Wednesday 20 May 2026
The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) has announced the winners of the 2026 National Awards for Planning Excellence, recognising projects helping communities plan for growth, manage affordability pressures and climate challenges, while improving quality of life for Australians.
Around 400 industry leaders, planners, and government representatives gathered in Canberra tonight to celebrate the unveiling of the National Awards for Planning Excellence 2026 and mark PIA’s 75th anniversary.
The award-winning projects showcase how planning helps enable more homes in great communities, climate-resilient growth, and more connected neighbourhoods across Australia.
PIA National Vice President and National Awards Convenor Rukshan de Silva RPIA said the projects demonstrate the important role planning plays in helping Australians live well as communities grow and change.
“Australians are feeling the pressure of rising living costs, housing affordability challenges and increasing climate risks,” Mr de Silva said, “Good planning is critical as it helps communities respond to these pressures by creating places where they can live closer to jobs and services, access better housing choices, spend less time commuting and enjoy healthier, more connected neighbourhoods.”
The 2026 National Awards for Planning Excellence recipients are:
- Strategic Planning Project – The Greater Adelaide Regional Plan – South Australia’s Department for Housing and Urban Development
An Australian-first interactive long-term regional plan, which enables 316,000 new homes and 254,000 new jobs in Greater Adelaide, while helping coordinate infrastructure, housing delivery and resilience.
- Climate Change & Resilience – A Climate Vulnerability Assessment for NSW Primary Industries – NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
A nationally significant climate adaptation framework translating complex climate science into practical tools that help safeguard NSW’s food security, regional economies and primary industries.
- Community Wellbeing & Diversity – Ed.Square Residents Group – Frasers Property Australia and Fourfold Studio
A resident-led community initiative creating social connection, cultural inclusion and belonging within one of Sydney’s growing high-density neighbourhoods.
- Planning with Country – Connecting with Country Framework – Government Architect NSW at NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
Australia’s first holistic Planning with Country framework embedding Aboriginal knowledge, culture and values into planning and design decisions in NSW.
- Technology & Digital Innovation – Advancing AI Innovation in Local Government – Municipal Association of Victoria (MAVlab), City of Greater Dandenong and Portable
A collaborative project helping councils responsibly use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve planning efficiency, reduce administrative burden and support better public outcomes.
- Great Place – Archerfield Wetlands Parkland – Brisbane Sustainability Agency
A major transformation of degraded industrial land into a biodiverse parkland supporting recreation, climate resilience, active transport and stronger community connection.
- Improving Planning Processes – Code Amendment Tracking System (CATS) – South Australian Department for Housing and Urban Development
A first-of-its-kind digital platform enabling real-time tracking of amendments made to the South Australian planning code, making planning changes more transparent for industry and the community.
- Stakeholder Engagement – Calming the Storm – Merri-bek City Council & Engeny (part of Egis Group)
An innovative community engagement project helping more than 10,000 landowners navigate complex urban flood mapping changes through empathetic and inclusive communication.
- Planning Research – Planning and Economic Feasibility Analysis: Integrating the “Missing Middle” – Purdon
An evidence-based tool developed to track and understand the feasibility and delivery potential of planned medium-density housing in the ACT.
- Tertiary Student Project – The Ovava Playground for Resilience – Placemaking in Ohonua, Eua, Tonga – Anh Thi Hoang Nguyen, Ka Sin Adelaide Lee and Shiyi Zhang, The University of Melbourne
A student-led placemaking project transforming a disaster-affected site in Tonga into a culturally grounded community space supporting resilience, healing and belonging.
- Emerging Planner of the Year – Russell Coldicutt PIA (Assoc.)
Recognised for his leadership and commitment to integrating climate resilience, sustainability and urban planning into the design of new communities in the ACT, and his commitment to promoting planning as a rewarding career choice.
Mr de Silva said the projects highlight how investing in good planning improves daily life in practical ways.
“Investing in good planning helps reduce the costs of everyday life by improving access to housing, jobs, transport, services and public spaces,” he said, “The best planning projects, like those celebrated tonight, help create places that simply work - with diverse housing, stronger centres, greener neighbourhoods and more affordable communities.”
“The winners reflect a planning profession focused on delivering practical outcomes that strengthen communities now and long into the future,” Mr de Silva said.
Ends