Seven government-led projects have been recognised at the 2019 Property Council of Australia awards, highlighting the role of local governments in fostering innovation in property development.

This year, 152 finalists competed for national recognition in 20 categories.

WA’s Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority took home the award for Government Leadership for Elizabeth Quay at the award evening in Sydney earlier this month.

Property Council chief executive Ken Morrison says the area has been transformed from an under-used riverside location to a thriving new precinct in Perth’s CBD.

“MRA’s collaborative model aligned community expectations with investor requirements,” he said.

“It planned and delivered new public realm, while working with private partners to develop eight lots surrounding the new Quay.

“The result is a vibrant new destination for people of Perth, attracting 16 million visitors, $320 million in land sales and $2.2 billion in private development proposals.”

From brutalism to bespoke

Victoria’s Barwon Water took home the award for Best Workplace Project for the upgrade of its office headquarters in Geelong.

“Barwon Water HQ has evolved from a tired 1960s brutalist building into a bespoke, open and efficient working environment,” said Mr Morrison.

Meanwhile, Development Victoria was presented with the award for Best Heritage Development for the $20 million restoration of St Kilda’s Palais Theatre.

The award for Best Affordable Housing Development was presented to LandCorp & Now Living for Perth’s Blackmore Park Estate, located on the former Blackmore Primary School site.

Mr Morrison said the 72-residential community has opened up new opportunities for home ownership in a suburb dominated by a high proportion of renters.

A sustainable superstar

The $1.8 billion Sunshine Coast University Hospital won the Best Public Building award.

Rider Levett Bucknall’s Queensland managing director David Stewart said the state-of-the-art health facility is a sustainable superstar.

“The hospital has reset our expectations for green healthcare in Australia and carefully balances environmental considerations like energy efficiency with people-centric design,” he said.

The Award for Diversity for companies with more than 250 employees went to NSW Land and Housing Corporation, which owns and manages a public housing portfolio of 130,000 properties.

“NSW Land and Housing Corporation is driving diversity through its own organisation – with women accounting for 38 per cent of senior managers – and ensuring that partners meet these expectations,” Mr Morrison said.

Brisbane City Council won the Project Innovation award for Plan your Brisbane, the largest planning engagement exercise conducted by a local government in Australia.

“Plan your Brisbane engaged more than 100,000 people in a conversation about the future of their city,” Mr Morrison said.

Lendlease claimed the nation’s top property prize, receiving the Rider Levett Bucknall Australian Development of the Year gong for their innovative timber marvel, International House Sydney.

Comment below to have your say on this story.

If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@governmentnews.com.au.  

Sign up to the Government News newsletter.