Planning awards showcase housing done well: Winners announced in Darwin

The best of the best were celebrated in the Planning Institute of Australia’s (PIA) national awards revealed at the PIA Congress in Darwin today.

Aerial view of the proposed site. Picture: City of Sydney

The best of the best were celebrated in the Planning Institute of Australia’s (PIA) national awards revealed at the PIA Congress in Darwin today.

Planning projects from every State and Territory featured among the awards.

The Northern Territory received a commendation for the work the NT Aboriginal Cultural Tourism Framework team for co-designing tools and opportunities to share community stories, transforming strategic goals into concrete, meaningful results.

Judges said it sets a benchmark for integrating cultural tourism with strategic planning, while underscoring the importance of building stronger partnerships and collaborative efforts in planning with Country.

Planning Institute of Australia’s President Emma Riley said she was inspired by the range of innovative and meaningful change being delivered across cities, towns and remote communities.

“Each has contributed something valuable to the way we shape places for current and future generations,” she said.

City of Hobart award winners

A theme of ‘great planning makes great housing’ shone through the awards. Whether it was better places, data, communities or climate resilience; each winning project showed how the planning profession makes a difference.

The Winners were:

Climate and Resilience: Douglas Shire Council and Meridian Urban. Project: Douglas Shire Resilience Strategy.

Community Wellbeing and Diversity: NSW Centre for Population Health, Western Sydney Local Health District in partnership with City of Paramatta. Project: Healthy Higher Density Living for Families with Children.

Great Place Award: The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Element Advisory, Aspect Studios, Iredale Pederson Hook Architects and Josh Byrne Associates. Project St Barbara’s Square and laneway.

Improving Planning Processes award: Wattle Range Council in collaboration with Future Urban. Project: Grow a Planner.

Planning with Country award: Conservation and Sunstainability branch, the Planning Housing and Infrastructure Department (NSW). Project Caring for Country Strategy.

Planning and Research Award: University of Tasmania, Geoneon, City of Launceston and WSP Australia. Project: The City of Launceston Urban Greening Strategy.

Stakeholder engagement award: City of Hobart. Project Hobart Climate Assembly.

Strategic Planning Project award: City of Wanneroo and Estates Develiopment Company. Project: Jundalee Coastal Village Structure Plan.

Technology and Digital Innovation Award: Planning and Land Use Services Department of Housing and Urban Development. Project: Land Supply Dashboard.

Tertiary Student Project Award: Karina Turveu. Project: Night at the Library.

Young Planner of the Year: Aaron Petersen

Originally published as Planning awards showcase housing done well: Winners announced in Darwin