning with urban design, translating visions and objectives into clear spatial outcomes. This all too rarely happens. Each of the five plans developed a detailed and evidence-based understanding of the needs and aspirations of residents and businesses, the history, structure and character of their settlements and the varying levels of resilience and adaptability of each to the impacts of natural hazard events and a changing climate. For the Bundjalang People the Mid Richmond holds immense cultural significance, particularly the coastal headlands and rivers. The villages also retain a diverse local history which has featured logging and sugar cane industries, inland river ports, commercial prawn fishing, aviation and coastal tourism.
This approach provides a welcome framework that can be adapted in other regions, avoiding a 'one size fits all' approach, preserving and enhancing those characteristics that makes so many of our regional places so special, while addressing very real contemporary challenges.
Congratulations Place Design Group, Richmond Valley Council, NSW Reconstruction Authority and Meridian Urban & Broad Property Research and Advisory!
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Climate Change & Resilience Commendation | Urban Heat - Newcastle Development Control Plan 2023 - 黑料大事 for urban heat through development controls
Awarded to: City of Newcastle
The significant issues of urban heat and heatwaves are growing in densely populated urban areas, where cities tend to be hotter than their surroundings due to the urban heat island effect. Good planning can mitigate this effect. While the State Environmental 黑料大事 Policy (Sustainable Buildings) 2022 considers design and construction impacts on internal amenity, it does not address the need to plan for external areas. As a rapidly growing regional centre, the City of Newcastle recognised this gap and sought to address it. Through an informed and collaborative process, involving industry representatives and a Development Control Plan (DCP) working party, specific controls for Newcastle's DCP were prepared using a comprehensive framework to create a more sustainable, liveable, and cooler urban environment in Newcastle, setting a precedent for other cities facing similar challenges.
The judges were impressed with the comprehensive and practical approach undertaken in preparing the DCP, and commenced the ability of these planning controls to be replicated across NSW. The judges also noted this work as a great example of local government leadership in responding to the issue of urban heat management. Congratulations City of Newcastle.
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Climate Change & Resilience Commendation | Hawkesbury Climate Change Risk Assessment and Adaptation Action Plan
Awarded to: Hawkesbury City Council
Quite a title isn’t it – it says it bluntly – we have a lot to do and we need to get on with it!
That’s the exact approach that Hawkesbury Council has taken to the massive review of its outdated Risk Assessment (2012) and Climate Adaptation (2016) plans and the numerous policy imperatives and actions that stem from them. And we get the urgency – the Hawkesbury community has been battered by numerous extreme weather events – floods, bushfire, drought and extreme heat – and must have better processes and clarity in decision-making in place for next time round. A primary aim of the review was to enhance Council’s adaptive capacity, rather than respond to risks individually. Consistent with the ‘Adapt NSW Climate Risk Ready NSW Guide’, this required the strengthening of Council’s ability to manage complex risks that interact in different ways.
Focussing initially on matters that are in Council’s direct control, the review has had immediate effect – all actions are currently being implemented and have instigated meaningful change across the organisation. They include the preparation of a floodplain management strategy; the review, development and implementation of Floodplain Risk Management Studies and Plans; an Urban Greening Strategy (adopted in August 2023) and ongoing collaboration with Traditional Custodians.
Achieving this amount of implementation in its first 12 months is a credit to Council’s resolve and dedication to the cause. There is still work to be done, but the desire for continual improvement is well and truly entrenched. Well done Hawkesbury!
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Community Wellbeing & Diversity Award Winer | Healthy Higher Density for Families with Children: An Advocacy, 黑料大事 and Design Guide
Awarded to: Centre for Population Health, Western Sydney Local Health District In partnership with: City of Parramatta Council, and Cities for Play
More children are living in higher density than ever before, and the traditional notion that households with children will relocate to a detached house has been challenged. Raising children in higher density poses challenges for us all, whether we are practitioners or parents.
The judges congratulate the team in their development of the 'Healthy Higher Density Living for Families with Children: An Advocacy, 黑料大事 and Design Guide'. The project exhibits a high degree of originality, and is the first of its kind in Australia. The Guide addresses an issue of significant emerging importance in planning practice and serves a growing need. It provides strong guidance to inform the design community of family-friendly design principles and how to embed these principles into their designs.
The Guide traverses both issues of social planning and statutory planning, and is underpinned by a thorough analysis of the literature and strong collaboration between health and planning experts, local government and community. It supports planners, designers and architects and would be highly transferrable into NSW legislation.
If the innovative concepts and designs outlined in the guide are incorporated into higher density developments, this will enhance high density liveability and will support more families to make that choice, resulting in sustainable, compact cities that meet diverse needs.
This is an important tool that provides guidance beyond minimum design standards, at both building scale and neighbourhood scale. Congratulations to everyone who collaborated on the development of the Guide.
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Community Wellbeing & Diversity Commendation | Places to Swim Guidelines
Awarded to: NSW Department of 黑料大事, Housing and Infrastructure - Open Space team
It’s easy to get lost in the rough and tumble of day-to-day planning – formulating policy to address our nation’s housing and climate challenges and winning over politicians and the public as we progress to a more sustainable future. It’s also easy to forget that, at times, it does us good to let off a little steam – to literally jump in the deep end, to push against the waves and to, well, make a splash or two!
The Open Space Team of DPHI has certainly made a splash with its ‘Places to Swim’ handbook. The guideline reminds us of the joy of swimming and provides important information on planning, designing, delivering and managing swim sites around the state. It speaks to suburban and coastal Sydney and to regional NSW – from Marrinawi Cove Barangaroo, to Penrith Beach and to Yarrangobilly Cave at Kosciuszko and beyond.
The guide has been developed in collaboration with many organisations and its own Advisory Panel. It provides insightful commentary on the issues, barriers and benefits associated with opening waterways for recreation and includes relevant ‘how to’ case studies. ‘Places to Swim’ is a quintessential NSW planning tool that is sure to stand the test of time. Congratulations to the NSW Department of 黑料大事, Housing and Infrastructure Open Space team.
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Community Wellbeing & Diversity Commendation | Reshaping social planning in Burwood - a community-centric, culturally responsive approach
Awarded to: Burwood Council
Burwood Council’s Reshaping Social 黑料大事 in Burwood is awarded a commendation in the Community Wellbeing & Diversity category for its bold and innovative approach to addressing the unique needs of one of Australia’s most culturally diverse regions. Faced with rapid population growth and shifting demographics, Burwood Council developed a comprehensive, community-centric strategy grounded with strong evidence base. By prioritising the voices and lived experiences of Burwood’s diverse communities, the Council created social plans that address current needs.
This initiative integrated a series of interrelated strategies, with some being the Multicultural Strategy, Youth Action Plan, and Community Safety Plan, into a cohesive framework that strengthened both the Council’s approach to community engagement and its partnerships with diverse stakeholders. The project ensured that marginalised voices were heard, fostering deep, trusted relationships that informed every phase of the planning process.
Burwood Council initiated an extensive research, engagement, social-planning and capacity building program in response to the need for culturally-responsive social planning. Burwood Council’s approach shows how tailored, inclusive planning can transform local communities and offer a blueprint for others to replicate.
The jury was impressed with this high-quality project and congratulates Burwood Council on this important work. A credit to all involved.
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Great place Award Winner | White Bay Power Station
Awarded to: Placemaking NSW
The Great Place award is always hotly contended each year. It is a recognition of achievement on the ground, seeing a plan come to life as a place people are proud of. And this year is no different!
Nearly 40 years after the lights were switched off at White Bay Power Station, the iconic building once again energises Sydney - this time as an arts, cultural and community space, recognising the potential for its cultural restoration. It's revitalisation marks a significant milestone in sustainable heritage conservation, driven by the genuine needs of the creative sector and community.
This project caught the jury's attention in a strong field of entries as an exemplary project linking past and present. Its light touch adaptive reuse approach, using only the lightest of interventions, has opened and revealed original machinery and technology, to captivate the imagination of the community.
Placemaking NSW is to be congratulated for this 'once in a lifetime' conservation approach that has maintained the site's heritage significance and leveraged its potential as a unique drawcard for both local and international visitors. This is best practice heritage conservation utilising deep and targeted engagement across community, government and creative sectors.
White Bay Power Station - what a vibrant cultural and community hub you have become! Congratulations Placemaking NSW.
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Great Place Commendation | Enmore Road Special Entertainment Precinct
Awarded to: Inner West Council
Sydney is experiencing a nightlife renaissance and the Enmore Road Special Entertainment Precinct is right at the heart. A patient, thoughtful, and inclusive has led to new venues opening and started to recreate the vibrant ecosystem of cultural activities along Enmore Road. The proof of the pudding is always in the eating, and the newly defined clarity and certainty has enabled live music or hospitality businesses to invest in a dynamic nighttime economy precinct. To future proof the plan, a new DCP chapter will also require residential multi-unit dwellings to be adequately sound-proofed against existing and future sound levels.
The Enmore Road Special Entertainment Precinct is not only an innovative framework for Enmore Road to thrive, but a template to protect and foster other great places across Inner West Council, and around the State, nationally and internationally. 18 NSW Council’s have already been inspired to being the process of establishing their own precincts, while ‘night Mayors’ from across the globe have also visited Enmore Road to learn from the demonstrated success. The judges commend the efforts of Inner West Council and their partners in showing the pathway to creating a vibrant place based nighttime economy. Congratulations Inner West Council.
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Great Place Commendation | Burwood Chinatown: a cultural destination re鈥恑magined for community and commercial success
Awarded to: Burwood Council and Burwood Chinatown
Burwood Council has created a hugely successful ‘great place’ out of a couple of empty alleys and local shops, to establish a hawker-style food alley with over 60 eateries selling regionally diverse Chinese snacks. This place is now a vibrant hub for cultural exchange, economic activity, and social connections. Burwood Chinatown is a leading example of successful urban revitalization, especially for it’s activation of the night-time economy.
The vision for this new destination was delivered through strategic collaboration and innovative planning that has a combined emphasis on place, people and promotion. The involvement of local residents and businesses in the planning and execution of the project, has created a place full of delight, now sought after by both visitors and investors.
Burwood Council’s willingness to drive the success not only involved faciliating partnerships, but also supported road closures which increased dwell time and economic spend within the precinct, which contributed to its vibrant atmosphere and economic vitality. Council’s innovative approaches to promote Burwood Chinatown included midnight pop-up sessions and collaborations with social media influencers which have amplified the precinct’s appeal, particularly among younger audiences. A ‘great place’ indeed. Congratulations Burwood Council and Burwood Chinatown.
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Improving 黑料大事 Processes Award Winner | Redmond Place Master Plan – Leading Sustainable Development and Improving 黑料大事 Processes in Orange
Awarded to: Landcom and Orange City Council
The Redmond Place Master Plan displays a high degree of innovation and originality by addressing a widely known, but little understood mismatch between existing housing stock and emerging housing demand owing to changing household composition. Through a strong state-local partnership between Landcom and Orange City Council, the project promotes a bold vision of providing a high-quality mix of housing types in a regional setting, both reflecting local preferences and strategic objectives.
The masterplan also displays strong leadership in promoting sustainable homes in a walkable community – far removed from the car-dependent archetype of suburban development in regional cities. The project is a laudable example of Landcom re-assuming its traditional role in championing cutting edge residential development, providing a powerful example of what is possible with bold design and strong collaboration.
Congratulations Landcom and Orange City Council.
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Improving 黑料大事 Processes Commendation | Improving flood planning processes in Waverley Council
Awarded to: Waverley Council
The project implemented a new planning framework for flood planning requirements in Waverley. The new framework responded to the NSW State Government changes to the flood risk management framework and implemented a new LGA-wide Flood Study through the creation of a substantially expanded food planning area and provided for updated requirements and design guidance in the Waverley Development Control Plan (DCP). Supported by a strong evidence base and a robust process, the project was ultimately adopted by Council, despite having to overcome a number of challenges and setbacks prior its adoption over an almost three-year period. This three-year period encompassed multiple rounds of community engagement with the community, a comprehensive peer review of the proposed changes and associated flood study, further studies to determine the potential impacts alongside substantial internal engagement and engagement with Elected Members.
The judges commended the work of Waverley Council in showing courage and resilience to progress this important project for the local area over a long period. The judges also noted that the level of engagement and evidence-based approach enabled the ultimate delivery of the flood planning framework to advance the public interest. Congratulations Waverley Council.
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黑料大事 Research Award Winner | City Road Podcast
Awarded to: Associate Professor Dallas Rogers, University of Sydney
The City Road podcast demonstrates a high-quality translation of complex and cutting-edge academic discourse into an engaging and accessible format – democratising access to urbanism and planning theory. The judges particularly appreciated the strong collaboration between academics and practitioners to provide interesting and topical content showing how planning impacts everyday life. From the profound to the whimsical, the City Road podcast effectively uses new media to showcase the transformative power of planning.
Congratulations Associate Professor Dallas Rogers.
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黑料大事 Research Commendation | Australian Urban Policy: Prospects and Pathways
Awarded to: Robert Freestone RPIA (Fellow) UNSW, Bill Randolph MPIA (Fellow) UNSW and Wendy Steele MPIA RMIT
With the longstanding vacuum of deliberative policy concerning Australian cities at the Federal level, Australian Urban Policy: Prospects and Pathways sort to challenge this vacuum.
Australian Urban Policy argues that any effective national urban policy will need to significantly gear up to understand and embrace the complexity of urban life. An expansive, yet focused treatment of policy, across a wide range of domains, are presented within the pages of this book.
In a tight category, with two quality nominees, Australian Urban Policy stood out firstly, for building dialogue around urban planning and how it can be addressed and aided by work at the Federal level, and secondly, for being an informative and useful reference for planning professionals and students.
In a category that requires the nominees to make an outstanding contribution to the understanding of contemporary planning issues in Australia, Australian Urban Policy certainly delivered. Congratulations Robert Freestone, Bill Randolph and Wendy Steele.
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黑料大事 with Country Award Winner | Caring for Country Strategy
Awarded to: Conservation Sustainability Branch / Department of 黑料大事 Housing and Infrastructure
Traditional Custodians within the Cumberland Plain are the Darug, Dharawal and Gundungarra peoples. Also recognised are the thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have come from different lands and call Western Sydney home.
The Caring for Country Aboriginal Outcomes Strategy 2024-33 is the culmination of 5 years of listening to and engaging with Aboriginal communities in Western Sydney with the aim to promote Aboriginal culture and knowledge; help Traditional Custodians and Aboriginal people maintain their distinctive relationships with the land, waters, and sky; improve the health and wellbeing of Country; and support economic participation for Aboriginal people.
Self-determination, co-design and partnerships are the underlying principles of the Strategy, which forms Commitment 21 of the Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan. The Strategy has gained a high level of support from Aboriginal communities because it reflects their own cultural needs, aspirations and obligations to Care for Country and apply their cultural land practices. Culturally appropriate engagement with a diverse representation of Aboriginal community members has been the key to gaining trust and respect, and the partnerships developed with Traditional Custodians, Aboriginal communities and organisations are now helping to deliver the actions within the strategy.
Through empowering the Western Sydney Aboriginal community to plan and deliver Caring for Country activities to achieve positive outcomes for the health and wellbeing of Country, the Caring for Country Strategy highly deserves this award. Congratulations to the Department of 黑料大事 Housing and Infrastructure.
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黑料大事 with Country Commendation | Coffs Harbour Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan
Awarded to: The City of Coffs Harbour, Virtus Heritage, The Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Land Council and the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Aboriginal cultural heritage provides an essential link between the past and present – it is an integral part of cultural identity, connection and a sense of belonging to Country. Coffs Harbour Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan improves the City's management practices for Aboriginal cultural heritage in planning, assessment and project delivery processes.
The Coffs Harbour local government area (LGA) sits within the lands of the Gumbaynggirr Nation, a region rich in Aboriginal heritage. The Management Plan fills a gap in the local planning landscape by providing guidance to the local development industry and the wider community on how to consider Aboriginal cultural heritage within our current planning legislative environment.
The jury considered ongoing collaboration and meaningful engagement as key to the project’s success. The project demonstrates a visionary approach and reflects commitment to a decade-long collaborative project between the City and local Aboriginal community. A working group was established early at the inception stage, enabling the City to begin its pathway towards building strong relationships with the local Gumbaynggirr community.
The Management Plan presents a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between the local and State planning landscape. The methodology that underpins the cultural heritage mapping and Management Plan can be easily replicated by other councils, demonstrating how planning processes can result in significant improvements for our communities and cultural landscapes. The Management Plan is of exceptional quality and associated mapping is considered one of the most comprehensive cultural heritage maps within NSW. Congratulations to The City of Coffs Harbour, Virtus Heritage, The Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Land Council and the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
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Stakeholder Engagement Award Winner | Burwood After Dark Strategy: Innovative Stakeholder Engagement for Transformative Urban 黑料大事
Awarded to: Burwood Council with JOC Consulting and Hadron Group
The jury wishes to congratulate Burwood Council with JOC Consulting and Sustainable East for their outstanding stakeholder engagement undertaken during the development of the 'Burwood After Dark Strategy'. It is certainly a local trailblazer, putting Burwood up in lights after dark.
Their innovative approaches included targeted outreach to sometimes marginalised communities, place experience audits, interactive and creative engagement techniques, pop-up events, and even a midnight engagement session joined by senior staff. They engaged with over 400 community members, local business, industry leaders and Councillors through creative and interactive methods.
The interactive and creative engagement techniques used to develop the 'Burwood After Dark Strategy' have also been recognised as a model of best practice by the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner.
Congratulations to Burwood Council with JOC Consulting and Sustainable East.
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Stakeholder Engagement Commendation | Connection with Country - the evolution of Aboriginal engagement with City of Newcastle
Awarded to: City of Newcastle
The City of Newcastle is to be commended for their proactive approach to working in partnership with the local First Nations communities. They demonstrated a commitment to ongoing collaboration with the community and a deeply embedded approach to connecting with Country.
A range of case studies highlighted their culturally responsive approach to engagement and how their methodology was applied across a range of projects. They demonstrated a deep understanding of Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property through meeting separately with different parts of the community. This submission exhibited their understanding of going beyond the cultural heritage process and considering the broader intangible aspects of the cultural landscape.
The well-rounded and long-term approach to working in partnership with Country, community and culture should be an example for all Local Governments to follow. Congratulations to the City of Newcastle.
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Stakeholder Engagement Commendation | Westmead Master Plan - Engaging with our diverse community
Awarded to: Cumberland City Council
This submission highlighted some very innovative and layered engagement strategies to reach a diverse community. It was clear that the approach had made a large effort to engage a broad cross section of the community and those who will be the future users of Westmead.
There was a strong strategic alignment and cross section of internal and external stakeholder collaboration. Working closely with adjoining Councils meant that strong links were made beyond the LGA boundaries and regular meetings with state government agencies created clear lines of communication.
A range of engagement tools and approaches to reaching community including digital and face to face tools, whilst visiting important cultural events. The team also established a strong response to Connecting with Country and working in collaboration with the local First Nations community. Congratulations to the Cumberland City Council.
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Strategic 黑料大事 Project Award Winner | Scenic Landscape Protection Policy
Awarded to: Tweed Shire Council
The Scenic Landscape Protection Policy by Tweed Shire Council stands out as an Award winner due to its comprehensive guidance in assessing scenic landscape qualities, an often-overlooked area by many Councils. This initiative demonstrated vision and offers significant benefits for the region by recognising, enhancing and safeguarding its unique scenic attributes which are highly valued by the community, caring for the land for current and future generations. Its practical outcomes are in strategic plan making, as well as the development application process by assisting landowners and developers to ensure high quality new built form, making it a holistic planning solution. Furthermore, the mapping and policy could be replicated by other Councils, reinforcing the protection of vital scenic landscapes across all local government areas, thereby enhancing regional value and relevance for the profession at large.
The project also features a robust and diverse consultation process over a seven-year period, ensuring community involvement and support. By providing easy-to-use mapping and policy tools, it delivers clear direction on addressing mapped scenic landscape values in plan making and various assessments, such as Statements of Environmental Effects and Visual Impact Assessments. The policy’s structure is designed for efficient implementation, making it easily deliverable.
Congratulations to Tweed Shire Council on this important strategic planning project.
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Strategic 黑料大事 Project Commendation | Inner West Blue-Green Grid Strategy
Awarded to: McGregor Coxall with Inner West Council. In collaboration with: EConPlan, JOC COnsulting, and MBM Pty Ltd
The Inner West LGA is facing a future of significant population growth, high land prices, increasing density in the built environment, and limited available funding which will restrict Council’s ability to provide new open space.
Innovative solutions are needed to provide additional facilities and areas for the community to spend time, boosting their health and wellbeing. The Inner West Blue-Green Grid Strategy is one of the steps to achieve this, and a long term aspirational strategy for Council to drive policy change.
The Inner West Blue-Green Grid Strategy refers to 85 key routes and draws together town centres, schools, open spaces, public transport, key local points of interest and accessible corridors of linear open space into a network that contributes to urban cooling, local amenity and ecology.
The project team has built upon the State level Sydney Green Grid concept and delivered a local level strategy for the ‘green and blue places’ in the Inner West. Congratulations to McGregor Coxall with Inner West Council, In collaboration with: EConPlan, JOC Consulting, and MBM Pty Ltd.
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Strategic 黑料大事 Project Commendation | Mid Richmond Place Plans
Awarded to: Place Design Group Client: Richmond Valley Council & NSW Reconstruction Authority Partners: Meridian Urban & Broad Property Research and Advisory
The Place Plans for the villages and towns of Coraki, Broadwater & Rileys Hill, Woodburn, and Evans Head in the Northern Rivers of NSW are notable for their innovative and practical approach to strategic planning in a complex and changing context. These plans are designed specifically for the unique cultural, environmental, and historical aspects of the Mid Richmond area. The strategy thoughtfully balances building climate resilience with essential goals like community growth, jobs, quality of life, and environmental sustainability, all while focusing on the needs and hopes of the local community.
What makes these Place Plans special is their focus on creating tailored solutions for each village, based on a clear understanding of their specific challenges, including climate change, disaster risk, and changing community needs. By using the CSIRO’s Resilience, Adaptation Pathways and Transformation Approach (RAPTA), the plans ensure that strategies are not only flexible and adaptable but also closely aligned with local conditions and goals. The Mid Richmond Place Plans offer a model that other areas can follow, showing a commitment to balanced, flexible, and inclusive planning that supports sustainable and resilient growth. Congratulations Place Design Group, Richmond Valley Council, NSW Reconstruction Authority Partners- Meridian Urban & Broad Property Research and Advisory.
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Strategic 黑料大事 Project Commendation | Ultimo Pyrmont 黑料大事 Framework
Awarded to: The City of Sydney
The Ultimo Pyrmont 黑料大事 Framework deserves commendation for its thoughtful and collaborative approach to dense infill urban development. The project responds to the state government’s Pyrmont Peninsula Place Strategy and provides an alternate planning approach where The City of Sydney and the community were empowered with the fine grain detail for implementation of mandated targets for additional homes and jobs. By bringing together a specific multi-disciplinary team at the local level that conducted place-led urban design testing and consultation, it was ensured that the planning remained community-focused. The Urban Design Study articulates a clear vision by identifying specific sites for infill development to achieve established targets and explores opportunities to enhance deep soil for trees and expand public space, reflecting community feedback. Additionally, the Study in identification of areas of increased density, considers impacts such as overshadowing, wind, noise, and views, all while respecting the area's existing character and heritage.
This inclusive process was undertaken efficiently within a period of 18 months and will directly inform the preparation of new planning controls which will provide a clear planning pathway for the community and developers. The framework responds to the demand for additional density while carefully balancing it within an already dense area and has been achieved in a manner and scale which does not rely upon one developer to proceed. The planning controls will be supported by an Affordable Rental Housing Program and a new Local Infrastructure Contributions Plan to deliver a range of housing and community outcomes.
The judges commend the strategic vision and collaborative approach on this important strategic planning project. Congratulations to the City of Sydney.
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Strategic 黑料大事 Project Commendation | Parramatta 2050
Awarded to: City of Parramatta Council
Parramatta 2050 is City of Parramatta Council’s long-term strategic vision that sets forth the ideas, initiatives and places that will drive Parramatta’s transformation to a global city over the next quarter century.
Council applied an innovative visionary development process that includes multi-scalar analysis of Parramatta within larger local-to-global networks, extensive research on 'global cities', a critical assessment of Parramatta’s role in addressing gaps in regional planning, and iterative community and stakeholder engagement to address local needs.
The judging Committee reflected on the significant effort to knit together decades of metropolitan, regional and precinct-based planning processes into a coherent and integrated vision, and sets the foundation to leverage the city's strengths and potential opportunities on a local, state, national and global scale. Congratulations to the City of Parramatta Council.
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Technology & Digital Innovation Award Winner | Smart Regional Spaces: Ready, Set, Go!
Awarded to: Regional NSW, The University of Sydney and UNSW Sydney as part of the Smart Places Acceleration Program
Rural and regional communities are sometimes overlooked in the 'smart cities movement', because there are numerous challenges associated with dense urban living, which don't necessarily translate to the regions. We want rural and regional NSW to be 'smart-ready' too.
This winning project assists to move the discourse from smart cities to smart regions. The 'Smart Regional Places: Ready, Set, Go' project has developed a toolkit for regional NSW to identify how smart technology and smart planning can improve place experiences, facility management and community life.
A grant funded collaboration between the project team and three local Councils - Armidale Regional, Lithgow City and Parkes Shire - has created digital planning tools for the regional context. The toolkit contains a series of digital, online learning modules and provides global knowledge and inspirational case studies that are relevant to rural and regional Australia.
The co-design of the toolkit with council staff has resulted in a product which is transferrable to other places, particularly to smaller councils who have fewer resources, and are less able to afford 'smart city' consultancy services for expertise. The tools and planning templates within the toolkit are available for free via the project website.
This 'Smart Regional Places: Ready, Set, Go' project is a smart toolkit for all! Congratulations Regional NSW, The University of Sydney and UNSW Sydney as part of the Smart Places Acceleration Program.
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Technology & Digital Innovation Commendation | HumeLink digital Environmental Impact Statement powered by Aurecon air®
Awarded to: Aurecon and Transgrid
The project HumeLink digital Environmental Impact Statement powered by Aurecon air® receives a commendation for it use of technology and innovation to make complex planning documents more accessible and more meaningful to the community. This commendation was considered important as Aurecon and Transgrid recognised the opportunity that such a large EIS provided for better communication and engagement. It also enhanced the decision-making process without compromising environment and planning legislative compliance.
This approach also meets growing demands for transparency, with its user-friendly, digestible format that enhanced both community stakeholder and agency engagement. By integrating cutting-edge reporting and geospatial technology to transform static, complex documents into dynamic, digital experiences, Aurecon air® leads the way in the future of environmental reporting. Congratulations Aurecon and Transgrid.
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Technology & Digital Innovation Commendation | SMART Cumberland
Awarded to: Cumberland City Council
SMART Cumberland demonstrates a high-quality and comprehensive commitment to technology and digital innovation through the development and implementation of smart places.
Cumberland City Council’s Smart Places Strategy and Action Plan aims to channel Cumberland’s growth in the smart technology space in a sustainable and streamlined way. The Strategy prepares Cumberland for rapid growth and demonstrates a whole-of-Council approach with touchpoints in different areas of Council operation. The project emphasises principles of inclusivity, connectivity and sustainability and reflects aspirations identified through extensive and collaborative engagement with community and key stakeholders.
The jury was impressed by the project’s solid and visionary approach and ability to develop a coordinated strategy for smart technology beyond what is typically implemented at a local government level. The success of the Granville Smart precinct, funded by the NSW Smart Cities and Suburbs program, has propelled Cumberland to continue rolling out smart technology in its public spaces such as accessible parking, smart waste management and smart street furniture.
The project’s strategic approach has effectively broken down technical jargon into tangible, easy to understand action items that ensures transparency, accountability, and works towards greater community acceptance and understanding of smart places. SMART Cumberland demonstrates a successful example for other councils SMART Cumberland demonstrates a high-quality and comprehensive commitment to technology and digital innovation through the development and implementation of smart places.
Cumberland City Council’s Smart Places Strategy and Action Plan aims to channel Cumberland’s growth in the smart technology space in a sustainable and streamlined way. The Strategy prepares Cumberland for rapid growth and demonstrates a whole-of-Council approach with touchpoints in different areas of Council operation. The project emphasises principles of inclusivity, connectivity and sustainability and reflects aspirations identified through extensive and collaborative engagement with community and key stakeholders.
The jury was impressed by the project’s solid and visionary approach and ability to develop a coordinated strategy for smart technology beyond what is typically implemented at a local government level. The success of the Granville Smart precinct, funded by the NSW Smart Cities and Suburbs program, has propelled Cumberland to continue rolling out smart technology in its public spaces such as accessible parking, smart waste management and smart street furniture.
The project’s strategic approach has effectively broken down technical jargon into tangible, easy to understand action items that ensures transparency, accountability, and works towards greater community acceptance and understanding of smart places. SMART Cumberland demonstrates a successful example for other councils.
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Tertiary Student Project Award Winner | Night at the Library
Awarded to: Karina Turvey PIA (Assoc.) , Planner, SJB 黑料大事, for a Bachelor of City 黑料大事 Honours Thesis undertaken at UNSW Sydney
Karina’s honours thesis advocates for the role that community libraries can play in deepening our night-time economies. It presents a case for libraries to function as a ‘third place’, providing an alternate experience to other after-5 entertainment and dining venues.
The research insights apply equally to Sydney and regional centres. The thesis examines several best-practice libraries and calls upon direct interviews with library staff and managers as well as library users. The thesis challenges the perspective of libraries solely as a place where people can access information and resources. It puts forward the notion that libraries can play a much more meaningful role in fostering communal, cultural exchange and education in a night-time capacity.
The research is focused in its mission and succinct in its findings – putting forward three clear planning recommendations for better practice – embedding libraries into broader night-time economy strategies, redesigning library spaces to accommodate events and collaborative activities, and improving the safety of their environs.
The work also offers other suggestions – trial library openings at night, engagement with local police to ensure a secure night-time environment and partnering with local businesses and other institutions to embed libraries and their immediate precincts into the broader night-time economy fabric. Congratulations Karina.
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Tertiary Student Project Commendation |Growing food closer to home: how can cities spatially prioritise urban agriculture?
Awarded to: Liam Patrick Walsh MPIA
Food networks that serve cities across the world are becoming increasingly globalised, complex and fragile. The growing imbalance between food consumption and production in cities is a critical sustainability challenge. Increasing local food production through urban agriculture is a major opportunity to address this challenge, but is often given a high priority in planning.
This project set out to answer the question of how can cities prioritise and integrate urban agriculture into spatial land use planning? Quantitative research on the common challenges and the unique opportunities of three case study cities - London, Singapore, and Sydney - provided a solid foundation for suggested policy action. The research recommends financial incentives and supportive governance structures for local food production. It also advocates for the creation of ‘multifunctional urban spaces’. These are spaces where urban agriculture co-exists and thrives with other land uses such as parks, residential areas, and community centres.
The project shows that urban agriculture deserves greater relevance and consideration in land use planning, not only because food is an essential and recurring daily need, but also the opportunities it presents to address food security, reduce urban food footprints, and create more resilient cities. Congratulations Liam.
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Tertiary Student Project Commendation | Strategic Land Use 黑料大事 and Transport Corridors: Protection, Integration and Coordination
Awarded to: Aaron Petersen PIA (Assoc.)
Aaron Petersen's thesis, Strategic Land Use 黑料大事 and Transport Corridors: Protection, Integration and Coordination, is awarded the 2024 PIA NSW Tertiary Student Project Commendation Award for its bold and visionary approach to a highly complex planning issue. Aaron tackled the challenge of transport corridor protection, a crucial area with significant implications for land use and infrastructure planning. While the thesis ambitiously covered a broad and intricate subject, it provided valuable insights and recommendations that address a long-standing issue in the planning profession.
The research's scope was vast, and at times overwhelming, but this complexity reflects the enormity of the issue being addressed. The quality of the work is evidenced by its in-depth analysis, which combines policy review with industry interviews to propose actionable reforms, which bridge the gap between theory and practice. The thesis provides further insights and findings from the interviews and policy analysis which can easily be transferred and utilised.
The jury rated this nomination highly against the evaluation criteria and were impressed by the quality, findings, and recommendations. The jury acknowledges this quality project and commends Aaron for taking on this worthy project as his thesis and which he deserves this commendation.
Congratulations Aaron.
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Young planner of the year Award Winner | Aaron Petersen PIA (Assoc.)
Aaron who was nominated by Department of 黑料大事, Housing and Infrastructure is perhaps one of our youngest ‘Young Planners’ of the Year’, but he has consistently gone above beyond to build his professional skills, to contribute to the industry and to advocate for the planning profession. The Jury was particularly impressed by his role in promoting a career in planning to university and high school students and his willingness and passion to be role model for what young and emerging planners can aspire to.
We welcome the recognition of Aaron as Young Planner of the Year – he is highly motivated planner who is making a deeply valuable contribution to planning in many ways. Congratulations Aaron.
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Young Planner of the Year Commendation | Chloe Boyd MPIA
Chloe who was nominated by Wagga Wagga Council is an outstanding young planner who is widely recognised for her zeal, integrity and involvement in the profession. She has a particular passion for mentorship and advocacy on behalf of young planning professionals and PIA, and is a fierce advocate for great planning outcomes.
Chloe commenced her career in 2019 as a consulting planner, and then moved to local government in 2022. She is a young champion for both metropolitan and regional planning and recently had a significant role in leading a major social housing renewal project in Wagga Wagga – the first of its kind in regional NSW.
She joined the NSW PIA Young Planners Committee in 2020, and has held the role of Co-Convenor of the committee for 4 years. In this role she has advocated widely for PIA and has facilitated at numerous industry events. She is widely known and well-liked by her entire profession, and consistently elevates the voice of young planners through her extensive contributions to PIA and beyond. She has made significant valuable insights to the NSW PIA Divisional Committee.
The jury celebrates with Chloe in her commendation, as a testament to her leadership qualities and professional character as an emerging role model. Congratulations Chloe.
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Young Planner of the Year Commendation | Councillor HY William Chan PIA (Assoc.)
William who was nominated by the University of Melbourne is commended as a role model for young planners emerging into the industry. The judges were impressed by his leadership in progressing planning outcomes for housing, urban heat management and plan making in his role as an elected official in local government. The judges also noted his ability to be a champion of planning in his professional capacity as an architect, industry lecturer, and representative on a range of panels and groups. Congratulations William.
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President's Award | Chloe Boyd MPIA
The President’s award for 2024 recognises the positive future of PIA and planning reflected in our young and aspiring planners.
The award goes to Chloe Boyd. Chloe is an amazing young planner, a passionate advocate for her profession and her community where she works, Wagga Wagga. To merely state that Chloe has been a member of the NSW Young Planners committee for four years, serving as co-convenor for the last two years, completely understates her commitment to planning and PIA.
Her support to the PIA organisation has made my job and that of the staff of PIA that much easier. She is always the first the step forward and volunteer when needed and always demonstrates leadership by empowering the members of the Committee she co-chairs, the chance to step up. Without Chloe the day-to-day operation of PIA would be just that more difficult and without Chloe, the future of planning would not be so bright.
Chloe embodies the bright future of planning in NSW which we all can celebrate. Congratulations Chloe.
Thank you to our Awards partners
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