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The State’s leading planners and industry professionals were honoured at the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) — NSW’s 2015 Awards for Planning Excellence on Wednesday 11 November.

The ceremony, held at Doltone House, Hyde Park, celebrated planning achievements across more than 10 award categories.

NSW Minister for Planning the Hon. Rob Stokes was amongst many distinguished guests and speakers in attendance.

This year, Sarah Hill was awarded Planner of the Year for her significant contribution to the planning profession in 2015 and was acknowledged for her dedication, leadership and frankness to achieving good planning blended with economic thinking in NSW.

While, Andrew Wheeler was the recipient of the Young Planner of the Year award for his role in helping raise the profile of healthy planning among public health and planning professionals.

Also notable is the Great Place award, which is presented to a project that exhibits a true sense of place through appropriate integration of transport and land use, pedestrians, commuters and the public.

This year’s award went to CoxDesign JV for its work on the Chatswood Transport Interchange and Metro Residential Towers project.

The project was not only about creating a large train station; it offered residential, retail and entertainment opportunities that would form the basis of a new precinct and be part of the revitalisation of the centre of Chatswood.

Each year the PIA’s State and Territory Divisions hold Award programs with an aim to promote the benefits of planning to the community at large; recognise outstanding achievements of planners; and acknowledge the role of public and private organisations in creating environments of distinction.

PIA’s NSW Executive Officer Maurene Horder said: ‘The Awards for Planning Excellence are a celebration of the great planning work and outcomes achieved by planners.

‘It is important to take the opportunity to stop and reflect on the achievements of the profession, to highlight best practice and to showcase the standards to which the profession should aspire’.

All Division Award winners are automatically entered into the National Awards for Planning Excellence, which will coincide with PIA’s National Congress in May 2016.

For more information, including Judge’s Citations and photos, please call PIA NSW Executive Officer Maurene Horder on 02 8904 1011.

Media information
NSW’s 2015 Awards for Planning Excellence recipients:

Award category:
Planner of the Year Award

Award recipient:
Sarah Hill MPIA

Award category:
Young Planner of the Year Award

Award recipient:
Andrew Wheeler PIA (Affiliate)

Commendation: Laura Schmahmann MPIA

Award category:
Great Place Award

Award recipient:
COX Architecture Pty Ltd - Nick Tyrrell
DESIGNINC - Richard Does
for
Chatswood Transport Interchange and Metro Residential Towers

Commendation:
Lismore Sustainable Transport/Northern Rivers Social Development Council - Linda Wirf
for
Lismore Transit Centre Project

Award category:
Outstanding Student Project Award

Award recipient:
Emma Clinton
Faculty of the Built Environment at the University of New South Wales
for
‘Housing Essentials - Low to moderate income worker housing in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs’.

Commendation:
Tina Kao
Faculty of the Built Environment at the University of New South Wales
for ‘The Impact of Retail Markets on Local Economy’.

Award category:
Best Planning Ideas Large Project Award

Award recipient:
NSW Department of Planning & Environment
for
SEPP 65 and the Apartment Design Guide

Commendation:
Hames Sharley - Anna Robinson
Penrith City Council - Jeni Pollard
for
Penrith Progression - Place Shaping Framework

Award category:
Best Planning Ideas Small Project Award

Award recipient:
Waverley Council
for
Urban Interventions Waverley Council

Award category:
Public Engagement and Community Planning Award

Award recipient:
Lane Cove Council - Carol Sinclair
for
Strategy for an "Age-Friendly Lane Cove"
Commendation:
Ashfield Council
for
Ashfield Town Centre Renewal

Award category:
Improving Planning Processes and Practices Award

Award recipient:
WaterNSW
for
The NorBE Assessment Tool
Commendation:
Waverley Council
for
Waverley Council Planning Agreement Policy 2014

Award category:
Hard Won Victory Award

Award recipients:
Greater Taree City Council
Night Bazaar
Tidy up Taree
for
Improving Taree’s town centre

Award category:
From Plan to Place Award

Award recipients:
UrbanGrowth NSW
Cox Richardson
for
The Ponds

Award category:
Promotion of Planning Award

No award was issued for this category.

Award category:
President’s Award

Award recipient:
Patrick Fensham MPIA

Award category:
David Kettle Cardno Trust Award

Award recipient:
George Karanfilovski