The State’s leading urban planners and industry professionals have been recognised by the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) today at the annual WA Awards for Planning Excellence held at Crown Perth.
Held around World Town Planning Day, the awards aim to emphasise the important role of the planning profession in the development of Western Australia’s communities and places and to heighten public awareness of good planning.
Among the winners in 2015 was WGV at White Gum Valley Project, which received the award for Best Planning Ideas – Small Project and the Planning Minister’s Award.
WGV exemplifies a unique urban infill project that was achieved through the collaboration between a developer, local government and the community.
The project submitted jointly by LandCorp, Coda and Urbis was praised by the judges for its ability to demonstrate the economic, environmental and social benefits of sustainable development. It provides a range of affordable and inclusive living options, incorporates elements of the natural environment and retains a connection with the sense of place for the existing local community.
Another notable winner was the City of Rockingham for their submission ‘Addressing the negative impacts of R-code variations’.
The City of Rockingham has recognised and responded to the detrimental impact that inconsistent variations to the Residential Design Codes has had on the amenity and streetscape of newly emerging greenfield subdivisions. The City has made a brave and committed stand, despite initial resistance, to bring about change to current practices by engaging with all sectors of the planning and development industry.
Executive Officer of PIA WA, Emma de Jager congratulated all award winners and remarked on the exceptional quality of entrants this year.
‘Collectively all the projects and planners nominated this year have greatly contributed to transforming many of WA’s communities and celebrate the breadth and depth of planning achievements across the state’, Ms de Jager said.
Lavan Legal has been a long time supporter of the awards, believing it is essential to acknowledge planning excellence in order to cultivate ongoing innovation within urban design the Western Australia.
‘These awards continue to highlight the quality of sustainable land development in Western Australia. A key focus of the Lavan Legal Planning and Environment Team is land development in a Western Australian context and we have been fortunate enough to have been involved with many of the projects which have won awards in previous years’, said Lavan Legal Partner, Craig Wallace.
Other winners of awards included City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder for transforming a plan to place with the execution of it’s Boulder Town Centre Strategy and Skate Sculpture and Shire of Kalamunda for the Forrestfield Skate Park and Youth Space a project which is an exemplary demonstration of participatory budgeting and community democracy.
ENDS
Media Contact: Emma de Jager, Executive Officer – PIA Australia WA Division, emma.dejager@planning.org.au or 0400 916 033.