City cleans up at planning awards

The City of Stirling has won three prestigious awards at the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) State Awards for Planning Excellence, which recognise leading practice across a range of planning disciplines. 

In a clean sweep of the major award categories, the City of Stirling was awarded: 

• The WA Minister for Planning Award for Planning Excellence for the Stirling Fast-Track (Development Applications) project 
• The Local Government Team (Band 1) Award for Planning Excellence for the City’s Development Services Planning Team 
• Technology and Digital Innovation Award for Planning Excellence for the Stirling Fast-Track (Development Applications) project. 

Mayor Mark Irwin said the awards for excellence in planning were testament to the leadership of incoming CEO Stevan Rodic, Planning and Development Director Amanda Sheers and the team’s dedication to excellence, good planning outcomes and reducing red tape. 

“The City is honoured to receive these planning excellence awards for the Stirling Fast-Track (Development Applications) project and the work of our tireless Development Services team,” he said. 

“Stirling Fast-Track is an innovative digital platform which aligns with the State Government's planning reform agenda to modernise and streamline development assessment. It was developed to deliver a customer-centric approach and shows how local government can implement digital transformation, and it is fantastic that the team’s efforts have been awarded.” 

The PIA WA Awards for Planning Excellence share achievements and celebrate the value planning brings to our communities, offering a chance to showcase leading practice across a range of planning disciplines and sectors and to publicly recognise commitment to advancing the planning profession. 

State award winners will progress to the National Awards, which will be announced at the 2024 Planning Congress. 

The City has previously been recognised with awards in the planning space, including: 

• The Small Business Friendly Approvals Project won the Improving Planning Processes and Practices category and was also honoured with the overall Minister’s Award (2020) 
• The City partnered on a community-led project that won the Great Place Award at the National Awards for Planning Excellence (2021) 
• Gnalla Nollamara Pop-up Plaza won the award for Community Wellbeing and Diversity (2022). 

Background 

Representatives from the State Government and key stakeholders in the planning industry attended the launch of the Stirling Fast-Track project in October 2022: 

• Minister for Planning Hon John Carey MLA welcomed the City partnering with the State Government as the largest local government in WA to reduce red tape. 
• Housing Industry Association (HIA) Executive Director WA Michael McGowan said the win-win Fast-Track process would instil confidence within the community and encourage better outcomes from applicants and for communities alike.  
• Master Builders Association WA said the project demonstrated the positive outcomes that could be achieved when collaboration from key stakeholders with a clear goal came together to deliver on industry and community expectations. 
• WA Executive Director at Property Council of Australia Sandra Brewer said streamlining housing approvals could not be more important in the current economic environment. 

Amanda Sheers has held of the office of State President of the Planning Institute of Australia’s (PIA) WA Division since 2022.