The 2017 winners of the Planning Institute Australia’s (PIA) National Awards for Planning Excellence were announced on 3 May.

The awards showcase best practice in a range of planning disciplines and sectors, across a total of 12 categories. The event is intended to celebrate, recognise and reward outstanding planning and planners who make valuable contributions to the future of our communities across Australia.

Among the winners this year is The Goods Line in Sydney by Aspect Studios and CHROFI. This High Line-inspired park received the top award in the ‘Good Place’ category and a commendation in the ‘From Plan to Place’ category. The project saw a 250-metre stretch of disused rail freight corridor in the CBD repurposed and reopened as an elevated pedestrian walkway and cycle path.

“The Goods Line illustrates the potential for urban design to transform isolated city spaces into creative and connected public destinations which enhance public life,” states the jury citation.

Another notable winner was the Monash University Clayton Campus Masterplan by MGS Architects. This enduring process has seen the transformation of the campus over the last decade. The project took home the award for ‘From Plan to Place’.

“The delivery of the Masterplan together with design excellence, demonstrates how large institutional and commercial campuses or sites can be successfully reinterpreted and reorganised to create stronger and more user-friendly, interesting and productive places,” says the jury.

View the complete list of winners and commendations below:

PLANNER OF THE YEAR

AWARD

Kate Isles MPIA, Queensland

COMMENDATION

Dr Alan March MPIA, Victoria

YOUNG PLANNER OF THE YEAR

AWARD

Brighid Sammon PIA (assoc.), Victoria

COMMENDATION

Dean Hosking MPIA, New South Wales

PLANNING CHAMPION

AWARD

Terry Rawnsley

CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH AND TEACHING

AWARDS

Renewing the Compact City, New South Wales by City Futures Research Centre (UNSW)

Mastering the Art of Planning – 100 Stories From Urban Planning Practice, Queensland by Robin King-Cullen RPIA

COMMENDATION

Movie Towns and Sitcom Suburbs: Building Hollywood’s Ideal Communities, Victoria by Dr Stephen Rowley MPIA (RMIT University)

FROM PLAN TO PLACE

AWARD

Monash University Clayton Campus Masterplan, Victoria by MGS Architects with Monash University and the Monash Design Consortia
Photography by Rhiannon Slatter

COMMENDATION

The Goods Line, New South Wales by Aspect Studios, Property NSW, Chrofi and Gartner Rose

HARD WON VICTORY

AWARD

Planning for Future Flood Risks: Marks Point and Belmont South Local Adaptation Plan, New South Wales by Lake Macquarie City Council

COMMENDATION

Connecting Greater Bendigo: Integrated Transport and Land Use Strategy, Victoria by City of Greater Bendigo

BEST PLANNING IDEAS SMALL PROJECT

AWARDS

Tropical Urbanism – Cairns City Image Study, Queensland by Cairns Regional Council, Tract Consultants, Follent, Peddle Thorp, CA Architects, Total Project Group Architects

City Road Master Plan, Victoria by City of Melbourne

BEST PLANNING IDEAS LARGE PROJECT

AWARD

Moreton Bay Region University Precinct, Queensland by Moreton Bay Council

COMMENDATION

Melton Dry Stone Wall Study and Amendment, Victoria by Melton City Council

IMPROVING PLANNING PROCESSES AND PRACTICES

AWARD

Implementing Bushfire and Biodiversity Controls, Western Australia by Shire of Mundaring Planning and Environment Team

COMMENDATION

Gold Coast Flora & Fauna Database, Queensland by City of Gold Coast

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY PLANNING

AWARD

Camping with Custodians – Imintji Community, Western Australia by Tourism Western Australia and Imintji Aboriginal Community
Photography by Campbell Fletcher

COMMENDATIONS

City Road Master Plan, Victoria by City of Melbourne
Ginninderry, ACT by Land Development Agency and Riverview Developments

GREAT PLACE

AWARD

The Goods Line, New South Wales by Aspect Studios, Property NSW, Chrofi and Gartner Rose
Photography by Florian Groehn

COMMENDATION

Mary Street Piazza, Western Australia by City of Vincent, Place Laboratory and Le Grove Landscaping

OUTSTANDING STUDENT PROJECT

AWARD

Exploring the Virtual City – Immersive Public Participation Using VR Headsets, New South Wales Richard Barry PIA (assoc.)

COMMENDATIONS

Mismatch of Housing: Adequacy of Housing for the Population, South Australia by Benjamin Wollinski PIA (assoc.)
The Walkability Planning Support System. An Evidence-Based Tool to Design Healthy Communities, Victoria by Dr Claire Boulange

Nicholas Rider

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