Urban designers awarded

The recipients of the 2016 Australian Urban Design Awards, presented by the Planning Institute of Australia, were announced last week. Established in 1996 by then prime minister Paul Keating, the awards recognise contemporary Australian urban design projects of the highest quality.

Six awards were presented across four categories, two of which went to projects delivered by the City of Sydney. The multi-award winning Sydney Park water re-use project won the Delivered Outcome – Large Scale category award, while the Green Square town centre project was awarded the Urban Design, Policies, Programs and Concepts – Large Scale category.

Green Square is bringing culture and creativity to the doorstep of 61,000 people who will soon live in the area, with a new town centre set to boast sustainable infrastructure and community facilities. Features will include a library, childcare centre, creative hub, aquatic and recreational centre, more than 15 parks and Australia’s biggest residential stormwater harvesting and treatment system.

The judges commended the Green Square town centre project for its creation of a mixed-use neighbourhood on former industrial land with high-quality public spaces and community infrastructure. They said, “A major public square is the outcome of an international design competition and forms the social heart of this vibrant community. Research, collaboration, community engagement and ongoing monitoring are critical components that distinguish this comprehensive urban design strategy.”

The Sydney Park water re-use project harvests and treats up to 850 million litres of stormwater from Newtown’s Munni Street catchment each year, which is used to irrigate the 44 ha parkland and supply water to a neighbouring depot. The judges said the project design “provides a bold, high-quality and conscientious enhancement of public space that is interconnected with the surrounding urban environment through water collection and re-use”.

Sydney Park.

The full list of award winners is as follows:

• Australia Award for Urban Design, Delivered Outcome – Large Scale: Sydney Park Water Re-Use Project (Sydney, NSW)
• Australia Award for Urban Design, Delivered Outcome ­– Small Scale: The Goods Line (Sydney, NSW); and Bowen Place Crossing (Bowen Place, ACT)
• Australia Award for Urban Design, Policies, Programs and Concepts – Large Scale: Green Square Town Centre (Sydney, NSW); and Turramurra Community Hub Masterplan (Sydney, NSW)
• Australia Award for Urban Design, Policies, Programs and Concepts – Small Scale: WGV at White Gum Valley (White Gum Valley, Western Australia)

Top image: Green Square plaza and library.