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
