THREE WA projects were successful at the 2019 National Awards for Planning Excellence, held on the Gold Coast this week.
The Best Planning Ideas – Large Project award went to the redevelopment of the run-down Scarborough Beach foreshore overseen by the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority.
The redevelopment removed a maze of car parks separating the beach from the surrounding community, realigned the foreshore, reshaped core infrastructure, and built new amenities to create an inspiring and cohesive public space.
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READ NOWAnother Perth urban renewal project, the Optus Stadium Precinct, scored the From Plan to Place Award.
While the stadium itself has garnered many architectural awards, the precinct’s development is notable for its approach to resolving flooding risks, ground contamination and instability, and limited access.
Judges said the precinct, incorporating an integrated transport strategy and landscape design (and public art) recognising the state’s indigenous culture and heritage, had set “a new global benchmark for an activated cultural and recreation focal point for the city”.
Yagan Square received the Great Place award.
Planning Institute Australia (PIA) chief executive David Williams congratulated all the winners and said their work was contributing materially to the sustainable development of places that people cherished and that enabled them to thrive.
“That’s not easy to do when new technologies are unfolding rapidly, when our populations are growing, and when they’re demanding new choices and options,” he said.
“What these awards underline more than anything is the effectiveness of proactive, integrated planning in meeting community needs in timely fashion.”
The 2019 National Awards for Planning Excellence recognise leading practice, leadership and achievement in planning and the planning profession, and are spread across 12 different categories.
All the winners, and those who received commendations, can be viewed on the PIA website www.planning.org.au.