26 November 2019
The 2019 National Growth Area Alliance (NGAA) Awards celebrated excellence and innovation by the Councils that are shaping Australia’s fastest growing areas. Winning projects from across the country include a new health outcomes partnership with three levels of government; a community hub developed as a new community grows; and a comprehensive and equitable framework to deliver $209 million of community facilities for a healthier community.
Growing at twice the rate of the rest of Australia, NGAA Member Councils are under pressure to match the pace of their rapidly changing communities. This challenge has resulted in the industry-leading research, innovation and partnerships recognised by the NGAA Awards, announced in Perth this month.
The 2019 NGAA Award winners are:
Sponsored by Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI)
Winner: City of Cockburn – Community Sport and Recreation Facilities Plan 2018 – 2033
The Plan is a strategic, long term framework to deliver $209 million of community facilities for the City of Cockburn’s rapidly expanding population, informed by extensive research and three years of community consultation.
Commendation: Growth Areas Perth and Peel (GAPP) - Sport and Recreation Facility Investment research
Sponsored by City of Swan
Winner: City of Casey – Selandra Community Hub
Council aimed for early service delivery to Selandra Rise, a new residential community, and opened an interim Community Place while the estate was in development.The permanent Hub is almost carbon neutral, setting a new sustainability benchmark, and is now an integral part of the community.
Commendation: City of Armadale - Armadale Fitness and Aquatic Centre
Sponsored by Astrolabe Group
Winner: Penrith Council - Penrith Health Action Plan
The judges said this partnership with three levels of government used existing work and resources more strategically, and clearly articulated the roles of different stakeholders.
Initiatives resulting from the Plan include the Village Café project, reducing loneliness and isolation, and the Healthy Built Environment Audit Tool, a way to measure the healthiness of a suburb.
Commendation: Melton City Council - City Vista Sports Precinct Partnership
Sponsored by McLeods Barristers and Solicitors
Winner: Penrith Council – Penrith Council Advocacy Journey
Development of a comprehensive and lasting advocacy strategy, integrating funding goals and developing key directions for advocacy across the City. The more strategic approach has been successful, with funding results for targeted projects.
Commendations:
City of Whittlesea - Pokies Play Whittlesea
City of Casey - Commit to Casey
Sponsored by City of Casey
Winner: City of Playford
The City of Playford has shown leadership with ongoing support for Mayor Glenn Docherty in his role as NGAA Chair and by hosting the inaugural NGAA National Congress and contributing to NGAA projects.
Commendation: Sean McManus (Melton) and Nathan Burbridge (Penrith)
More information on the NGAA Awards is available at www.ngaa.org.au/awards
Media enquiries: Bronwen Clark, NGAA 0448 401 257 bronwen.clark@ngaa.org.au
The NGAA welcomes the recognition of fast growing outer urban areas in today’s Federal Government announcement of $750 million to local councils for priority local road and community infrastructure projects.
Read moreABC News: Wollondilly Council and NGAA have slammed changes to a plan to fast track housing development before basic infrastructure is in place.
Read moreAustralia's outer suburbs are growing more than twice as fast as the rest of the nation and doing the heavy lifting for our housing supply, but struggle to get infrastructure that other areas take for granted, the NGAA told MPs in Canberra.
Read moreABC TV: An hour and a half to drive 3km — why is traffic so bad in Melbourne's outer suburbs? NGAA CEO Bronwen Clark is interviewed.
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