What's On?
Sponsors
National Award Categories
About the Awards for Planning Excellence
The annual PIA Awards for Planning Excellence demonstrate leading practice, leadership and achievement in planning and the planning profession.
The Awards offer the opportunity to share achievements and to be judged by your peers. It provides the chance for recognition of excellence and to showcase leading practice across a range of planning disciplines and sectors. Leadership in planning, particularly in the face of adversity, is acknowledged and applauded. In all, the Awards are a chance to celebrate, recognise and reward outstanding planning and planners.
As a national program, the Awards commence at the state and territory level seeking out the best of planning in each jurisdiction. Following judgement and recognition at a local Awards ceremony, the winners of the appropriate categories in the state/territory Awards are then elevated to the national stage. The best from each state and territory are judged at a national level, culminating in the National Awards for Planning Excellence ceremony which acknowledges the best of planning and planners in Australia.
Commencing this year a revised set of awards categories have been launched, which focus on planning outcomes and planning leadership. The previous discipline-focused categories have been replaced in favour of more holistic categories that better represent the multidisciplinary nature of planning practice. Additional categories have been created to celebrate planning leadership by both planners and non-planners. Greater clarity and consistency has also been sought between state/territory level awards and national awards; and this year, direct nominations for 3 national-level only categories are being sought. Over the coming years further improvements to Awards for Planning Excellence are proposed to continue to build the quality and credibility of the process and program.
The planning profession has enormously important and positive contributions to make to the future. Participating in the Awards for Planning Excellence is a small but important way to demonstrate your commitment to advancing the profession.
Promoting planning success stories is a great way to show how planners really make a difference.
AWARD CATEGORIES
The Awards for Planning Excellence are a national program of the Planning Institute of Australia, implemented at both a state/territory and national level. Award categories are structured in three sections:
- General Categories - offered at a Division level, with winners being elevated to the National Awards for Planning Excellence
- Division Categories - only offered at the Division level – winners do not go on to the national level
- National Categories - offered at the National level only – nominations received at the Division level and forwarded directly for national judging.
GENERAL CATEGORIES
The following categories form part of the overall Awards for Planning Excellence program. The winner of each of these categories will be forwarded to the national judging panel for consideration as part of the National Awards for Planning Excellence.
PLANNER OF THE YEAR AWARD
This Award recognises a planner who provides visionary leadership.
It is awarded for clear and focused leadership, outstanding quality of work, effort and/or achievement by a planner. The winners work will be inspirational; a planner’s view of the future.
The achievement could include:
Who Might Apply?
- Division level entrants may be self-nominated, nominated by their employer or a corporate member of PIA
- At the National level no direct nominations will be received for this category. The winner will be selected from the Division level Award winners.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT BY A YOUNG PLANNER AWARD
This Award recognises the outstanding contribution or achievement by a Young Planner.
It is awarded for leadership, outstanding work, effort and/or achievement by a Young Planner and a significant contribution to the planning profession.
Applicants must have (at the time of the achievement) no more than 5 years post graduate experience in planning.
Who Might Apply?
- A qualified planner and a Student, Graduate, Associate or Corporate Member of PIA, but not necessarily a member of PIA’s young planners
- At the National level no direct nominations will be received for this category. The winner will be selected from the Division level Award winners.
FROM PLAN TO PLACE
NOTE: Divisions have the option of offering this category with sub-categories at the Division level such as transport, environmental or social. If the Division awards winners in these subcategories then the Division will need to select one winner to be put forward for the National Award.
This Award recognises the implementation of a plan into a successful place.
It is awarded for an effort that demonstrates a significant achievement for an area, either a single community or a region, in accomplishing positive changes as a result of planning. It should demonstrate the implementation from plan to place within a 10 year span within an urban, peri-urban, regional or rural context that makes an outstanding contribution to advancing planning practice.
This category emphasises long-term measurable results to demonstrate that sustained implementation makes a difference. Nominated efforts should have been in continuous effect for a minimum of five years. Nominations can include, but are not limited to, plans for smart growth, social planning, signage, farmland preservation, urban design, wetland mitigation, resource conservation, capital improvements, community participation, neighbourhood improvement, transportation management and sustainable economic development. Nominations should address the relevance of the project to one or more of the PIA chapter disciplines such as urban and regional planning, social planning, environmental planning, transport planning, urban design, economic development planning and planning law.
Who Might Apply?
- An individual or organisation engaged in planning practice
- May be self-nominated, nominated by an employer/client or by a PIA corporate member
- Projects in rural, peri-urban and regional areas, in addition to urban areas, are encouraged
- At the National level no direct nominations will be received for this category. The winner will be selected from the Division level Award winners.
THE HARD WON VICTORY AWARD
This Award is for a planning initiative or effort undertaken in the face of difficult or trying circumstances.
This award recognises the positive effect of hard-won victories by professional planners, citizen planners, or both working under difficult, challenging, or adverse conditions because of natural disasters, local circumstances, financial or organisational constraints, political constraints, social factors or other causes within urban, peri-urban, regional or rural locations.
Who Might Apply?
- A member of the public
- An individual or organisation engaged in planning practice
- PIA member or non-member
- May be self-nominated, nominated by an employer/client or by a PIA corporate member
- Projects in rural, peri-urban and regional areas, in addition to urban areas, are encouraged
- At the National level no direct nominations will be received for this category. The winner will be selected from the Division level Award winners.
OUTSTANDING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
NOTE: Nationally only 1 award for the Outstanding Student Achievement category (6a). Divisions have the option of offering this award category as one or two awards (6a OR 6b & 6c).
a) Outstanding Student Project – Secondary and Tertiary, OR
b) Outstanding Student Project – Secondary
c) Outstanding Student Project – Tertiary
Please note that if a division offers 6b & 6c categories then they must only nominate one entry to be put forward to the National Outstanding Student Achievement award category (6a).
6a OUTSTANDING STUDENT PROJECT AWARD - SECONDARY AND TERTIARY
This Award recognises outstanding planning work by a secondary or tertiary student.
It is awarded for a substantial project, report, book, thesis, article or piece of research which makes a significant contribution to issues relating to rural, regional and/or urban planning. Nominations may address one or more of the PIA chapter disciplines such as social planning, environmental planning, transport planning, urban design, economic development planning and planning law.
Who Might Apply?
- An individual or group of secondary or tertiary students engaged in a planning related project
- PIA members and non-members
- May be self-nominated or nominated by a school, university, employer or PIA corporate member
- Can include post graduate work.
6b OUTSTANDING STUDENT PROJECT AWARD – SECONDARY
This Award recognises outstanding planning work by a secondary student.
It is awarded for a substantial project, report, book, thesis, article or piece of research which makes a significant contribution to issues relating to rural, regional and/or urban planning. Nominations may address one or more of the PIA chapter disciplines such as social planning, environmental planning, transport planning, urban design, economic development planning and planning law.
Attributes that will be considered include:
- recognition of the scope and importance of urban, rural and/or regional planning,
- innovative topic,
- depth of research,
- value to the community,
- methodology, and
- referencing.
Who Might Apply?
- An individual or group of secondary students engaged in a planning related project
- PIA members and non-members
- May be self-nominated or nominated by a school, university, employer or PIA corporate member
- Must be a secondary student.
6c OUTSTANDING STUDENT PROJECT AWARD – TERTIARY
This Award recognises outstanding planning work by a tertiary student.
It is awarded for a substantial project, report, book, thesis, article or piece of research which makes a significant contribution to issues relating to rural, regional and/or urban planning. Nominations may address one or more of the PIA chapter disciplines such as social planning, environmental planning, transport planning, urban design, economic development planning and planning law.
Who Might Apply?
- An individual or group of tertiary students engaged in a planning related project
- PIA members and non-members
- May be self-nominated or nominated by a school, university, employer or PIA corporate member
- Must be a tertiary student
- Can include tertiary work.
BEST PLANNING IDEAS AWARD
NOTE: National – Best Planning Ideas (1 award only at national level – see 7a below)
Division - has the option of offering this award category as one or two awards (7a OR 7b & 7c).
a) Best Planning Ideas, OR
b) Best Planning Ideas – Small Project (project under $500,000)
c) Best Planning Ideas – Large Project (project over $500,000)
Please note that if a division offers 7b & 7c categories then they must only nominate one entry to be put forward to the National Best Planning Ideas award category (7a).
7a. BEST PLANNING IDEAS AWARD
This Award recognises outstanding planning ideas.
It is awarded for planning documents, reports, schemes, policies or projects that advance current planning practice.
Who Might Apply?
- An individual or organisation engaged in planning practice
- PIA member or non-member
- May be self-nominated, nominated by an employer/client or by a PIA corporate member
- Nominations from rural, peri-urban and regional areas, in addition to urban areas, are encouraged.
7b. BEST PLANNING IDEAS AWARD – SMALL PROJECT
See 7a criteria – only projects under $500,000.
7c. BEST PLANNING IDEAS AWARD – LARGE PROJECT
See 7a criteria – only projects over $500,000.
IMPROVING PLANNING PROCESSES AND PRACTICES AWARD
This Award recognises the achievements of planners, planning authorities and development entities in translating good planning policy into improved processes and practices in the workplace and ‘on the ground’.
It is awarded for the implementation of planning policy through development assessment, organisational arrangements or planning initiatives that have achieved improved planning performance, environmental or social outcome and advanced the public interest. It includes continuous improvement programs, red tape reduction and planning reforms. This award seeks to recognise the value adding that occurs through a development assessment process or improvements in practice that lead to enhanced development outcomes. Whilst the genesis of the outcome may be a report, document, scheme or strategy, it is the implementation, action and delivery which this Award seeks to recognise.
Who Might Apply?
- Planning professionals
- Planning authorities and local, state and federal government agencies
- Development companies and individuals and financiers
- PIA members and non-members
- Or a combination of all or any of the above.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT & COMMUNITY PLANNING AWARD
This Award recognises initiatives in best practice public engagement that achieve an outstanding and innovative contribution to social planning practice and outcomes.
It is awarded for work by a planner, planning organisation, consultants or a member of the community for a policy, scheme, project, report, process or event that demonstrates how high quality community participation is integral to sound planning and contributes to improved outcomes.
Who Might Apply?
- An individual, organisation or agency engaged in a branch of planning practice.
- Development companies, individuals and financier
- Community organisations
- Or a combination of all or any of the above
- Nominations from rural, peri-urban and regional areas, in addition to urban areas, are encouraged.
PROMOTION OF PLANNING AWARD
This Award recognises achievement in reporting or promoting planning issues in the public arena.
It is designed, but not limited to, recognising achievement within the media including non-traditional media, which encourages public promotion and reporting of planning issues that advances the public interest and understanding of the importance of planning.
Who Might Apply?
- An individual, organisation or agency
- Development companies, individuals and financiers
- Community organisations
- Or a combination of all or any of the above
- An individual, organisation or agency may nominate a third party individual or group who has promoted planning in a positive way.
GREAT PLACE AWARD
This Award recognises a ‘Great Place, Street or Neighbourhood’ in Australia.
Great Places have a true sense of place, cultural and historical interest, community involvement and a vision for tomorrow. Great Places offer better choices for where and how people work and live. They are enjoyable, safe, and desirable. They are places where people want to be — not only to visit, but to live and work every day. Great streets, neighbourhoods and public spaces are defined by many criteria, including architectural features, accessibility, functionality, environmental compatibility and community involvement.
PLACE
A public space may be a gathering spot or part of a neighbourhood, downtown, special district, waterfront or other area within the public realm that helps promote social interaction and a sense of community. Possible examples may include such spaces as plazas, town squares, parks, marketplaces, public commons and malls, public greens, piers, special areas within convention centres or grounds, sites within public buildings, lobbies, concourses, or public spaces within private buildings.
Characteristics of a Great Place include:
- Promotes human contact and social activities
- Is safe, welcoming, and accommodating for all users
- Has design and architectural features that are visually interesting
- Promotes community involvement
- Reflects the local culture or history
- Relates well to bordering uses
- Is well maintained
- Has a unique or special character.
STREET
A street comprises the entire three-dimensional visual corridor, including the public realm and how it relates to the adjacent land uses. Submissions should document the street's character across this realm. Streets of different types are eligible, ranging from pedestrian realms through arterial roadways, but each should have a definable beginning and end. Special emphasis is placed on streets that are complete, that is, streets that service and take into account all users — not just motor vehicles.
Characteristics of a Great Street include:
- Provides orientation to its users, and connects well to the larger pattern of ways
- Balances the competing needs of the street — driving, transit, walking, cycling, servicing, parking, drop-offs, etc
- Fits the topography and capitalises on natural features
- Is lined with a variety of interesting activities and uses that create a varied streetscape
- Has urban design or architectural features that are exemplary in design
- Relates well to its bordering uses — allows for continuous activity, doesn't displace pedestrians to provide access to bordering uses
- Encourages human contact and social activities
- Employs hardscape and/or landscape to great effect
- Promotes safety of pedestrians and vehicles and promotes use over the 24-hour day
- Promotes sustainability through minimising runoff, reusing water, ensuring groundwater quality, minimizing heat islands, and responding to climatic demands
- Is well maintained, and capable of being maintained without excessive costs
- Has a memorable character.
NEIGHBOURHOOD
A neighbourhood can be based on a specific plan or the result of a more organic process. Neighbourhoods of different kinds are eligible — downtown, urban, suburban, exurban, town, small village — but should have a definable sense of boundary.
Characteristics of a Great Neighbourhood include:
- Has a variety of functional attributes that contribute to a resident's day-to-day living (i.e. residential, commercial, or mixed-uses)
- Accommodates multi-modal transportation (i.e. pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers)
- Has design and architectural features that are visually interesting
- Encourages human contact and social activities
- Promotes community involvement and maintains a secure environment
- Promotes sustainability and responds to climatic demands
- Has a memorable character.
Who Might Apply?
Nominations to be received from the public, organisation or PIA member.
NATIONAL CATEGORIES
The following categories are for consideration at the National Awards for Planning Excellence only. Nominations are called for and accepted at the Division level and are forwarded directly to the National judging panel for their consideration. No judging of these categories occurs at the Divisional level.
CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH AND TEACHING AWARD
This Award recognises an outstanding achievement in planning scholarship, research or teaching.
It is awarded for a substantial report, book, thesis, article or piece of research or a planning education program which makes an outstanding contribution to the understanding of issues relating to urban and regional planning in Australia. This category includes excellence in teaching at secondary and tertiary levels.
Who Might Apply?
- An individual, organisation or agency engaged in teaching or research
- An individual completing thesis work
- Tertiary and Secondary teachers/academics
- Development companies, individuals and financiers
- Community organisations
- Or a combination of all or any of the above.
PLANNING CHAMPION AWARD
This Award recognises a person who champions planning. It is awarded to a non-planner who is promoting good planning or the planning profession to the public, such as through the promotion or reporting of planning issues that raises the positive profile of planning.
Who Might Apply?
- An individual, e.g. politician or journalist
- May be self-nominated, nominated by an employer/client/colleague or by a PIA corporate member
- An individual, organisation or agency may nominate a third party individual who has promoted planning in a positive way
- Must not be a qualified planner.
HALL OF FAME AWARD
This Award recognises a person who has excelled and made a distinguished and inspiring lifetime contribution to the planning profession. It is the highest accolade of the profession.
The Hall of Fame will be assessed in terms of achievement that goes well beyond the usual parameters of the candidate’s usual field of work.
Nominees may have contributed to any of the following activities that achieve excellence in any planning discipline:
- education,
- research/theory,
- practice,
- development,
- management and administration, and
- community representation.
Evaluation will be based on the level of achievement and the period of contribution. The achievement must be directly attributable to the nominee and be able to be singled out or distinguished from the work of other people.
Who Might Apply?
- Entrants must be a qualified planner, a full member of PIA and can be either practicing or retired.
- Self-nominations are not accepted.