October 2007

The Urban Development Program has won 2 awards at the recent Planning Institute Australia, Victoria division award night held on the 19th October, 2007. It was an exciting and important achievement for the Department of Planning and Community Development program and Groupware Consulting Pty Ltd.

Groupware Consulting Pty Ltd developed MapsOnline, a web mapservice, for the Department of Planning and Community Development which is a significant component of the Urban Development Program.

This year’s awards attracted a record number of nominees with outstanding contributions in all categories. A total of 15 awards and 17 commendations were presented across 17 categories.

The two categories won were ‘Urban Planning Achievement’ and ‘Planning Minister’s Award for Melbourne 2030 Implementation/Cutting Red Tape in Planning’:

Category 5 for Urban Planning Achievement.

The objective of this category was to recognize the outstanding contribution to urban planning practice in Victoria in a report and/or Policy.

The criteria was:

• In terms of demonstrating:
  o Specific and clear Statement of Objectives
  o Recognition of relevant Social, Environmental or Physical Opportunities and/or Problems
  o Effective Consultation with People and Organisations likely to be affected by implementation or outcomes of the proposal
  o Thorough consideration of Feasibility and Sustainability
  o Excellence in the application of established techniques, and/or Significant Innovation in Urban Planning

• In terms of outcomes:
  o Effective Presentation
  o The extent to which the objectives have been achieved
• Oral Presentation


Category 16a for Planning Minister’s Award for Melbourne 2030 Implementation

The objective of this category was to recognise a project – research, study, policy, community forum or built form - that is a best practice example or makes a significant contribution to integrated implementation of Melbourne 2030.

The criteria was:

• The level/degree/extent of contribution to integrated implementation of Melbourne 2030
• How best practice is exemplified within implementation of Melbourne 2030
• The initiative required and undertaken to achieve the outcome
• The innovation in the idea and process
• The extent of community consultation
• The cost benefit of the exercise itself
• The contribution to sustainability
• The quality of the presentation and communication of the outcomes
• Oral presentation

Category 16b for Cutting Red Tape in Planning

The objective of this category was to recognise a project – research, study, policy, community forum or built form - that is a best practice example or makes a significant contribution to cutting red tape in planning.

The criteria was:

• The level/degree/extent of contribution to cutting red tape in planning
• How best practice is exemplified within implementation of cutting red in planning
• The initiative required and undertaken to achieve the outcome
• The innovation in the idea and process
• The extent of community consultation
• The cost benefit of the exercise itself
• The contribution to sustainability
• The quality of the presentation and communication of the outcomes
• Oral presentation

(Criteria source: http://planning.org.au)