New awards showcase the best in local government innovation
Local governments are being encouraged to nominate for new awards celebrating the most innovative, collaborative approaches to placemaking across the state.
Established by the Minister for Local Government David Michael, the Place Innovation Awards have been added to the WA Local Government Association (WALGA) Local Government Awards program to recognise projects by WA local governments that:
- take an innovative approach to a place-based opportunity or challenge
- demonstrate significant improvements to standard practices
- show a high level of collaboration with external stakeholders and areas within local government.
There are 3 nomination categories — 1 for metropolitan Perth and the Peel region, 1 for regional Western Australia, and an open category (which may be a metropolitan or regional initiative).
The Place Innovation Awards will be presented by the Minister at the Local Government Awards held during this year's WALGA Convention at Crown Perth in September.
Nominations open today, Friday 21 July 2023, and close at 5pm Friday 18 August 2023.
The awards are administered by Town Teams, with support from DLGSC. Town Teams is a non-profit organisation that enables local communities and governments to connect, organise and act to regenerate the fabric of their neighbourhoods and to create better places.
In an Australian first, DLGSC has engaged Town Teams to deliver placemaking training to build the capacity and confidence of local government staff and Elected Members.
Placemaking is a consultative approach to activating local spaces, stimulating local economies and bringing together planners, community, architects, government, land managers and commercial partners.
It incorporates multiple disciplines including urban design, economic development, events and activation, community development, urban planning, arts, engineering, infrastructure and sustainability.
The new training is available from July 2023 for all local government staff and Elected Members in WA.