Many of the winners at this year’s New South Wales Awards for Planning Excellence demonstrated the importance of strategic planning in building climate resilience and community wellbeing, according to the Planning Institute of Australia.
Recipients showed “how thoughtful planning can change cities, towns, suburbs and buildings for the better”.
The gala night at Sydney’s Ivy last week saw 300 planners and built environment experts celebrate 12 individuals or organisations presented awards by Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully, with another 21 receiving commendations.
Convenor Sharon Smith said that the institute had received significantly more entries than all previous years.
“The quality of entries highlights that planners are visionaries who can rise to the challenge of the various ‘wicked’ problems encountered in every project.
“These awards for planning excellence help us communicate why planning matters and assist in lifting awareness of urban and regional planning as a career choice.
“It is not just about policies and blueprints; it is about creating better places where our communities can live, work and thrive.”
Notable wins included:
Climate change & resilience award winner: Mid Richmond Place plans
Winner: Place Design Group – Richmond Valley Council & NSW Reconstruction in partnership with Meridian Urban & Broad Property Research and Advisory.
Richmond Valley Council turned climate change challenges into opportunities through place specific plans to build resilience for Coraki, Broadwater & Riley’s Hill, Woodburn, and Evans Head towns.
The plans had strategic planning integrated into an urban design that addressed each community’s unique need for resilience, natural hazards and climate change, the judges said.
Community wellbeing & diversity award winner: Healthy higher density for families with children
Winner: Centre for Population Health, Western Sydney Local Health District in partnership with City of Parramatta Council, and Cities for Play
The project was recognised for addressing the need for family-friendly designs in increasingly higher-density cities – by providing a guide to creating liveable, sustainable and compact cities that support families while challenging traditional housing.
Great place award winner: White Bay Power Station
Winner: Placemaking NSW
The power station’s revitalisation and sustainable heritage conservation transformed the building into a vibrant hub for arts, culture and community that meets the needs of the creative sector and community.
