South Australia’s City of Onkaparinga Council has been recognised with a prestigious international award for its collaborative work to create Onkaparinga’s Community Vision 2034.
The Council won the Planning Project Award at the Engagement Institute’s recent Core Values Awards, selected from a field of 16 projects across Australia and New Zealand.
The Core Values Awards honour projects and practitioners who exemplify meaningful, inclusive and effective engagement, and the Planning Project Award celebrates excellence across a wide range of planning disciplines – spanning energy, water, health, transport, service delivery, organisational strategy and community development.
Among this year’s finalists were major Federal, State, Local Government and private sector initiatives – including billion-dollar infrastructure projects – which City of Onkaparinga CEO, Phu Nguyen said made Onkaparinga’s achievement even more impressive.
“Shaped by the insights of more than 5,300 residents, the shared vision reflects a desire for our city to protect and enhance what’s unique about this beautiful place, fostering a connected community with a sustainable future,” he said.
“This award is a powerful endorsement of our commitment to building a shared vision with the community, and a reflection of the passion, creativity and professionalism of our staff who brought it to life.”
Developed with broad and deep community input, the Community Vision 2034 outlines four themes – Community, Environment, Liveability and Leadership, eight key result areas, and 32 goals to guide collective action over the next decade.
Mayor, Moira Were said the Council was committed to playing its part in bringing this vision to life.
“It guides us and our collective action – including government, community, businesses, not- for-profits and others – so the whole of our effort is greater than the sum of the parts,” she said.
